Veterinary technician
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A veterinary technician (also called a vet tech), is a person trained and licensed to assist veterinarians. Their job is similar to that of a nurse.
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[edit] Job description
Common tasks performed by a veterinary technician include taking histories, providing treatment to routine problems, and giving counseling to clients. Technical skills include drawing blood, collecting urine, performing skin scrapings, performing routine lab procedures and tests in hematology, 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 administer medications, anesthesia, and blood products to the animals 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, both urinary and venous, earflushes, intravenous feedings, and tube feedings. Equipment use includes operating electrocardiographic and radiographic 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 also maintain treatment records and inventory of all pharmaceuticals, equipment and supplies.
Veterinary technicians are very different from veterinary assistants, because veterinary assistants have not been properly trained to perform many of the tasks that veterinary technicians can nor do they have specfic educaton in this field. Assistants typically have only a high school diploma or GED, but some may have limited college experience or be in school studying to become a board certified technician.
[edit] Education
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is responsible for accrediting schools with either a 2-year Associate's degree or a (rarely offered) 4-year Bachelor's degree. The organization just recently started to accredit schools that offer distance education. These do not provide any opportunity for clinical training so it is recommended that a significant preceptorship time be completed or one can acquire employment at a veterinary facility to allow clinical study.
Different states have different titles for veterinary technicians. Some call them Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT), some, Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT), and still others Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT). However, graduates of any AVMA accredited program may take a national certification exam (and in some states a state exam and/or references are required as well) and, upon passing, become certified/registered/licensed in any state. The technician is then subject to the regulations of the state Veterinary Medical Practice Act of the state she or he practices in.
In the United Kingdom veterinary technicians are known as Veterinary Nurses (VNs). The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons awards the veterinary nursing qualification and maintains a statutory list of veterinary nurses. VNs on the list are entitled by law to give animals medical treatment, and carry out certain minor surgery, under veterinary direction.
Many are employees are self proclaimed or called "Veterinary Technician" but are not. To be a "Technician" one must be Certified, Registered, or Licensed (varies by state). To become a Certified/Registered/Licensed Vet Tech you must attend a 2 year accredited school, obtain an Associates in Vet. Technology and pass your states' board exam (some states allow on the job training, usually five years, to substitute for a degree then require sitting for the National Boards). Vet Assistants are different than a licensed/registered/certified technician. They differ in level of knowledge, skills and legally can perform many more procedures than an assistant.
[edit] Veterinary Technician Oath
"I solemnly dedicate myself to aiding animals and society by providing excellent care and services for animals, by alleviating animal suffering, and promoting public health. I accept my obligations to practice my profession conscientiously and with sensitivity, adhering to the profession's Code of Ethics, and furthering my knowledge and competence through a commitment to lifelong learning."
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- State regulations of Veterinary Technicians
- Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons - Veterinary Nursing Department
[edit] External links
- Becoming a Veterinary Technician
- AVMA's (American Veterinary Medical Association) Homepage
- NAVTA's (National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America) Homepage
- vetnurse.co.uk - is the leading community website for veterinary nurses and technicians. The site contains a thriving forum in which to share ideas and experience, an archive of all editions of VN Times Magazine ever published, a busy (and free) job advertising section, an online store for veterinary nursing books, and a comprehensive online education section.
- Vet Students Abroad - Vetstudents.net is the premier location for everything to do with being a vet student, with the emphasis on being a vet student abroad. It is made by vet students for vet students and is designed to accept contributions from vet students and others all over the world. Everyone can create an account and the more information contributed, the more useful this site will be for everyone.
- British Veterinary Nursing Association
- The Academy of Veterinary Technician Anesthetists This site is the homepage for the Academy which is a certifying body for board certification in Anesthesia as a specialty for veterinary technicians.
- The Academy of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Technicians
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