Introduction to Veterinary Technology Flashcards
1
Q
List 4 personal qualifications needed by someone looking to enter the veterinary field
A
- Get along with people (i.e. co-workers, pet owners)
- Ability to remain calm, alert, and patient when faced with unexpected crisis
- Pleasant personality and good communication skills
- Being able to cope with working with animals that have to be euthanized
- Genuine desire to nurture/care for animals
- Good organizational and time management skills
- Being resourceful, dedicated, reliable
- Be prepared to clean up messes, disagreeable odors, do heavy lifting, be subjected to animal bites, kicks, scratches, and have unpredictable working hours
2
Q
Euthanasia
A
The act of ending the life of hopelessly sick or injured animals in a humane and painless way
3
Q
Describe early veterinarians and vet school.
A
- Ancient medical doctors treated primarily livestock, knew little ab animal anatomy/disease, pet-owner relationship not yet formed
- Animal plagues hit Europe in 17/18th cent. So they decide to improve livestock health thus the first recorded animal anatomy and disease studies
- 1761 school in France opens
- 1850s schools open in US
- 20th cent. Early vet schools closed and had to get college degrees
- Most vets were male and worked in rural areas
4
Q
AVMA
A
American Veterinary Medical Association
5
Q
Describe early vet techs and vet tech school.
A
- Vets used to have to train their own staff, techs only learning skills for one specific practice
- 1961 colleges begin offering animal/animal health tech training programs
- Vet field now offers training programs for other professions (I.e. kennel workers, lab animal attendants, etc.)
6
Q
What is the AVMA’s primary purpose?
A
The AVMA accredits college training programs for vets and vet school
7
Q
How do you become a licensed vet tech in the U.S.?
A
- Graduate from AVMA accredited program
- Pass VTNE & become licensed, certified, or registered (depending on state)
- Each state has its own training and licensing requirements for vet techs
8
Q
VTNE
A
Veterinary Technician National Exam
9
Q
Veterinarian Practice Acts
A
- A set of laws that gives each state the power to license and regulate the practice of veterinary medicine
- Defines the specific physical facility requirements that a vet hospital must meet (I.e. proper equipment to run vet hospital properly)
- May define educational and licensing requirements for credentialed VTs & the tasks they can do in office
- Written by state legislators based on recommendations by a veterinary medical board
10
Q
Veterinary Medical Board
A
A group of vets appointed by the governor to oversee the practice of veterinary medicine within a particular state
Holds hearings to air complaints about veterinary professionals in the state
11
Q
International Council for Veterinary Assessment
A
Oversees the national licensing exams for vets
formerly the National Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners
12
Q
MVMA
A
Missouri Veterinary Medical Association
13
Q
What do ALL State Veterinary Practice Acts require?
A
- Vets must graduate from a AVMA-accredited school of vet medicine and pass exams (a state exam & NAVLE)
- Only a licensed vet can diagnose diseases, perform surgery, or prescribe medication for animals
- The vet tech and other supporting staff must work under the direct supervision of a licensed DVM
- Some states require vets to attend a yearly quota of continuing education to maintain license (I.e. seminars, literature reviews, college courses, etc.)*
14
Q
NAVLE
A
North American Veterinary Licensing Exam
15
Q
CVTEA
A
Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities
accredits vet tech programs
16
Q
Credentialed Veterinary Technician
A
Person who has completed AVMA-CVTEA accredited college program for vet techs and passed VTNE
17
Q
Veterinary Technician
A
Graduated from 2 years AVMA-CVTEA accredited program (AS, AAS), but not yet obtained state licensure
18
Q
Veterinary Technologist
A
Graduated from a 4 year AVMA-CVTEA accredited program (BA, BAS), but not yet obtained state licensure
19
Q
NAVTA
A
- National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America
- North American Veterinary Technician Association
- Represents interests of VTs in US and Canada
- Active members are graduated VTs
- VAs can join as associate members (currently no association represents VAs only)
20
Q
Approved Veterinary Assistant
A
Graduated from NAVTA approved vet assistant program and passed Approved Veterinary Assistant Examination
21
Q
Veterinary Assistant (defined by AVMA)
A
Provide animals care with less training and skills than vet techs
22
Q
DEA
A
- Drug Enforcement Agency
- Division of the Department of Justice
- Enforces the Controlled Substance Act
23
Q
Controlled Substance Act
A
- Federal law that controls the manufacture, purchase, and distribution of certain medications
- Requires any individual engaged in manufacture, sale, or dispensing of the meds to be licensed
- Detailed written records must be kept of any controlled substances
- Written records must be kept for 5 years
- Controlled substances must be kept in a double-locked area
- Inventory must be taken every two years
24
Q
OSHA
A
- Occupational Safety and Health Association
- Enforces laws protecting workers from workplace hazards
- Employers must commit to reducing workplace risk for employees
- Display job safety and health protection posters
- Record occupational injuries and illnesses
- Provide written plans for job safety and health
