VET 107 - Veterinary Practice Assistant II

1. Discuss the legal issues of pharmacology.
2. Assist with handling medications and filling prescriptions.
3. Assist with the preparation and monitoring of anesthetized companion animals for surgical procedures.
4. Assist with maintaining and preparing laboratory equipment and samples.
5. Assist with maintaining and performing radiographic equipment and images.

1. Pharmacy and Pharmacology
   1. Legal issues
      1. Recognize legal issues involving drugs in the workplace
      2. Recognize general types and groups of drugs and demonstrate proper terminology
      3. Differentiate prescription drugs from over-the-counter drugs and describe proper prescription label requirements
   2. Filling medications and inventory control
      1. Label and package dispensed drugs correctly
      2. Store, safely handle and dispose of biological and therapeutic agents, pesticides and hazardous waste
      3. Perform inventory control procedures including restocking supplies and checking expiration dates
2. Surgical Preparation and Assisting
   1. Assist  in performing surgical preparations
      1. Prepare surgical equipment/supplies
      2. Sterilize instruments and supplies using appropriate methods
      3. Identify common instruments
      4. Identify common suture materials, types and sizes
      5. Assist the veterinarian and/or veterinary technician with preparation of patients using aseptic technique
      6. Operate and maintain autoclaves
      7. Describe operating room sanitation and care
      8. Assist with positioning of surgical patients
      9. Aid the veterinarian and/or veterinary technician with physical monitoring of recovering surgical patients
   2. Facility and equipment cleanliness
      1. Maintain proper operating room conduct and asepsis
      2. Perform post-surgical clean up
      3. Fold surgical gowns and drapes
   3. Surgical facility
      1. Surgical equipment
      2. Surgical room and prep area
      3. Instruments
      4. Proper disposal of hazardous medical wastes
3. Laboratory Procedures
   1. Technical assistance in the laboratory
      1. Collect voided urine samples
      2. Determine physical properties of urine including color and clarity
      3. Assist in the collection of blood samples for procedures
      4. Collect voided fecal samples for parasitological examination
      5. Prepare fecal floatation solutions and set up fecal floatations
      6. Assist in necropsy procedures
      7. Explain how to handle rabies suspects and samples safely
      8. Handle disposal of dead animals
   2. Laboratory record keeping
      1. Ensure all labs results are accurately recorded
      2. Stock lab supplies
      3. File lab reports
4. Radiology and Ultrasound Imaging
   1. Follow recommended safety measures
   2. Assist the veterinarian and/or the veterinary technician in the completion of diagnostic radiographs and ultrasound including the restrain and positioning of patients
   3. Process diagnostic radiographs
   4. Use hand and automatic processing in the darkroom
   5. Maintain quality control
   6. Label, file and store film and radiographs
   7. Properly care for equipment
   8. Clean screens
   9. Know safety techniques for handling chemicals