Textbook for the Veterinary Assistant (eBook)

Kara M. Burns, Lori Renda-Francis (Autoren)

eBook Download: EPUB

2021 | 2. Auflage
224 Seiten
Wiley (Verlag)
978-1-119-56527-7 (ISBN)

Infos

Comprising 35 original essays written by leading scholars, this Companion constitutes an exceptionally broad-ranging and in-depth guide to one of America's greatest poets. The volume makes the best and most up-to-date scholarly thinking on Walt Whitman available to students. It encourages them to be more aware of the contexts of Whitman's work, and helps them to understand the experimental nature of his writings.

The Companion starts with a section which communicates a strong sense of the poet's time, place and history. The contributions in this section range over subjects such as national identity, imperialism, slavery, race, gender, sexuality, and popular culture. A further selection of essays situates Whitman's work in its literary context. Finally, there are essays devoted to specific works, covering both Whitman's poetry and prose writings. The Companion also includes a compact biography of the poet and a bibliography of his works.

The authors

Kara M. Burns, MS, MEd, LVT, VTS (Nutrition) is Founder and Past president of the Academy of Veterinary Nutrition Technicians, Lafayette, IN, USA.

Lori Renda-Francis, LVT, BBA, M.Ed, PhD, is the Veterinary Technology Program Director for Macomb Community College in Clinton Township, Michigan, USA.

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A fully updated new edition of the most complete guide to the veterinary assistant curriculum The newly revised Second Edition of Textbook for the Veterinary Assistant delivers a complete exploration of the veterinary assisting curriculum and acts as a comprehensive text for students and instructors. The book discusses all aspects of the curriculum approved by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America. The book is thoroughly updated to reflect cutting-edge advances in veterinary practice and includes a new chapter on laboratory considerations and an updated chapter on avian and exotics covering popular exotic pets. Readers get access to an expanded companion website that offers teaching PowerPoints, homework assignments, self-assessment tests and quizzes, multiple-choice questions, teaching activities, breed study guides, and instructional video clips. Textbook for the Veterinary Assistant also includes: A thorough introduction to medical terminology for veterinary assistants, including prefixes, suffixes, and common abbreviations used in veterinary medicine Comprehensive explorations of veterinary anatomy, including anatomical directional terms and all relevant anatomical systems Practical discussions of the behavior, handling, and restraint of animals, including explorations of animal body language In-depth examinations of animal nutrition, including discussions of weight management, body condition scoring, and food assessment Textbook for the Veterinary Assistant is the ideal resource for veterinary assistant students and veterinary assistants studying for the NAVTA Approved Veterinary Assistant exam, as well as practicing veterinary assistants seeking a one-stop resource that includes up-to-date information on topics such as restraint, behavior, nutrition, anatomy, and laboratory considerations. It is also useful for veterinary technology students in introductory courses.

Textauszug

Chapter 1
Introduction to the Veterinary (or Assistant) Profession

Welcome to veterinary medicine! Congratulations on choosing one of the most rewarding and enriching professions! Veterinary medicine is a profession that involves medicine, compassion, technical skills, and teamwork. It provides care for species that cannot speak for themselves. As in human medicine, the veterinary health‐care team is composed of many members, each with an important role in the proper care of patients and functioning of a veterinary hospital.

The goal of the veterinary practice should be excellent patient care and exceptional customer service. This textbook will look at the veterinary assistant’s role in making this goal a reality. Veterinary practices should also provide team members with a friendly, well‐organized, and safe workplace. Every veterinary health‐care team member is responsible for the success of the practice.

The veterinary health‐care team works together in the best interest of the patient. All team members, regardless of their role in the veterinary hospital, have the responsibility to ensure the safety and comfort of all patients. Each member of the health‐care team has specific roles and responsibilities, and often times these responsibilities are shared. Whatever the hierarchy in the practice, all members must provide the best care to all patients at all times. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) likewise recognizes the value of the various health‐care team members: “The veterinary profession is enhanced through efficient utilization of each member of the veterinary healthcare team by appropriate delegation of tasks and responsibilities to support staff.”

The various members of the health‐care team include the following.

• Veterinary assistant
• Veterinarian
• Veterinary technician
• Veterinary technologist
• Veterinary technician specialist
• Receptionist
• Office managers
• Groomers
• Kennel assistants

Veterinary assistants may be approved through the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA)‐approved veterinary assistant program or trained on the job (www.navta.net/assistants). The term veterinary assistant is used typically for a person who assists in the care of animals but is not a credentialed veterinary technician, laboratory animal technician, or veterinarian.

The roles and responsibilities of veterinary assistants will be covered in detail in the forthcoming chapters. The duties of the veterinary assistant may include restraining and exercising patients, cleaning hospital and boarding premises, setting up equipment and supplies, cleaning and maintaining practice and laboratory facilities, and feeding patients. They may also be responsible for other clinical support tasks assigned by the credentialed veterinary technician and/or veterinarian. Most veterinary assistants are trained on the job by a supervising veterinary technician or veterinarian, but some assistants complete 6–12 months of training in a formal course of study.

