Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

This course is designed to give second year veterinary technology students hands-on experience by working on actual veterinary cases in a shelter medicine setting. Students will have the opportunity to gain confidence in their abilities and develop increased clinical proficiency. In addition, students will complete AVMA-CVTEA Essential Skills required for graduation from the VT program.

Upon successful completion of the course students should be able to:

1. Perform comprehensive oral health assessments and treatments (COHATs) in common domestic species.

2. Provide competent surgical nursing support for male and female dogs and cats undergoing routine sterilization procedures.

3. Apply current animal behavior principles in assessment and humane handling of domestic species.

4. Demonstrate compassion with pet owners from varying cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds to provide primary veterinary care.

This two-credit-hour course meets for approximately 34 hours per week for 2 weeks. In this course practicum, students gain hands-on experience in a variety of departments at the Oregon Humane Society, such as Surgery, Behavior, and the Community Veterinary Hospital. Each student is expected to attend 8 hours of orientation and five to six 10-hour educational days at Oregon Humane Society.  

The student will be evaluated on their attendance, punctuality, ability to function on-the-job, and completion of required essential skills. Based on the satisfactory completion of the above items, students will receive a grade of Pass or No Pass.

THEMES

1. Proficiency
2. Professionalism

​CONCEPTS

1. Clinical practice
2. Teamwork

ISSUES

1. Decision-making
2. Application of academic knowledge to real-life situations
3. Integrating into existing teams

SKILLS

1.0 COMPREHENSIVE ORAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT

1.1 Perform a full-mouth COHAT on a canine or feline patient. This process includes, but is not limited to:

a. Supra- and subgingival scaling (manual and machine)

b. Oral examination and charting

c. Polishing

1.2 Additional tasks may include, but are not limited to: Patient preparation, dental radiography, client communication/education.

2.0 SURGICAL NURSING

2.1 Participate in one or more canine and/or feline ovariohysterectomies (OVH) and one or more canine and/or feline orchiectomies. 

2.1 Apply previously acquired knowledge in support of the surgeon and the rest of the surgical team, which may include but is not limited to:

a. Familiarity with the surgical procedures

b. Setup of required equipment and material

c. Patient preparation

d. Aseptic technique

e. Operating room protocol

f. Documentation

g. Client communication/education

3.0 ANIMAL BEHAVIOR

3.1 Apply previously acquired knowledge to correctly assess canine and feline body language and utilize humane handling techniques appropriate to the individual patient.

4.0 PATIENT CARE

4.1 Provide a variety of tasks relating to inpatient and outpatient care as directed in support of staff veterinarians and veterinary team. 

4.2 Demonstrate a commitment at all times to high-quality patient care.

5.0 CLIENT AND STAFF RELATIONS 

5.1 Demonstrate awareness of and sensitivity to a wide variety of client and staff backgrounds and identities (e.g. cultural, ethnic, religious, gender, socioeconomic).

5.2 Interact professionally at all times with members of the public and facility staff.

5.3 Respect and protect the confidentiality of client and patient information.