VETERINARY ASSISTANT

WORK SAMPLE

WELCOME TO THE VETERINARY ASSISTANT WORK SAMPLE. BEFORE BEGINNING THIS WORK

SAMPLE, WE WILL FIRST LEARN ABOUT A VETERINARY ASSISTANTS’ JOB.

2

VETERINARY ASSISTANTS ASSIST IN EXAMINING ANIMALS FOR A VETERINARIAN. THEY

PREPARE ANIMALS FOR SURGERY, MONITOR POST-OPERATIONAL PATIENTS, AND GIVE SOME

MEDICATIONS TO ANIMALS.

3

OTHER DUTIES INCLUDE:

GIVING SOME INJECTIONS PREPARING EXAM ROOMS DRESSING WOUNDS HOLDING OR RESTRAINING ANIMALS ASSISTING DURING SURGICAL PROCEDURES ASSIST IN COMPLETING ROUTINE LABORATORY TESTS CARING AND FEEDING ANIMALS PREPARING MEDICAL FILES

4

YEARLY EARNINGS FOR VETERINARY ASSISTANTS AVERAGED $19,200 IN THE YEAR 2004.

THE MIDDLE 50 PERCENT EARNED BETWEEN $16,000 AND $22,800.

MOST ARE TRAINED ON THE JOB. SOME FORMAL PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH

CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION SCHOOLS, TRADE SCHOOLS AND JUNIOR COLLEGES.

WITH ADDITIONAL TRAINING, EXPERIENCE AND CERTIFICATION, THEY MAY ADVANCE TO

VETERINARY TECHNICIAN OR RESEARCH ASSISTANTS. NO CERTIFICATION IS AVAILABLE FOR

VETERINARY ASSISTANTS. THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR LABORATORY ANIMAL SCIENCE

OFFERS CERTIFICATION FOR TECHNICIANS AND ASSISTANT LAB ANIMAL TECHNICIANS.

5

PEOPLE INTERESTED IN ANIMAL CARE SHOULD ENJOY WORKING ON PRACTICAL HANDS-

ON PROBLEMS, ENJOY DOING A VARIETY OF TASKS, BE WILLING TO CLEAN ANIMAL CAGES,

LIFT, AND HOLD OR RESTRAIN ANIMALS AND RISK BEING BITEN OR SCRATCHED.

ASSISTANTS OFTEN HAVE TO KNEEL, CRAWL, BEND AND LIFT HEAVY SUPPLIES. THEY MUST

WEAR PROTECTIVE CLOTHING WHEN TREATING ANIMALS WITH GERMICIDES OR INSECTICIDES.

ASSISTANTS OFTEN WORK WEEKENDS, NIGHTS AND HOLIDAYS TO CARE FOR ANIMALS THAT

ARE BOARDED OR IN THE ANIMAL HOSPITAL.*

(*Information taken from http://science-education.nihgov)

6

NOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN PRESENTED INFORMATION ABOUT A CAREER AS A

VETERINARIAN ASSISTANT, WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN DOING THAT TYPE OF WORK?

PLEASE TAKE THE INTEREST CHECKSHEET AND ANSWER QUESTION #1.

(OBSERVATION POINT #1)

7

DURING THIS WORK SAMPLE YOU WILL DO THE FOLLOWING TASKS:

SET UP A MEDICAL RECORD DETERMINE BODY TEMPERATURE DETERMINE WEIGHT DETERMINE RESPIRATORY RATE DETERMINE PULSE AND HEART RATE RECORD OBSERVATIONS COMPLETE A MEDICAL HISTORY BRUSH A DOG’S TEETH CLEAN A DOG’S EARS WALK A DOG

8

YOUR FIRST TASK WILL BE TO ASSEMBLE MEDICAL RECORDS. IN THE FILE BOX, LOCATE THE

COMPELTED CLIENT RECORD. LOOK AT THE FORMS USED AND THE ORDER OF THE

PREPUNCHED FILE FOLDERS AND METAL FILE FASTENERS. ASSEMBLE FIVE COMPLETE, BLANK

NEW CLIENT RECORDS AND CALL YOUR EVALUATOR.

(OBSERVATION POINT #2)

9

YOUR NEXT TASK WILL BE TO RECORD OBSERVATIONS OF THE PATIENT. OBSERVATION

IS VERY IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO CARE AND SAFELY HANDLE THE PATIENT. OBSERVATIONS

ARE VISUAL, AUDITORY, TACTILE AND OLFACTORY. IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND THESE

TERMS YOU MAY WANT TO ASK YOUR EVALUATOR FOR ASSISTANCE.

10

TO DO OBSERVATIONS YOU MUST KNOW NORMAL BEHAVIOR AND APPEARANCE OF

DIFFERENT BREEDS AND SPECIES OF ANIMALS. EXAMPLES OF BEHAVIORS THAT ASSISTANTS

GENERALLY OBSERVE FOR ARE BITING AND AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIORS, THAT MAY INDICATE

THAT RESTRAINT WILL BE NEEDED.

