Veterinary Technology Flashcards

History and Foundations of Veterinary Technology

  • Father of Veterinary Technology: Dr. Walter Collins
    • Pioneered formal education and vet tech programs in the U.S. in the 1960s.

Veterinary Technician Oath

  • Dedication to:
    • Aiding animals and society.
    • Providing excellent care and services for animals.
    • Alleviating animal suffering.
    • Promoting public health.

Educational and Credentialing Requirements

  • Requirements:
    • Completion of an AVMA-accredited program.
    • Passing the VTNE (Veterinary Technician National Examination).
    • These steps ensure technicians are qualified to provide high-quality care.

Structure and Format of the VTNE

  • Format:
    • 170 multiple-choice questions.
    • 3-hour time limit.
    • Covers 9 domains including surgery, anesthesia, and pharmacy.

Characteristics of a Profession

  • Six features:
    1. Specialized knowledge
    2. Formal education
    3. Certification
    4. Altruism
    5. Autonomy
    6. Ethics

Veterinary Practice Model

  • Five steps:
    1. Gather data
    2. Identify evaluations
    3. Develop care plan
    4. Implement interventions
    5. Evaluate response

Tasks Limited to Licensed Veterinarians

  • Tasks:
    • Diagnosis
    • Prognosis
    • Prescribing
    • Surgery
    • Vet techs assist but do not perform these tasks.

Areas of Responsibility for Vet Techs

  • Responsibilities:
    • Patient care
    • Surgical assisting
    • Lab work
    • Radiology
    • Client education

Members of the Veterinary Healthcare Team

  • Members and Roles:
    • Veterinarian (Vet)
    • Veterinary Technician (Tech)
    • Veterinary Assistant
    • Receptionist
    • Manager
    • Each role supports patient and client care.

Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS)

  • Definition:
    • A tech with advanced training in a specialty.
  • Examples:
    • Emergency
    • Anesthesia
    • Dentistry
    • Internal Medicine

Professional Appearance, Conduct, and Communication

  • Key aspects:
    • Clean attire
    • Responsible behavior
    • Clear and respectful communication

Professional Ethics

  • Definition:
    • Moral principles guiding behavior, like honesty and compassion.

Statutes vs. Regulations

  • Definitions:
    • Statutes = laws
    • Regulations = rules to enforce laws

Role of State Boards

  • Responsibilities:
    • License
    • Discipline
    • Enforce laws
  • Discipline examples:
    • Negligence
    • Drugs
    • Misconduct
  • Supervision levels:
    • Immediate
    • Direct
    • Indirect

Possible Sanctions During Discipline

  • Sanctions:
    • Fines
    • Suspension
    • Revocation
    • Probation

Career Opportunities for Credentialed Techs

  • Opportunities:
    • Private practice
    • Research
    • Emergency
    • Zoo
    • Teaching
    • Lab
    • Public Health

Roles of Organizations

  • Organizations:
    • AVMA: Accreditation
    • NAVTA: Support
    • CVTS: Certify specialists
    • USDA: Regulate health

Terms for Veterinary Facilities

  • Terms:
    • Clinic
    • Hospital
    • Mobile unit
    • Referral center

Basic Flow in a Vet Hospital

  • Flow:
    • Check-in -> Exam -> Tech history -> Vet exam -> Treatment -> Checkout


Term 1: Father of Veterinary Technology
Definition 1: Dr. Walter Collins - Pioneered formal education and vet tech programs in the U.S. in the 1960s.
Term 2: Veterinary Technician Oath
Definition 2: Dedication to: Aiding animals and society, providing excellent care and services for animals, alleviating animal suffering, and promoting public health.
Term 3: Educational and Credentialing Requirements
Definition 3: Completion of an AVMA-accredited program and passing the VTNE (Veterinary Technician National Examination).
Term 4: Format of the VTNE
Definition 4: 170 multiple-choice questions with a 3-hour time limit, covering 9 domains including surgery, anesthesia, and pharmacy.
Term 5: Characteristics of a Profession
Definition 5: Six features: Specialized knowledge, formal education, certification, altruism, autonomy, and ethics.
Term 6: Veterinary Practice Model Steps
Definition 6: Five steps: Gather data, identify evaluations, develop care plan, implement interventions, and evaluate response.
Term 7: Tasks Limited to Licensed Veterinarians
Definition 7: Diagnosis, prognosis, prescribing, and surgery. Vet techs assist but do not perform these tasks.
Term 8: Areas of Responsibility for Vet Techs
Definition 8: Patient care, surgical assisting, lab work, radiology, and client education.
Term 9: Members of the Veterinary Healthcare Team
Definition 9: Veterinarian (Vet), Veterinary Technician (Tech), Veterinary Assistant, Receptionist, and Manager. Each role supports patient and client care.
Term 10: Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS)
Definition 10: A tech with advanced training in a specialty, e.g., Emergency, Anesthesia, Dentistry, Internal Medicine.
Term 11: Key aspects of Professional Appearance, Conduct, and Communication
Definition 11: Clean attire, responsible behavior, clear and respectful communication.
Term 12: Professional Ethics
Definition 12: Moral principles guiding behavior, like honesty and compassion.
Term 13: Statutes
Definition 13: Laws
Term 14: Regulations
Definition 14: Rules to enforce laws
Term 15: Responsibilities of State Boards
Definition 15: License, discipline, and enforce laws. Discipline examples: Negligence, drugs, misconduct. Supervision levels: Immediate, direct, indirect.
Term 16: Possible Sanctions During Discipline
Definition 16: Fines, suspension, revocation, probation.
Term 17: Career Opportunities for Credentialed Techs
Definition 17: Private practice, research, emergency, zoo, teaching, lab, public health.
Term 18: Roles of Organizations
Definition 18: AVMA: Accreditation, NAVTA: Support, CVTS: Certify specialists