1b. Goals and objectives are based on current research and successful practice.
http://www.cteresource.org/verso/courses/8310/vete
http://www.cteresource.org/verso/courses/8311/vete
The Veterinary Assistant Program is primarily focused on careers in the veterinary industry. The American Animal Hospital Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association document pet-owners’ concerns about nutrition, food recalls, new diseases such as canine circovirus, and preventive medicine. Continuing education conferences continue to include topics on wellness, behavioral medicine, and hospital management.
In order to stay informed about current trends, the veterinary assistant program utilizes on-line veterinary resources, such as dvm360 (http://www.dvm360.com/), which emails the instructor weekly news updates, case studies, career information, and practice trends that are shared with students. We also utilize VetLearn, an on-line resource where continuing education articles may be accessed. Students participate in on-line nutritional education through the Hills Pet Nutrition. Speakers from industry, including the American Animal Hospital Association, educate the students about industry trends. We have purchased reference books and DVD programs on behavioral modification techniques.
Disaster management is an area we have addressed due to the increasing number of weather/natural disaster events. A veterinarian from the State Animal Rescue Team (SART) spoke with the students about the management of animals during emergencies. Following several incidents of animal cruelty reported in the news, we invited a veterinary forensic pathologist who spoke with the students about body condition scoring and investigations into neglect.
Alternative therapies are increasing in availability. A veterinarian who is also a certified veterinary acupuncturist by the Chi Institute has presented alternative therapies to the students and performed acupuncture while the students observed.
Other career opportunities in the animal care field are presented to the students. Students complete a nine-week project on animal-related careers and must utilize the Bureau of Labor Statistics to perform some of their research. As part of the project, students job shadow someone in the career they have chosen. These jobs have included zoo keepers, caretakers at the Virginia aquarium, the Virginia Living Museum, fish and game, local shelters, and animal control. Included below are the job outlook reports from the BLS for veterinary assistants, laboratory animal caretakers, and licensed technicians.
A variety of supplemental materials and textbooks are used to support lecture and group activities. Most information is shared with students using the SmartBoard in order to support multi-media presentations. Numerous industry resources are used, including the Animal Care Training DVD program produced by Animal Care Technologies. New information about procedures, pharmaceuticals, nutrition, etc., outpaces the ability for text material to stay current. Members of the advisory board are quick to share recent industry trends and resources, such as the Idexx Learning Center, which offers educational materials and webinars. The artifacts included list our core text, as well as a sample of reference materials. Also attached is a sample PowerPoint presentation, and an example of a continuing education article available through VetLearn, an on-line resource for veterinary professionals.
The Veterinary Assistant Program receives tremendous support from its advisory members, as well as members of the veterinary community. Due to the nature of their work, veterinary personnel have preferred to meet at their clinics, or discuss issues via the telephone or email. Often, doctors/staff will drop by with industry brochures or educational materials to share with the students. Each year the instructor attends veterinary conferences and meets with industry vendors between attending seminars. The day after returning from the Colonial Veterinary Conference in December 2013, a package arrived from Novartis Animal Health with enough books on ectoparasites for each student to receive a copy.
Advisory members have allowed students to job-shadow and call with questions related to projects. They have shared information about scholarship opportunities, and invited students to participate in community events such as the Suffolk Humane Society's Annual Mutt Strut. Advisory members have also participated with the students efforts to raise money for Heifer International through TerraCycle's recycling program. Numerous bags of recyclable materials have been collected by several clinics and transported to the Pruden Center.
Attached are advisory member comments, as well as a list of guest speakers who have shared their experience with students throughout the years.
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