Veterinary Technician Information

Done With Veterinary Office Management And Moving On To AA&P II

2010-08-04T19:52:00.000-04:00

Well, I completed Veterinary Office Management. I have to say that this class was really easy.
It's a lot of very basic common sense information. I've been busy because of the beautiful weather so it took me about 3 weeks to complete all the material. A little longer than I wanted, but I'm known to procrastinate. I also ran into a problem with the webinars this time. I didn't get credit for 3 classes. I think the problem was because I had other windows open during class and therefore it did not count me as 'in class'. It was my fault and the first time anything like this happened. Problem solved and I better follow directions. :-)
I started reading the material for Animal Anatomy & Physiology II. It looks like we will cover less material in 2 than we did in 1, and I think the information we are covering is going to be more enjoyable.

Can I Get A Job With An Online Vet Tech Degree?

2010-07-15T16:05:00.000-04:00

I came across this article that I thought I would share with everyone:

http://www.veterinary-technician.net/2010/05/27/can-i-get-a-job-with-an-online-vet-tech-degree/

Semester 2 Has Started

2010-07-15T14:51:00.000-04:00

Well, I made it through my first semester and am now into my second semester at Penn Foster.
I did pretty well in my courses for the first semester. The finals were tough, and I did not do well in 2 of the 4 I took, but because these grades are averaged into your course exams, I did well in my overall class average.
My first class in my second semester is Veterinary Office Management. Maybe it's because I have a business degree already, but this class is going to be a piece of cake. Nice to start off with this one. :-) I hope to finish this class a quick as possible.

Semester 1 Finals

2010-06-17T14:14:00.002-04:00

Last Thursday I took my first semester finals. Overall, I think it went well. I had four tests to take: Intro to Vet Tech, Animal Anatomay and Physiology 1, Biology, and Medical Math. I had Sylvan Learning Center in Ponte Vedra Beach to proctor my exams.

My first test was Biology. You only have 1 hour to take the test and I ended up running out of time. All the questions require short essay answers and normally I am a fast test taker. I left a couple blank that I didn't get to, but I thought the questions were pretty fair.
The next test I took was AA&P and again, I ended up running out of time. Just like with biology, I thought the questions were fair. Some of them were rather difficult and I just couldn't remember certain areas.
My 3rd test was Medical Math and I had a 100 average going into the final, so I was the least worried about this one. Boy, was I wrong. This was by far the most difficult test. The questions I felt were difficult and tricky. It took a long time to do all the questions on here because a calculator is not allowed. So a lot of my time was spent just doing the simple math, and I ran out of time trying to finish the test.
My last test of the day was Intro to Vet Tech. This one I believe proved to be the easiest and the only test I was able to finish on time.
I am now waiting for my exams to get graded and move on to Semester 2.
Once I get my grades back, I will let you know how I did.

Finals Are Almost Here

2010-06-04T19:44:00.001-04:00

Hi all,
I haven't posted anything in awhile b/c I've been a bit busy and I wasn't sure anyone was reading my site. However, I recently received a few emails and wanted to say that yes, I am still here and I will certainly post more often.
Since my last post, I have finished Animal Anatomy and Physiology I and also completed Medical Mathematics.

Here's what was covered in each of those courses:
In AA&P:

Intro to Anatomy and Physiology
The Skeletal and Muscular Systems
The Circulatory, Cardiovascular, Lymphatic, and Respiratory Systems

In Medical Math:

Math Review
Systems of Measurement
Dosage Calculation Methods

AA&P has a ton of information. A lot of people say Medical Math is really difficult. I've always been good at math and actually found this class the easiest so far.

The final course of the first semester is a computer course; however, I was able to transfer credits from my previous college (Spring Hill College). Plus I've been working in the computer field for 11 years so I don't think I really need to take an Intro to Computers class. :-)

So, what is next? Well, I have been studying for my first semester finals for the last few days and I take them in less than 1 week. Wish me luck! I'll let everyone know how they went next week.

Take care,
RJ

Penn Foster Receives Full Accreditation from the AVMA

2010-04-17T14:47:00.002-04:00

It was just announced that the Veterinary Technician Program at Penn Foster College has received its FULL ACCREDITATION from the American Veterinary Medical Association.