- Train employees in proper procedures
- Provide personal protective equipment (PPE)
25
FDA
- Food and Drug Administration
| - Concerned with regulations that ensure safe and effective food, drugs, and medical devices
26
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
Primary law FDA exists to enforce
27
Center for Veterinary Medicine
FDA branch that monitors the animal health industry, administering the sections of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act that pertain to animals
28
USDA
- U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Oversees import and export of animals
- Develops programs to control disease in food animals
- Oversees several agencies that regulate vet industry
29
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
- USDA agency
| - Charged with enforcing the Animal Welfare Act
30
Food Safety Inspection Service
- Charged with ensuring the meat and poultry products are safe and labeled correctly
- USDA agency
31
Agricultural Research Service Program and Extension Service Program
- Vets are required to obtain and maintain USDA accreditation to legally write health certificates for animals traveling across state and international borders
- USDA agency
32
Animal Welfare Act
- Group of federal laws designed to ensure that lab animals receive the best possible care
- Sets standards for warm-blooded animals EXCEPT mice and rats
- Laws also apply to breeders who supply animals for research or education
- Enforced by USDA agency
33
Laboratory Animal
Animals kept in research facilities, zoos, or educational institutions
34
Name the Animal Welfare Act standards for lab animal daily care and environmental conditions
- Lab animal’s environment must be kept clean, at a comfortable temperature and humidity, and free of sharp objects
- Specific requirements govern exercise or regular, consistent contact with other animals and humans for some species of lab animals
35
EPA
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Federal government agency
- Several regulations that apply to vets
- Regulations primarily aim to reduce environmental pesticide contamination
36
What vet practices must primarily comply with EPA regulations?
Vet practices with grooming services for parasite control must comply with EPA regulations
37
What do vet practices have to do with the State Department of Health?
- They have to register X-ray machines (stationary, portable, and dental x-ray machines)
- Vet practice required to inspect and calibrate the equipment periodically
38
Requirements for a business license
- According to state and local regulations
- Get a general business license from the county clerk’s office
- Vet practice must usually obtain a permit from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation
39
Henry Bergh
- Horrified by treatment of animals in Russia, left diplomatic corps, went back to NYC
- Decided to dedicate life to the prevention of cruelty to animals
- Obtains a NY charter for first animal welfare organization in U.S. - ASPCA
- Responsible for NY legislature approving the Animal Welfare Act of 1866
40
ASPCA
- American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
- created by Henry Bergh
- In 1888, when Bergh died, there were 33 animal welfare agencies in the U.S. and ASPCA had 15 state branches
41
Small-Animal Private Practice
- Treat companion animals, usually cats and dogs
- Ultimate goal to provide services that help family pets live long & healthy lives
- 2 vets, 3 VTs, 3 VAs
- Most vet techs work in this type of practice
42
Small-Animal and Exotics Practice
- Treats companion animals and other small pets
| - I.e. guinea pigs, ferrets, turtles, rabbits, birds, reptiles, etc.
43
Preventative Healthcare
- Includes regular physical exams and vaccinations against common diseases
(prevent them getting sick or catch something small)
44
Mobile Clinic
- Vet travels directly to the client’s location to treat the pet
45
What is a Veterinary Referral Practice?
- Vet practice that specializes in one aspect of an animal’s care
- Ophthalmology
- Oncology
- Internal Medicine
- Equine Medicine
- Emergency Medicine
46
What is a Specialty Veterinarian?
- Vets who take certain courses and pass exams administered by a Specialty Board
- They are a Board-Certified Specialist in that area
- Referred by small-animal practitioner when an animal needs specialized or advanced care
- Can specialize in: ophthalmology, oncology, internal medicine, equine medicine, emergency medicine
47
What organization oversees the national licensing exams for vets and accredited VTs?
International Council for Veterinary Assessment
48
In what area of the hospital do diagnostic procedures take place?
Laboratory
49
Which tasks may an AAHA inspector perform to determine a hospital’s eligibility for accreditation?
- Reviewing hospital procedures and policies
- Examining medical records
- Evaluating staff qualifications
50
Large-Animal Practice
- Vets who work exclusively with farm animals
- Many have mobile clinics
- Focus on disease prevention in large herds of animals
- Some may limit to one species, others treat any farm animal
- Develop programs to help herd managers increase milk or meat production :-(
50
Mixed-Animal Practice
- Refers to a vet clinic that treats both large and companion animals
- Similar to small-animal hospitals
- Often combine mobile practice with hospital design modifications that allow in-house treatment of some large-animal species
51
What is Voluntary Professional Accreditation?