OBSERVE THE DOG AT YOUR WORK STATION. NOTE HIS TEMPERMENT. TAKE ONE OF THE

MEDICAL RECORDS THAT YOU PREPARED AND LOCATE THE PHYSICAL EXAMINATION FORM.

RECORD YOUR OBSERVATIONS ON THIS FORM.

(OBSERVATION POINT #3)

(MAY CONSIDER A VIDEO OF DIFFERENT DOGS BEHAVIORS & HAVE THEM RECORD EACH ON A

SEPARATE PAPER)

ASSISTANTS OFTEN TAKE VITAL SIGNS INCLUDING TEMPERATURE, PULSE, RESPIRATORY

RATE AND WEIGHT.

11

YOU WILL TAKE THE VITAL SIGNS AND RECORD THEM ON THE PATIENT RECORD. PUT ON

A PAIR OF RUBBER GLOVES. YOU WILL FIRST DETERMINE THE DOG’S WEIGHT. LOCATE THE

SCALE. SANITIZE IT BY WIPING IT OFF WITH A DISINFECTIVE WIPE. NOW PLACE THE DOG ON

THE SCALE AND RECORD THE WEIGHT. AFTER YOU HAVE FINISHED RECORDING THE WEIGHT,

TAKE THE DOG OFF THE SCALE AND DISINFECT THE SCALE.

IT IS NOW TIME TO TAKE THE RESPIRATION RATE. YOU WILL NEED A STOPWATCH AND

THE PATIENT RECORD.

12

ASK THE EVALUATOR TO PLACE THE DOG ON THE EXAMINATION TABLE AND TO KEEP

HIM/HER RESTRAINED. AFTER THE DOG HAS BECOME RELAXED, OBSERVE THEIR BREATHING.

FOR 15 SECONDS.

1. Take a stopwatch.2. Look for signs of inhalation such as the chest rising and falling.3. Put a tissue or mirror by the dog’s nostrils and look for tissue movement or fogging on the mirror, if

it’s difficult to determine when the animal is breathing.4. Count the amount of times the dog breathes in 15 seconds.5. Multiply the number by 4. This number will be rate of respirations per minute.

(OBSERVATION POINT #4)

13

THIS IS AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE INTERNAL ORGANS OF A DOG. LOCATE THE HEART ON THE PICTURE. YOU WILL NEED TO LOCATE THE HEART BEAT AND PULSE OF YOUR DOG.

14

YOU WILL NOW DETERMINE THE PULSE AND HEART RATE. YOU WILL NEED A

STETHOSCOPE, STOPWATCH AND PATIENT RECORD. ASK YOUR EVALUATOR TO SHOW HOW TO

LOCATE THE FEMORAL PULSE. COUNT THE PULSE FOR 30 SECONDS, MULTIPLY IT BY TWO AND

RECORD IT ON THE PATIENT RECORD UNDER PULSE AS “PULSES PER MINUTE.”

.

15

NEXT YOU WILL USE THE STETHOSCOPE TO ASSESS THE HEART RATE. COUNT THE

HEARTBEATS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CHEST FOR 30 SECONDS AND MULTIPLY BY TWO.

THIS CAN BE USED AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO GET THE PULSE IF YOU CANNOT FIND THE PULSE.

RECORD THE HEART RATE UNDER PULSE, BUT INDICATE THAT IT IS A HEART RATE.

16

THE LAST VITAL SIGN THAT YOU WILL DO IS TO DETERMINE THE BODY TEMPERATURE.

YOU WILL NEED:

PATIENT RECORD DIGITAL THERMOMETER VASOLINE COTTON BALLS ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL

PLEASE REVIEW THE FOLLOWING STEPS AND ASK YOUR EVALUATOR TO RESTRAIN THE

DOG.

1. YOU WILL FIRST SAINITIZE THE THERMOMETER. WET A COTTON BALL WITH ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL AND WIPE THE THERMOMETER.

2. YOU WILL NOW LUBRICATE THE END OF THE THERMOMETER WITH VASOLINE. TAKE A COTTON BALL, COAT IT WITH VASOLINE AND THEN RUB THE VASOLINE ONTO THE THERMOMETER.

3. MAKE CERTAIN THE DIGITAL THERMOMETER IS CALIBRATED TO ZERO BY PUSHING THE BUTTON AND WAITING UNTIL YOU SEE L F◦

17

4. PLACE ONE HAND AROUND THE BASE OF THE PATIENT’S TAIL. ELEVATE THE TAIL EXPOSING THE ANUS.

5. GENTLY INSERT THE THERMOMETER 1 INCH INTO THE RECTUM6. HOLD THE THERMOMETER IN PLACE BY SIMULTANEOUSLY WRAPPING YOUR FINGERS

AROUND THE BASE OF THE TAIL AND THE THERMOMETER.7. ALLOW THE THERMOMETER TO REMAIN IN PLACE UNTIL YOU HEAR A SET OF BEEPS.8. REMOVE THE THERMOMETER AND WIPE WITH THE ALCOHOL-SOAKED COTTON BALL.9. READ THE THERMOMETER.10. RECORD THE READING IN THE PATIENT’S RECORD. REMEMBER TO INDICATE WHETHER

CELSIUS OR FAHRENHEIT.