The Veterinary Technician at Penn Foster was previously provisionally accredited.

What does Provisionally Accredited mean?

New programs that have made significant progress towards meeting the Standards of Accreditation. The program will remain on provisional accreditation until achieving full accreditation, or for a period not to exceed five years. Programs with Provisional Accreditation classification may be placed on Probationary Accreditation or Accreditation Withdrawn if the program does not provide continuing evidence of progress toward meeting all Standards, or if it has been on provisional accreditation status for five years. Once graduates have been produced and outcomes have been collected and analyzed, a provisionally accredited program may petition for full accreditation. A special site visit may be required prior to an accreditation decision if major changes have occurred in the program that may impact the program's ability to meet the Standards of Accreditation.

- Information taken from AVMA.org

Why is Accrediation Important?

Accreditation by the AVMA Council on Education (COE) and Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA) represents the highest standard of achievement for veterinary medical education in the United States. Institutions that earn accreditation confirm their commitment to quality and continuous improvement through a rigorous and comprehensive peer review.

Accreditation is a process by which an educational institution or program submits to a voluntary, non-governmental review to determine whether it meets accepted standards of quality. Within veterinary medicine, the AVMA COE develops standards and conducts reviews of DVM or equivalent educational programs, while the AVMA CVTEA develops standards and reviews programs in veterinary technology. An institution or program is considered fully accredited when it is found to meet these standards (see the COE accreditation process and the CVTEA accreditation process for more information).

Graduation from an AVMA COE- or CVTEA-accredited institution is a prerequisite for licensure or certification for professional practice through the majority of state licensing boards and credentialing agencies in order to meet the educational prerequisites.

In brief, AVMA accreditation of veterinary medical programs and institutions assures:

prospective students that they will meet a competency threshold for entry into practice, including eligibility for professional credentialing and/or licensure;
employers that graduates have achieved specified learning goals and are prepared to begin professional practice;
faculty, deans and administrators that their programs measure satisfactorily against national standards and their own stated missions and goals;
the public that public health and safety concerns are being addressed; and
the veterinary profession that the science and art of veterinary medicine are being advanced through contemporary curricula.

- Information taken from AVMA.org

For more information on the Veterinary Technician program at Penn Foster, please visit their website.

ASPCA Poison Control Center

2010-04-15T10:34:00.001-04:00

A couple years ago, my boxer Callie got very sick one night. We realized she ate a Sago Palm. I called the emergency veterinary office here in Jacksonville and found out that Sago's are extremely poisonous. I did not know this and if I had, would never have a poisonous plant in a place my dog could get to it.
Luckily, after spending a couple days in the emergency clinic, she was perfectly healthy. We were really fortunate that God looked over her then.
I wanted to post this link to the ASPCA Poison Control Center, so everyone can prevent having your pets finding something around your house that could be poisonous.
ASPCA Poison Control Center
I found out about this link from my Animal Anatomy and Physiology class.

Finished with Biology

2010-04-09T13:48:00.002-04:00

Well, I am finally done with Introduction to Biology. It took about 5-6 weeks for me to finish up the course. Overall, I enjoyed the course and there was a ton of information. It gave a good overview of a lot of different areas.
Now it's on to Animal Anatomy and Physiology 1. I am really looking forward to this course; I have heard a lot of good things about it.

Some of the areas covered in Biology (SCI120) were:

Cells:

View of Life
Chemical Basis of Life
Organic Molecules of Life
Inside the Cell
The Dynamic Cell
Energy For Life
Energy of Cells

Genetics:

Cellular Reproduction
Sexual Reproduction
Patterns of Inheritance
DNA Biology and Technology
Gene Regulation and Cancer
Genetic Counseling

Evolution and The Diversity of Life:

Darwin and Evolution
Evolution on a Small Scale
Evolution on a Large Scale
The First Forms of Life
Land Environment: Plants and Fungi
Both Water and Land: Animals

Structure and Function in Plants And Animals

Plant Anatomy And Growth
Plant Responses and Reproduction
Being Organized and Steady
The Transport Systems
The Maintenance Systems
Human Nutrition
Defenses Against Disease
The Control Systems
Sensory Input and Motor Output
Reproduction and Development

Ecology:

Ecology of Populations
Communities and Ecosystems
Human Impact on the Biosphere

5 job hunting mistakes to avoid

2010-04-01T10:01:00.001-04:00

For all you recent grads (or soon to be grads), here is a list of five job hunting mistakes to avoid:

http://veterinarybusiness.dvm360.com/vetec/Veterinary+business/5-job-hunting-mistakes-to-avoid/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/663586?contextCategoryId=44515

My Story - Why Vet Tech? Why Distance Learning? Why Penn Foster?