- When animal hospitals voluntarily comply with guidelines more stringent than the law requires
- These facilities commit to providing the best animal care available
- Complying with these guidelines represents a great investment of time and money
- AAHA & AAALAC
52
AAHA
- American Animal Hospital Association
- Guidelines require vet practice to have top-quality equipment and highly trained staff
!! Inspector examines every aspect of accredited vet hospital’s policies and procedures, records, and staff qualification!!
53
AAALAC
- Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care
- Stricter requirements for research facilities
- Like AAHA, exclusively evaluates all operational aspects of the biomedical research facility
54
What are the things that a vet can do because of their medical degree/license that a VT or VA cannot do?
- Diagnose diseases
- Prescribe medications
- Performing surgeries
55
What are the duties of a VT?
- Perform physical exams
- Prepare animals/equipment for surgery
- Take radiographs
- Clean/polish teeth
- Collect blood samples
- Perform lab tests
- Anesthetize animals
- Perform prescribed treatments
- Educate clients about animal nutrition/training
- Ensure clients receive desired services
- In some clinics, may perform reception/management duties
56
What’s a VT Specialist and what are the specialty areas?
- VTs who have specialized through additional postgraduate training
- Advanced Vet Dentistry
- Emergency and Critical Care Nursing
- Vet Anesthesia
- Zoo Vet Technology
57
What are the duties of a VA?
- Restrain animals
- Understand animal behavior
- Clean/maintain equipment
- Position animals during procedures
- Develop x-rays/maintain darkroom supplies
- Count, measure, package, label prescriptions
- Receptionist work
- Handle lab results
58
What is a VPM and what are their duties?
- Veterinary Practice Manager
- Responsible for all business aspects of the practice
- Hiring/interviewing new staff
- Advertising new available positions
- Inventory maintenance, order supplies, pay bills, employee payroll
- Handle legal requirements
- Smaller clinics = DVM may be VPM
- Larger clinics = separate VPM or VT with additional training in small business management
59
What does the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association do?
- Offer a national exam for certification for VPMs
60
What is a Client Care Coordinator?
- Vet receptionist
- Answer telephone, schedule appts, greet clients
- File records, collect/record payments
- First person client meets/sees coming through the door
- Mostly learned on the job
61
Kennel Aide
- Trained on the job
- May work at vet hospital kennels or boarding kennels
- American Boarding Kennel Association offers training programs
- Keep kennels clean/stocked, have basic knowledge of animal behavior, help vet staff observe hospitalized patients
62
Outpatient Procedure
- Involve short-term admission of patients for the duration of the procedure and recovery
- All patients discharged by the end of the day
- Routine vaccinations, removal of sutures, or annual physical exams
- Clients DO see and enter outpatient areas during their visit
63
Inpatient Procedures
- Require patient to be admitted to a vet hospital overnight
- Patient monitored closely after the procedure and during recovery
- Patients hospitalized for medical treatments are also considered inpatients
- Dentistry, surgery
- Clients DON’T usually have access to inpatient areas
64
Reception Area
- Where clients are first greeted when they enter a practice
- Practice’s coordination center
- Check-in, payments, phone calls, etc.
- May find displays of pet products, brochures, video programs for clients, etc.