(OBSERVATION POINT #5)

18

THE LAST TASK THAT YOU WILL DO IS TO CLEAN THE PATIENT’S EARS.

YOU WILL NEED:

COTTON-TIPPED APPLICATOR STICKS COTTON BALLS ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL EAR CLEANING SOLUTION PATIENT RECORD

19

REMEMBER1. CLEAN NORMAL PINNA AND UPPER EAR CANAL WITH ALCOHOL-SOAKED COTTON

BALLS.2. CLEAN CREASES IN UPPER EAR CANAL WITH COTTON-TIPPED APPLICATOR STICK

SOAKED IN ALCOHOL.3. REPEAT UNTIL CLEAN.4. FILL EAR CANAL WITH CLEANING SOLUTION OR ANTISEPTIC SOLUTION.5. MASSAGE EXTERNAL EAR CANAL.6. PLACE COTTON BALL IN EXTERNAL OPENING OF EAR CANAL.7. TILT HEAD.8. DRAIN FLUID FROM EAR CANAL.9. REPEAT UNTIL FLUID IS CLEAN.10. USE LARGE COTTON BALL AND DRY EAR CANAL AS FAR AS FINGER CAN REACH.

(Observation # 6)YOUR NEXT TASK WILL BE TO BATHE AND BRUSH THE DOG.

20

YOU WILL NEED TOWELS, DOG SHAMPOO, COMB, BRUSH, SINK, SPRAYHOSE, AND HAIR DRYER.

REVIEW THE STEPS FOR BATHING THE DOG BEFORE BEGINNING.

1. ATTACH THE HOSE TO THE SINK.2. ADJUST THE WATER TO A COMFORTABLE TEMPERATURE.3. ASK YOUR EVALUATOR TO PLACE THE DOG IN THE SINK.4. WET THE DOG AVOIDING THE EYES AND EARS.5. SHAMPOO THE FUR.6. RINSE THOROUGHLY.7. TURN OFF THE WATER AND TOWEL DRY THE DOG.8. ASK YOUR EVALUATOR TO REMOVE THE DOG FROM THE SINK AND TO PLACE HIM/HER ON

THE EXAM TABLE.9. TURN THE HAIR DRYER ON LOW AND DRY THE HAIR.10. BRUSH OUT THE FUR.

21

DENTAL HYGIENE IS VERY IMPORTANT TO AN ANIMAL’S HEALTH. YOU WILL NOW BRUSH

THE PATIENT’S TEETH.

1. PLACE A SMALL AMOUNT OF DOG TOOTHPASTE ON THE TIP OF YOUR GLOVED INDEX FINGER (YOU SHOULD NEVER USE HUMAN TOOTHPASTE.)

2. ALLOW THE PATIENT TO SNIFF IT.3. APPLY THE TOOTHPASTE TO THE BRUSH.4. ALLOW THE PATIENT TO SNIFF THE BRUSH.5. HOLDING THE MOUTH CLOSED BUT LIFTING THE LIP UPWARD, EXPOSE THE OUTER

SURFACES OF THE TEETH.6. BEGIN BRUSHING THE CENTRAL INCISORS AND WORK POSTERIORLY TO THE LAST

MOLARS.7. DO BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDES OF THE UPPER ARCADE.8. GENTLY PRY THE JAWS APART TO EXPOSE THE LOWER ARCADE. REPEAT THE PROCESS

WITH THE LOWER TEETH.9. IF THE PATIENT IS WILLING, SLIP THE TOOTHBRUSH BETWEEN THE UPPER AND LOWER

ARCADES. ROTATE THE BRISTLES SO THEY CONTACT THE INNER SURFACE OF THE UPPER ARCADE.

10. BRUSH BOTH SIDES OF THE UPPER LINGUAL ARCADE.11. REPEAT THE PROCESS WITH THE LOWER LINGUAL ARCADE.12. CLEAN THE PATIENT’S FACE AFTERWARD WITH A TOWEL.13. ON THE PATIENT’S RECORD MAKE A NOTATION OF THE DATE THE TEETH WERE BRUSHED

AND INITIAL THE ENTRY.

22

(OBSERVATION POINT #8)

23

YOUR NEXT TASK WILL BE TO WALK THE DOG. PLACE HIM/HER IN HIS/HER KENNEL,

FEED AND WATER HIM/HER AND DISINFECT YOUR EQUIPMENT AND WORK AREA. ASK

YOUR EVALAUTOR FOR FURTHER DIRECTIONS.

(OBSERVATION POINT #9)

24

CONGRATULATIONS

YOU HAVE NOW COMPLETED YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A VETERINARYM ASSISTANT.

TAKE THE INTEREST CHECKSHEET AND ANSWER QUESTION #2.

(Observation Point # 10)

25