Small Animal Patient Care Flashcards
Role of the veterinarian
- diagnosing
- treatment plans
- communications
- prescriptions
- restricted drug access
Role of the veterinary technician
- gold standard patient care
- patient treatments
- client communication
- hospital charts
5 Domains of welfare:
- Nutrition
- Physical environment
- Health
- Behavioural interactions
- Mental state
Nutrition considerations in patient care: (3)
- Free water access unless otherwise specified
- Food eaten at home
- Allergies
Environmental considerations in patient care: (6)
- Comfortable resting area (Bedding style)
- Noise
- Restraint?
- Protection from fear and distress
- Fear free handling
- Distraction
Who makes the health plan in patient care, and what needs to be avoided (4)
- Diagnose ASAP
- Vets create plan
- Techs implement plan
- Avoid injury/illness, including psychological
Potential causes of harm to patients in hospital (3)
- Shutting doors on tails
- Jumping from high places
- Escape
Behavioural considerations in patient care: (5)
- Agressive animal
- Spend time with dogs outside. allow cats out of cage
- Play
- Some animals ONLY urinate/defecate outside
- Simulation - Olfactory / Aural / Tactile
Mental state considerations in patient care: (2)
- Past experiences
- Unknown situation and environment
How to maintain hygiene in the vet
- Hand hygiene
- Cleanliness of patients (not sitting in own waste, fresh bedding each patient)
What should be on a patient chart?
- Signalment
- Reason for hospitalisation
- Treatments required
- Vitals (TPR)
- Treatment times
Before treatment, ensure… (5)
Correct;
1. Treatment
2. Patient
3. Dose
4. Interval
5. Route
Post Op you should do.. (2)
- regular pain scoring
- PROM
What does PROM stand for?
Passive range of motion
Comfort considerations: ()
- Nappy pads, bedding
- Food and water
- Top or bottom cage
- Run or room
- Large/heavy vs blind vs agressive
- Thick bedding for large/recumbent patient to avoid pressure sores
- Wound care
Simple way to stimulate blood flow
- Massage area
Nauseous patient considerations (3)
- Additional fluids
- Feed slowly
- Warm up food
IV/catheter considerations (3)
- Collars to prevent chewing
- Bandaging to protect
- Unwrap at least every 24 hours to check
What does PO mean?
Orally
Steps to IV catheter placement ()
PREP:
- Clip a big enough area to allow for aseptic catheter placement
- Use soapy chlorhexadine as first step of prepping to remove dirt and hair from area then alcholic chlorhexadine to make the area aseptic
TAPING:
- Aim is to prevent the catheter from being pulled out or slipping out
- Tight but not so tight that circulation to limb is being cut off
What does a RED bandage indicate?
Stop, there’s a catheter there, the
patient can’t leave the hospital
What does a GREEN bandage indicate?
Go, this is a bandaid, patient is free to go – advise owners to remove bandaid when they arrive home
Step to catheter care: (7)
- Check regularly
- Clean and dry?
- Is it still patent?
- Has it slipped out at all?
- Are there any signs of inflammation? (redness, heat, exudate)
- Is the patient resistant to touching the leg?
- Is there any swelling above the catheter site that might indicate fluids are going subcutaneously
Goal of patient care (2)
- Monitoring and treating medical conditions
- Tending to the physical and psychological comfort of the patient