2010-02-25T16:02:00.003-05:00

A few months ago, I decided I needed a career change.
You see, I graduated from a traditional college about 10 years ago. I entered Spring Hill College with the goal to be a veterinarian. Somewhere along the line, I lost my desire to spend so much time in school...a decision I regret to this day.
I ended up pursuing a business degree and majored in CIS w/ a minor in Accounting. I have now been in the computer software world for over 10 years.
Finally, a few months ago, I knew I had to try to redirect my career towards my real passion, helping animals.
However, how would I ever find the time to go to school, balance my family time, and still hold a full-time job?
This is when I came across the listing on AVMA's website for distance learning programs. THAT'S IT! I can work towards my degree and still be able to balance my other priorities.
So far, it has been going great. I absolutely love the school I chose, Penn Foster College. The program at Penn Foster is broken up into 4 semesters. I can work at my own pace, a huge plus. All VET classes require online webinar classes. And after my second and fourth semester, I will be required to intern in an animal hospital for a total of 450+ hours. Other schools required working in an animal hospital 10-20 hours per week. This was not possible for me, since I have a full-time job and a family. After evaluating all the distance learning programs (and seeing that no accredited vet tech schools were anywhere near me), I knew Penn Foster College was definitely the right choice.
I am currently half way through Semester 1 and I am really excited about the thought of changing my career and becoming a veterinary technician.

RJ Spreckelsen

Veterinary Tip Videos From VetLearn.com

2010-02-11T16:10:00.003-05:00

I found some video vet tech tips on vetlearn.com that I thought were very informative so I wanted to pass the information along.
Here is the url:
http://www.vetlearn.com/HealthCareTeam/VideoTechTips.aspx

Wikipedia Explains: What is a Veterinary Technician?

2010-02-10T14:16:00.007-05:00

A veterinary technician or veterinary technologist, (also called an animal health technician/technologist), is a person trained to assist veterinarians.

Job Description

Technical skills include: venipuncture; collecting urine; performing skin scrapings; taking and processing radiographs; and performing routine lab procedures and tests in: hematology, biochemistry, chemistry, microbiology, urinalysis, and serology. They assist the veterinarian with physical examinations that help determine the nature of the illness or injury. Veterinary technicians also perform and maintain anesthesia, and administer medications, fluids and blood products as prescribed by the veterinarian. Tasks in patient care include: recording temperature, pulse and respiration, dressing wounds, applying splints and other protective devices, and cleaning teeth. They perform catheterizations - urinary, arterial, and venous; ear flushes; intravenous feedings and tube feedings. Equipment use includes operating electrocardiographic, radiographic and ultrasonographic equipment. Veterinary technicians commonly assist veterinarians in surgery by providing correct equipment and instruments and by assuring that monitoring and support equipment such as anesthetic machines, cardiac monitors, scopes and breathing apparatus are in good working condition. They may also maintain treatment records and inventory of all pharmaceuticals, equipment and supplies, and help with other administrative tasks within a veterinary practice.