- Should be well lit, comfortable, cheery
65
Examination Room
- Record animal’s temp., pulse, respiratory rate
- VA may restrain animal while VT collects blood samples or other tests
- May also complete a physical exam
66
Surgical Suite
- Typically 3 rooms: Prep room, Operating room, Recovery Room
67
Treatment Area
- AKA: inpatient area
- Inpatients receive medication or diagnostic procedures
- Outpatients may be brought back for treatment (I.e. bandage change or sample collection
- Clients sometimes visit this area w pet
- VT usually supervises this area
68
Laboratory Area
- Used for clinical diagnostic procedures
- May be a separate room or part of treatment area
- Basic lab has microscope and specialized equipment for analyzing blood samples
- VT collects blood sample, processes and tests samples, make notes on patients record
69
Pharmacy
- Where medication/related supplies are stored
- VT responsible for maintaining inventory/ensure meds are used in the order they’re received
- Small fridge for vaccines or other meds
- VT needs to know general knowledge of meds names and types
- VERY IMPORTANT that meds are prepared and labeled correctly
70
Hospital Ward
- Confinement area for pre- and post-surgical inpatients and those awaiting, undergoing, or recovering from medical treatments
- Clean environment important to reduce possibilities of spreading diseases
71
Isolation Ward
- Consists of a few small, medium, large cages
- Cages insulate patients that might have easily transmittable diseases, these animals kept separate from other animals in hospital ward
- PPE to reduce spread of diseases
- Must be clean as well
72
Radiograph
- The image generated by the x-ray machine
| - Can be film or digital
73
Dosimetry Badge/Dosimeter
- Measures the radiation that the wearer has been exposed to
- Needs to be worn when taking x-rays
- Needs to be placed on the collar area of the lead apron facing the radiation source
74
Darkroom
- Used to develop x-ray film
| - Usually a small room arranged for easy access to equipment from the center
75
Automatic vs. Manual X-ray Processing Equipment
Auto - film loaded into the automatic processor, which develops and dries in a few minutes
Manual - way more time and knowledge, x-ray film goes through tank of processing chemicals (v hazardous)
76
Digital Radiographs
- No processing or development
| - Images are transmitted directly to software for viewing
77
Laboratory Animal Technician (LAT)
- Oversee the daily care, feeding, and comfort of research animals in biomedical research companies or educational institution
- Notify researchers of any abnormal conditions that affect the animals
- May collect blood samples, take x-rays, etc. while supervised by vet
78
AALAS
- American Association for Laboratory Animal Science
- Offers the certification exam for LATs
- Graduates of VT programs must have experience working with lab animals to be eligible for the LAT cert exam
79
Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT)
- Helps LATs care for research facility animals
| - AALAS offers certification of ALATs
80
What is preventative attention?
- Checking animals every day for signs that indicate illnesses
81
Animal Control Officer (ACO)
- Responsible for stray animal control and enforcement of animal license and leash laws
- Employed by state or county agencies
- Might investigate charges of animal abuse or cruelty
- Some training programs offered by humane societies and some state colleges
82
Zookeeper
- Responsible for daily feeding and observation of captive wild animals
- Most have 4 year degrees in zoology or biology
- Often work with one or two species
- Must have detailed knowledge of nutritional and environmental needs for the species they are working with
- Must be alert for the slightest indications of illness or stress in these animals
83
Wildlife Rehabilitator
- Care for injured or orphaned wild animals
- MUST BE LICENSED, keeping wild animal without a license is illegal
- Works closely w vets
- Goal is to return animal to its natural environment
- Keeps animal until it regains health, releases it back to habitat OR find long-term care if release is impossible
84
Professionalism
- The conduct, aims, or qualities that characterize or mark a profession or a professional person
- Way you present yourself, attitude towards the job, appropriate attire, etc.
- For vets, part is also following ethical codes
85
What are the advantages of being a member of a professional association?
- Help to stay informed on trends in the field
- Provide continuing education
- Offer a means of networking (job opportunities and solve problems together)
- Some are politically oriented, lobbying legislators about laws affecting vet medical practice
86
Name some associations that VTs can join
- Association of Veterinary Dental Technicians
- Veterinary Laboratory Association
- National Association of Vet Techs in America
- American Animal Hospital Association
- Association of Zoo Veterinary Technicians
- Academy of Vet Techs in Anesthesia and Analgesia
- Academy of Vet Emergency and Critical Care Techs and Nurses
87
Ethical Code
- Set of standards defining what’s good and bad for the profession
- All professions abide by this & professionals agree to uphold the ethical code
- Intentionally general on certain points to allow professionals to use their judgement in specific circumstances
88
Principles of Veterinary Ethics
- The official ethical code for vets
- Written by members of AVMA
- First adopted in 1867, only been modified a few times
- Vets also governed by the general values of the Vet’s Oath
89
What is the Vet Tech Code of Ethics?
- Adopted in 1989
- This and Principles of Vet Ethics embody principles that govern practice of vet medicine
- Describes what the profession considers morally correct
- Describes appropriate professional behavior and attitudes
- Delineates training requirements, continuing education, and even services a vet practice should require
90
Veterinary Technician Code of Ethics
- Aid society and animals by providing excellent care and services for animals
- Prevent and relieve the suffering of animals
- Promote public health by assisting with the control of zoonotic diseases and informing the public about these diseases
- Assume accountability for individual professional actions and judgements
- Protect confidential information provided by clients
- Safeguard the public and the profession against individuals deficient in professional competence or ethics
- Assist with efforts to ensure conditions of employment consistent with the excellent care for animals
- Remain competent in veterinary technology through commitment to lifelong learning
- Collaborate with members of the veterinary medical profession in efforts to ensure quality healthcare services for all animals
91
Policy Statement
- Designed to reflect changing trends and concerns
| - Policy statements issued by AVMA represent the unanimity of opinion on a specific topic among vets in the US
