The following is a general guideline for veterinary assistants, but is not all inclusive of the duties.  Cleaning/maintenance of the hospital in general as well as instrumentation maintenance are required also.  Employees should be self-motivated to keep the hospital clean and well maintained in every way possible.  Employees should regularly review and complete the daily, every other day, weekly, monthly and yearly maintenance schedules as normal operating procedure to be sure all needed tasks are completed.  Assistants should have time to complete these tasks.  If not, then additional time should be scheduled to be able to maintain a high degree of cleanliness and equipment maintenance.
            Some garden weeding, maintenance duties are required. 

Many policies, procedures and protocols are written and included in one of the binders.  These are written to provide uniformity.  Modifications to protocol should be discussed and may be adapted if more efficient, safe or is of other benefit.

Dr. Bennett will ultimately determine the individual’s rate of pay and uses the following guidelines to determine the rate.  The more technical skills will be taught after lesser skills are demonstrated.  The task will be considered a skill/ability once it can be performed reliably. We prefer well skilled, able and well paid employees. 

Level 1 

Know basic hospital policies

Be able to perform and/or oversee all kennel help responsibilities

Basic receptionist skills

                Greeting clients

                Answering phone calls

                                Identifying clients/potential clients vs. solicitors vs. other callers

                Use of the Hold button

                Taking messages properly for Dr. Bennett

Learning Cornerstone

                Complete tutorial

                Basic use of software

                Entering new clients/patients

                Entering notes

                Making appointments

Understand what we offer, what is involved

                Puppy Paks

                Kitten Kits

                Spays/Neuters

                Dental Prophys/treatments

                Annual exams

                Brief exams/rechecks

 Animal Restraint basic, normal animal

                If unsafe for animal, client, staff, stop and inform Dr. Bennett

                How to weigh animals

                How to lift animals

                Hold for basic exam

                Hold for otic exam

                Hold for anal sac expression

                Hold for blood draw

                Hold for IV catheter

                Assist for X-rays

Preparing vaccines

                Know how

                Know when

Cleaning surgery items

Run autoclave

Storing surgical supplies/packs

Collecting free catch urine samples

Setting up fecal samples floats and centrifuge

Setting up urine samples

Setting up in house cultures

Prepare outside lab forms

Set up for taking X-rays

                Warm up processor

                Warm up X-ray machine

                X-ray ID card

                X-ray file folders prepared

Develop X-rays

File radiographs

Prepare X-rays for transfer

Make blood smear slides

Spin blood/handling lab samples

TNTs

Administer SQ injections

Administer oral medications

Set up for IV fluids, set up Heska fluid pumps

Hook up anesthesia monitor(s)

Should know general anatomy terms for dogs and cats.

                Head, neck, thorax/chest, abdomen, hip, flank, thigh, legs, feet, tail

Should be able to help lift animals and complete tasks needed.

Should demonstrate proper time management skills. Should be on time for work. Should expect to work the hours hired for as well as whatever is needed to care for patients. 

Level 2

Animal Restraint

When they are misbehaving/struggling/uncooperative

(If unsafe for animal, client, staff, stop and inform Dr. Bennett)

Take TPRs

Administer IM injections

Set up for anesthesia

Set up for surgery

                See handout

                Set up surgical suction

Sterile transfer of items to Dr. Bennett

Prep animal for surgery

                Know site to prep

                Clip

                Express bladder

                Clean

Extubate know when/how

Remove IV catheters

Run in house blood samples

                PCV/TP, CBC, VetScan

                Enter results into record

Prepare cytology slides

Microbiology, read fecals, Identify:

                Roundworms

                Whipworms

                Hookworms

                Coccidia

                Tapeworms

                Giardia

Demonstrate/Instructions to clients

                Ear cleaning/care

                Dental care

                Dremeling/nail care

                General grooming care

                New Puppy/Kitten

                                Housetraining/litter box essentials

                                Crate training

                                Sit, Down, Stay

                Leptospirosis information

                Heartworm information/recommendations

                Understand why we complete blood profiles

Digitize radiographs and enter into patient image files

Record lumps on chart and enter  PDF into patient file

Prepare surgery packs/supplies

Scrub/gown/glove for surgery assistance

Know hemostats - mosquito, kelly, carmalt

Know forceps - thumb, atraumatic, alligator

Know needle holders, towel clamps, retractors

Should know general anatomy terms for dogs and cats.

                Cranial, caudal, rostral, medial, lateral, proximal, distal, buccal, lingual, labial

                Mandible, maxilla, pinna, jugular, axillary, arm, forearm, carpus, stifle, hock

                Cephalic, saphenous, femoral, radial, pedal

Know basic physiology

                General blood flow patterns – Right heart, lungs, Left heart, body

Many of the further listed abilities require immediate or direct supervision of veterinarian

Level 3 -

Anesthesia monitoring/support

                Positive Pressure Ventilation (PPV)

                Keeping animal warm

                Monitor fluid flow

                Assessing anesthetic depth

Collect blood samples

Collect otic smear samples

Take intraocular pressure

Perform Shirmer Tear Test

Fluroscein stain prep of cornea

Endotracheal intubation (Only in emergency situations)

Dental scaling/polishing

Dental X-rays take/develop

Position properly for radiographs

Determine proper technique for radiographs

Determine how to correct radiographic faults

IV Injection administration

IV Catheter placement                                                                         

Blood pressure measurement

Microbiology - initial evaluation of otic cytology

                Yeast

                Rod Bacteria

                Cocci

                WBCs

                Epithelial Cells

                Ear mites                                               

Microbiology - initial evaluation of urine sediment

                Cells

RBCs

                                WBCs

                                Epithelial Cells

                Crystals

                                Amorphous phosphates

                                Struvite

                                Oxalate

                                Bilirubin

                Casts

                                Hyaline

                                Granular

                                Waxy

                                Other

    Fat droplets

                Mucus

                Misc

Digitalize microscopic cytology and enter into patient image files

Differentiate between different thumb forceps

                Adson brown 1x2, Adson tissue, Basic thumb forceps, serrated forceps

 Should know general anatomy terms for dogs and cats.

                Transverse, mesial, cusp, apex, crown,

                Perineal, perianal, umbilical, inguinal

Level 4

Cystocentesis      

Skin Scrapings

Fine Needle Aspirates                                                        

The above is a general guideline for veterinary assistants, but is not all inclusive of the duties. Cleaning/maintenance of the hospital in general as well as instrumentation maintenance is required also. Employees should be self-motivated to keep the hospital clean and well maintained in every way possible. Employees should regularly review and complete the daily, weekly, monthly and yearly maintenance schedules as normal operating procedure.

6/11/09