Education and Credentialing

To become a credentialed veterinary technician, one must attend a two-year or three-year avma or cvma-accredited school, most of which terminate in the awarding of an associate's degree in veterinary technology (those enduring a four-year avma or cvma accredited school terminating in the awarding of a bachelor's degree are considered veterinary technologists though the distinction is rarely made an issue). The education a credentialed technician receives is in-depth and crucial for medical understanding and to give proper health care. The american veterinary medical association (avma) and canadian veterinary medical association (cvma) are responsible for accrediting schools with either associate's degrees or bachelor's degrees, though in some states or provinces this is not necessary. The avma also accredits schools that offer distance education. As a requirement of avma-accreditation, all distance learning programs require a significant amount of practical clinical experience before the student will be allowed to graduate. Clinical experience is usually obtained by employment or volunteer hours at an animal clinic. Preceptors must be a veterinarian or a credentialed vet technician and are required to instruct and sign off on clinical tasks, and then submit the records to the school for approval; some tasks must be videotaped and submitted to the school for grading. Though rare and competitive, there exists, in some large multi-specialty practices, one-year rotational internships available to veterinary technology students upon graduation.
Gaining a degree in veterinary technology is only a part of the requirements for credentialing. Veterinary technology degree holders who wish to be credentialed must generally also pass some sort of credentialing exams based upon the requirements of the state, province or country in which they live. In the united states, these exams are usually the veterinary technician national exam and an exam written by whatever governing body bestows credentials to veterinary technicians in that state. Depending on the state that a technician is working towards credentialing in, these tests may be administered by a state licensing board, state veterinary medical association or state veterinary technician association. The type of credential granted to technicians also varies from state to state based upon the laws that govern that state and the type of organization granting credentals. Veterinary technicians may be licensed [lvt (lvmt--licensed veterinary medical technician in tennessee)], registered (rvt) or certified (cvt). Licensure is granted by a legal governing body such as a state licensing board and indicates that only people who hold a license may represent themselves as a "veterinary technician" or perform certain tasks. Registration refers to the keeping of lists of people who have met specific requirements to be a veterinanry technician but in most instances doesn't limit certain actions or the use of the term "veterinary technician" to only those who are registered. Certification is generally bestowed by a private organization such as a school or professional organization and hold no legal connotation. Certification is often granted by the state veterinary technician association in states where neither the laws nor the veterinary medical association require or recommend credentialing of technicians. The term animal health technician (aht) is still used in some provinces of canada and was once commonly used in the united states before giving way to the current moniker of veterinary technician. As with vt's there are (or have been) raht's, laht's, and caht's.
While it used to be very common that people with a set number of years or hours of experience assisting a veterinarian could sit for these exams that is now only allowed in a handful of states and will be phased out by 2011 in any state which uses the veterinary technician national exam. (a deadline set by the owners of the veterinary technician national exam).
In most anglophonic countries outside north america veterinary technicians are known as veterinary nurses (vns). The american nursing association and some state nursing associations have claimed proprietary rights to the term "nurse", thus it is not used as a credential for veterinary personnel in north america. While this claim has been debated ad nauseam , there is no case law to date supporting this claim. Some veterinary technicians argue that even though their scope of responsibility is broader than that of nurses (filling the roles of nurse, radiology technician, laboratory technician, pharmacy technician, etc.) They still spend approximately 90% of their time performing nursing tasks and should therefore be allowed to be called veterinary nurses like their counterparts outside north america. Unofficially in conversation with veterinary clientele veterinary technicians are often referred to as veterinary nurses simply because it is the most succinct, albeit incomplete, description that the clientele can relate to. What is now the british veterinary nursing association faced similar opposition early on from the nursing community in their country.
Laws differ greatly from state to state. Contact your state's veterinary medical board to find out what laws bind veterinary technicians in your state. Veterinary technicians' interests are represented nationally in the united states and canada by the national association of veterinary technicians in america (navta—formerly the north american veterinary technician association) and the canadian association of animal health technicians (caaht) respectively. Each state also tends to have its own veterinary technician association which represents the interests of veterinary technicians in that particular state. Membership in state veterinary technician associations is very important as these are the groups that present the needs and desires of veterinary technicians to the state lawmakers and veterinary medical associations. As it is each state's right to set the laws and rules which govern the practice of veterinary technology and veterinary medicine, representation on a state level is necessary to address the specific needs of veterinary technicians in their state. Specialty certification
Beyond credentialing as a veterinary technician specialty certification is also available to technicians with advanced skills. To date there are specialty recognitions in: emergency & critical care, anesthesiology, dentistry, small animal internal medicine, large animal internal medicine, cardiology, oncology, neurology, zoological medicine, equine veterinary nursing, and behavior. Veterinary technician specialists carry the additional post-nominal letters "vts" with their particular specialties indicated in parentheses. As veterinary technology evolves more specialty academy recognitions are anticipated!

