Introduction to Veterinary Nursing and Technology: Its Laws and Ethics
Learning Objectives
When you have completed this chapter, you will be able to:
Pronounce, define, and spell all of the key terms in this chapter.
Describe the events from 1963 to 2019 that led to the development of modern veterinary technology in the United States and Canada.
Describe the educational and credentialing requirements established in most states and provinces for entry into the profession of veterinary technology.
Explain the structure, format, and scheduling of the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE).
List the six features that characterize the profession.
Describe the five steps of the veterinary technician practice model.
Describe the scope of practice for veterinary technicians and list five duties performed only by veterinarians.
Describe areas of responsibility for veterinary technicians in clinical practice.
List the members of the veterinary health care team and describe their respective roles; include a list of the veterinary technician academies recognized by NAVTA in your definition of veterinary technician specialist.
Describe professional appearance, conduct, and communication.
Name the organizations represented by the acronyms AVMA, CVMA, CVTEA, NAVTA, AAVSB, and RVTTC and describe their roles in the education and credentialing of veterinary technicians.
Describe professional ethics.
Differentiate between statutes (laws) and regulations.
Describe the role of state boards in the credentialing of veterinary professionals.
List possible grounds for disciplinary action by state or provincial boards, list three levels of supervision defined in the NAVTA Model Rules and Regulations, and describe how these levels affect the veterinary technician’s scope of practice.
Describe steps and possible sanctions carried out during disciplinary action against a licensee.
Describe how laws related to labor, medical waste, controlled substances, and animals relate to the profession of veterinary technology.
Name and describe laws that are specific to Canada regarding animals.
Key Terms and Definitions
Fill-In-The-Blank: Terms and Definitions
Veterinary Technicians carry out the orders of the veterinarian and perform all animal care duties except those that by law may only be performed by the veterinarian.
A(n) Veterinarian may prognose, diagnose, and prescribe.
The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) developed the Committee on Veterinary Technician Specialties (CVTS) to help guide and structure the development of specialties for veterinary technicians.
In the United States, the profession of veterinary technology, or nursing, is structured by state practice acts in each state.
The veterinary technician performs a patient assessment, then prioritizes the patient’s problems so that the most life-threatening issues are addressed first.
The veterinary technician practice model consists of five steps that are performed cyclically throughout a patient’s hospitalization period.
NAVTA has recognized 12 areas of specialty in veterinary technology.
Step three of the veterinary technician practice model includes establishing a series of nursing diagnoses to address the patient’s care needs.
Veterinary assistants are responsible for assisting the veterinary technician and the veterinarian by restraining animals, setting up equipment and supplies, cleaning and maintaining practice and laboratory facilities, and feeding and exercising patients.
Acronyms Related to Associations, Agencies, and Committees
Instructions
Match each acronym in column A with the corresponding description in column B by writing the appropriate letter in the space provided.
Column A | Column B
____ AALAS | A. The committee that accredits veterinary technology programs in the United States under the auspices of the AVMA
____ CVMA | B. A Canadian association that has established a certification program for laboratory animals technicians
____ AAVSB | C. The agency that coadministers the Endangered Species Act in the United States
____ RVTCC | D. An association dedicated to strengthening the registered veterinary technologist profession in Canada
____ ACC | E. An organization that accredits veterinary technology programs in Canada
____ CALAS | F. A committee that works with research and educational institutions in the United States to help ensure compliance with and to enforce the Animal Welfare Act
____ IACUC | G. A professional association in the United States that has established a certification program that certifies laboratory animal technicians
____ AVTE | H. A group whose members are primarily instructors, staff, and managers of veterinary technology programs
____ CVTEA | I. The organization responsible for appointing members of the Veterinary Technician National Exam Committee (VTNE)
____ US FWS | J. A committee that oversees the care and use of animals in education and research in Canada
____ AVMA | K. The organization responsible for accrediting U.S. programs of veterinary technology
Acronyms Related to Certifications, Laws, and Other Entities
Instructions
Match each acronym in column A with the corresponding description in column B by writing the appropriate letter in the space provided.
Column A | Column B
____ RACE | A. The second highest level of certification for technicians caring for laboratory animals in the United States
____ ALAT | B. A designation that a veterinary technician has the credentials to qualify as a specialist
____ VTS | C. The highest level of certification for technicians caring for laboratory animals in the United States
____ RMLAT | D. A program administered by the AAVSB to uphold quality standards of continuing education
____ LATG | E. An entity that works with the AAVSB to develop the Veterinary Technician National Exam
____ AWA | F. The U.S. law that requires minimum standards of care and treatment be provided for some warm-blooded animals bred for commercial sale, used in research and higher education, transported commercially, and exhibited to the public
____ LAT | G. A law designed to protect horses from the practice of “soring”
____ VTNE | H. The first level of certification for technicians caring for laboratory animals
____ HPA | I. The highest level of certification for technicians caring for laboratory animals in Canada
____ PES | J. A passing score on this test is required to practice in most states and provinces
True or False: Comprehensive
Instructions
Read the following statements and write “T” for true or “F” for false in the blanks provided. If the statement is false, correct the statement to make it true.
____ Graduates of accredited Canadian Veterinary Technology programs are eligible for recognition in the United States.
____ Most states and provinces require veterinary technicians to attend continuing education (CE) lectures and workshops to maintain licensure, certification, or registration.
____ An additional 20 new questions are added to each VTNE, but these additional questions do not count toward the final score of the candidate.
____ Veterinary technicians are prohibited from entering drug prescriptions onto the patient’s record.
____ According to the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) Veterinary Technology State Practice Act Model, a veterinary technician may provide a patient’s chances of recovery to a client.
____ Routine dental procedures are often performed by veterinary technicians.
____ Routinely hospitalized patients, as well as emergency and critical care patients, should be evaluated using the same five-step systematic approach.
____ Employment opportunities for veterinary technicians are expected to grow at a much faster rate than the average for all occupations.
____ In order to call himself or herself a specialist, a veterinarian must be board-certified by a specialty organization.
____ Because animals are often messy, uniforms are uncommon in small animal veterinary practices.
____ The veterinary technician’s professional apparel must include a watch with a second hand.
____ The medical record is a legal document owned by the client but housed at the veterinary practice or supervising institution.
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[The patterns continue in similar formats for exercises and additional sections outlined in the transcript focusing on veterinary history, medical records, restraint techniques, and occupational safety, covering all aspects thoroughly across multiple sections. The complete document keeps following similarly structured notes with details.]
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