The veterinarian is a doctor of veterinary medicine. Veterinarians have graduated from a 4‐year AVMA‐accredited postgraduate doctoral program culminating in a doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM) or veterinary medical doctor (VMD) degree. Veterinarians must also pass the licensing board in the state or province in which they wish to practice. Veterinarians have many responsibilities in the hospital, and they are licensed to perform surgery, diagnose diseases and conditions, give a prognosis relating to the diagnosis, and prescribe medication. These skills are the veterinarians’ alone – no other health‐care team member can do these tasks.

The veterinary technician is a graduate of a program in veterinary technology accredited by the AVMA Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA). The technician typically has received an associate’s degree and national credentialing through the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE). Some states require a national as well as a state credential, verified by the state board of veterinary medicine. Only graduates of an AVMA‐accredited program are allowed to take the national board exam. The duties of a veterinary technician are many and often include, but are not limited to, nursing care, anesthesia, surgery, dental, laboratory, radiography, etc.

A veterinary technologist is a graduate of a 4‐year, AVMA CVTEA‐accredited program who holds a bachelor’s degree from a veterinary technician school. Alternatively, a veterinary technologist may be a credentialed veterinary technician who holds a bachelor of science degree in another program with studies in supervision, leadership, management, or a scientific area. The technologist’s responsibilities are similar to but more in depth than those of veterinary technicians. Veterinary technologists may also pursue careers in hospital management, education, or research.

Veterinary technician specialists (VTS) are veterinary technicians who have pursued further education, experience, and training in one of 16 current areas of specialization recognized by the NAVTA. Credentialed technicians who choose to specialize must accumulate a specific number of hours within a particular specialty during a set number of years. VTS candidates are also expected to have a strong knowledge and skill set pertaining to their specific area of medicine and nursing as well as a minimum number of continuing education hours specific to their specialty. Their advanced education and training culminates in taking a board examination specific to their specialty showing their advanced knowledge and skills.

The following are the 16 veterinary technician specialty academies currently recognized by the NAVTA.

1. Academy of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Technicians and Nurses (AVECCTN)
2. Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Anesthesia and Analgesia (AVTAA)
3. Academy of Veterinary Dental Technicians (AVDT)
4. Academy of Internal Medicine for Veterinary Technicians (AIMVT)
5. Academy of Veterinary Behavior Technicians (AVBT)
6. Academy of Veterinary Zoological Medicine Technicians (AVZMT)
7. Academy Of Equine Veterinary Nursing Technicians (AEVNT)
8. Academy of Veterinary Surgical Technicians (AVST)
9. Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Clinical Practice (AVTCP)
10. Academy of Veterinary Nutrition Technicians (AVNT)
11. Academy of Veterinary Clinical Pathology Technicians (AVCPT)
12. Academy of Laboratory Animal Veterinary Technicians and Nurses (ALAVTN)
13. Academy of Dermatology Veterinary Technicians (ADVT)
14. Academy of Physical Rehabilitation Veterinary Technicians (APRVT)
15. Academy of Veterinary Ophthalmic Technicians (AVOT)
16. The Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Diagnostic Imaging (AVTDI)

For more information on veterinary technician specialties, please visit www.navta.net/page/specialties.

Like all other members of the health‐care team, receptionists play a significant role in the success of a practice. Receptionists benefit the practice as the face and voice of the hospital. They greet clients, detail and clarify invoices, and receive money. They are professionals with great people skills. Receptionists answer the hospital phone and schedule appointments. They are responsible for acknowledging clients when they walk in and out of the practice. Because they typically make the first impression on clients, receptionists affect the clients’ perception of the hospital and are thus critical to the success of the hospital.

Office managers are responsible for the management of the front office staff. Their duties include training receptionists on proper and excellent customer service and communication skills. Office managers often make important decisions on behalf of the practice and supervise the running of the practice. They are typically responsible for the banking needs of the practice and resolution of performance issues among the team members.

Groomers have experience and education in performing technical skills relating to the fur and dermis of the patient. Many breeds of animals require specific grooming techniques, and advanced training is necessary to acquire such skills. Training and good communication skills are important to meeting the needs of the patient and the client. Groomers must also take precautions to prevent injury to animals and to themselves. A number of courses and on‐the‐job training programs are available for groomers. Many groomers belong to the National Dog Groomers Association (NDGA). This association works in conjunction with groomers throughout the country to promote professionalism. In some states, licensing or certification is required. The NDGA educates all areas of the profession and the public with regard to the pet grooming profession.

The NDGA’s goals are to:

• unite groomers through membership
• promote communication with colleagues
• set recognized grooming standards
• offer those seeking a higher level of professional recognition the opportunity to have their grooming skills certified.

Kennel assistants are responsible for the cleanliness of the patient and monitoring patient status and immediately alerting the team to any changes. The majority of kennel assistants receive on‐the‐job training where they learn the workings of a veterinary hospital as well as...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 16.11.2021
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Veterinärmedizin
• Schlagworte: Pflege i. d. Veterinärmedizin • Tierpflege • Veterinärmedizin • Veterinary Medicine • Veterinary Nursing & Animal Care
• ISBN-10: 1-119-56527-8 / 1119565278
• ISBN-13: 978-1-119-56527-7 / 9781119565277