The above was taken from wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Veterinary Technician Schools

2010-02-10T13:13:00.001-05:00

There are several schools out there to learn how to become a Veterinary Technician.
Online veterinary technician schools are becoming more and more popular. Online vet tech schools allow you to balance your current job and your family while getting your education.

Check out AVMA's website for a list of all accredited schools that offer a degree in veterinary technology:

http://www.avma.org/education/cvea/vettech_programs/vettech_programs.asp

I am currently enrolled in Penn Foster's vet tech distance learning program. If you have any questions about the program at Penn Foster, please don't hesitate to ask.

According to the AVMA, the following schools offer a veterinary technology distance learning program:
Blue Ridge Community College
Cedar Valley College
Jefferson State Community College
Moraine Park Technical College
Northern Virginia Community College
Penn Foster College
Purdue University
St. Petersburg College
San Juan College

Veterinary Associations and Veterinary Conferences

2010-02-09T21:08:00.001-05:00

Links to veterinary associations, veterinary technician associations, veterinary conferences, and
much more.
Please post more and I will add them to the list.

Florida Veterinary Technican Association (FTMA)
Florida Veterinary Medical Association (FVMA)
Ameican Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB)
Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE)
National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA)
North American Veterinary Conference (NAVC)

What is the difference between a veterinary technician and a veterinary assistant?

2010-02-09T20:53:00.005-05:00

The difference between a veterinary techician and a veterinary assistant are the education and credentialling requirements.

Veterinary assistants are not required to have any educatiton related to the field of veterinary medicine or veterinary technology. There are voluntary educational opportunities, however
these are not equivalent to a college degree programs and are instead basic vocational training. There is no over-sight by a professional body to ensure that the majority of these programs provide adequate or correct information. There is no requirement for hands-on training and instructors often have little or no experience or education in the veterinary field. There are a handful of certification programs that are designed and approved by veterinary professional organizations or that are offered by colleges which also offer accredited veteirnary technology programs and these are better choices for someone who wants to be a veterinary assistant. This is an entry level position for working in the veterinary field and is not a recognized profession in any state.

Veterinary technicians are required (in most states) to have a degree in veterinary technology from an AVMA accredited veterinary technology program, to have passed the Veterinary Technician National Exam and a state exam in order to be credentialed. There are 2 degree levels offered in veterinary technology---a 2 year associates degree and a 4 year bachelors degree. Those with an associates degree are termed "technicians" and those with a bachelors degree are termed "technologists". The American Veterinary Medical Association maintains a list of accredited degree programs on their website: Inhttp://www.avma.org/education/cvea/vettech_programs/vettech_programs.asp

In many states, the use of the title "veterinary technician" and the practice of veterinary technology is recognized as profession and licensure is required. In other states, veterinary technicians are registered or certified. The laws that govern veterinary technicians vary from state to state so for specific information on the laws a person should check their state veterinary practice act or contact their state veterinary licensing board.

Persons interested in careers as veterinary technologists and technicians should take as many high school science, biology, and math courses as possible. Science courses taken beyond high school, in an associate's or bachelor's degree program, should emphasize practical skills in a clinical or laboratory setting. Because veterinary technologists and technicians often deal with pet owners, communication skills are very important. In addition, technologists and technicians should be able to work well with others, because teamwork with veterinarians is common. Organizational ability and the ability to pay attention to detail also are important.

Technologists and technicians usually begin work as trainees in routine positions under the direct supervision of a veterinarian. Entry-level workers whose training or educational background encompasses extensive hands-on experience with a variety of laboratory equipment, including diagnostic and medical equipment, usually require a shorter period of on-the-job training. As they gain experience, technologists and technicians take on more responsibility and carry out more assignments under only general veterinary supervision. Some eventually may become supervisors.

More useful links are: http://www.avma.org/animal_health/brochures/health_care/health_care_brochure.asp http://www.avma.org/issues/policy/veterinary_technology.asp http://www.navta.net/index.php?pr=Education

Above retrieved from Answers.com