Runner: Entry-Level Veterinary Assistant
Purpose: An entry-level veterinary assistant supports the practice by maintaining cleanliness and assisting with basic care tasks under supervision. They manage safety protocols, client communications, and the organization of workspaces. Additionally, Runners acquire foundational knowledge in medical terminology and animal anatomy. This role is essential for preparing for advanced duties in veterinary care.
- Safety
- Proper lifting of animals
- Proper holding of animals
- Basic OSHA standards for a veterinary practice
- Work Injuries - basic wound care & treatment for scratches, bites, and cuts of staff members
- Workmen's compensation process if injured
- How to properly flush eyes (human and patient)
- Communication & Client Relations
- Develop effective Client Communication skills
- Professional electronic communication with clients
- Understand ethical conduct in relationship to the day-to-day operations of a vet hospital
- Describe the roles and responsibilities of each member of the veterinary health team and the important part that each plays in delivering excellent care.
- Demonstrate appropriate use of electronic communication in the workplace (cell phone usage, text messaging, social networking, digital photography, etc.
- Demonstrate professional and appropriate appearance and language in the workplace.
- Understand the human-animal bond.
- Greeting clients in a waiting lobby vs. an exam room
- Cleaning & Organization
- Understand what products are kept in the exam rooms
- Properly stock exam rooms
- Cleaning and disinfecting animal cages, exam rooms, and equipment
- Know how to properly decontaminate exam rooms, kennels, and other working spaces
- CSR Knowledge
- Answer and direct phone calls
- Recognize and respond appropriately to veterinary medical emergencies by notifying the appropriate hospital personnel
- Know how to properly decontaminate exam rooms, kennels, and other working spaces
- Perform basic veterinary medical record-keeping procedures
- Knowledge
- Utilize basic medical terminology and abbreviations
- Basic canine and feline anatomy
- Miscellaneous
- Assist kennels as needed
- Assist receptionists as needed
Level I: Inexperienced Veterinary Assistants
Purpose: To support basic care and administrative tasks, focusing on medication management, inventory control, and essential patient care like recording vitals. They also ensure compliance with vaccine protocols and drug handling regulations. Their role involves clear communication with pet owners and accurate documentation. This tier serves as foundational training for advancing in the practice.
- Legal Issues
- Recognize legal issues involving drugs in the workplace
- Recognize general types and groups of drugs and demonstrate proper terminology
- Differentiate prescription drugs from over-the-counter drugs and describe proper prescription label requirements
- Perform inventory control procedures, including restocking medical supplies, and checking expiration dates
- Properly fill medications for an exam room vs. refills of medications
- Vaccinations
- Reconstitute vaccines and be familiar with proper protocols
- Describe possible routes and methods of drug and vaccine administration that the veterinarian or veterinary technician may choose and demonstrate appropriate small animal restraint for such protocols.
- Filling Medications & Inventory Control
- Label and package dispensed drugs correctly
- Store, safely handle and dispose of biological and therapeutic agents, pesticides, and hazardous waste
- Basic Procedures
- Determine and record temperature, pulse, respiration, body condition, and weight of patients
- Be able to properly identify the gender of small animal species, particularly felines
- Apply ear medication
- Apply eye medication
- Recognize AKC dog breeds and CFA cat breeds
- Understand vaccine protocols per species, when vaccines are required, vaccine boosters, and young animal requirements
- Collecting proper ear swabs
- Ear cleaning and flushing
- Understand ticks and tick-borne illnesses
- Understand the process of how pets end up with heartworm disease
- Understands the components of a TPR (temperature, pulse, respiration) and how to obtain them
- Knows the appropriate ranges for vitals
- Eligible preventions per species and breed
- Understand the composition of the product
- Duration of the product
- What the product covers
- Communication
- Properly take patient history in an exam room
- Properly take patient history over the phone for drop-offs, etc.
- Can communicate with an owner about vaccines properly
- Proper documentation when communicating with owners
Any inability to perform the above tasks will require completion before advancing to the next stage.
Level II: Veterinary Assistants with Basic Skills
Assistants with Basic Experience
Everything in Level 1
Purpose: The purpose of the Level II Veterinary Assistant is to efficiently manage exam rooms, supporting the veterinary team by handling basic care tasks, client education, and medication management. This role is essential in streamlining clinic operations and enhancing patient care through direct assistance and communication in a supportive environment.
- Oral Health and Supplements
- Discuss ear cleaners
- Discuss supplements
- General oral health
- Tooth brushing and products about cleaning teeth
- Knowledge of teeth count and types
- Grooming and Care
- Proper nail trims (Required: Cats and Dogs)
- Dremel nails
- Anal sac expressions (internal vs. external)
- Identify abnormalities in discharge
- Prep tape sample collection
- Shave mats on canines
- Shave mats on felines
- Medications and Tests
- Fill medications
- Enter charges and SOAP notes (Subjective and Objective sections)
- Call in medications to pharmacies
- Read SNAP tests (cPLI, Parvo, Pro-BNP, Heartworm) correctly
- Contact clients for fecal, ear, and heartworm testing results
- Restraint and Handling
- Recognize when a canine needs restraint, less handling, low-stress handling, muzzling, sedative style medications or injections
- Properly place a muzzle on the patient
- Knowledge of different muzzle types
- Properly remove a feline from a crate
- Recognize when a feline needs restraint, less handling, low-stress handling, towel handling, sedative style medications or injections
- Medical Procedures
- The cephalic vein draws only
- Administer subcutaneous fluids
- Administer oral, intranasal, and subcutaneous medications
- Properly restrain and understand how to position for radiographs and ultrasound
- Surgical recovery post removal of the endotracheal tube
- Knowledge and Education
- Basic animal nutrition
- Common zoonotic diseases
- Start and Finish In-Room Appointments
- Collect thorough history
- Collect samples specific for each wellness pack or plan
- Understand what’s due and what’s not due
- Prepare vaccines
- Check Out in the Exam Room
Any inability to perform the above tasks will require completion before advancing to the next stage.
Level III: Intermediate Veterinary Assistant
Everything in Level 2
Purpose: The Level III Intermediate Veterinary Assistant is integral in laboratory operations, skilled in collecting and analyzing samples, and proficient in using lab equipment. They perform essential clinical tasks such as blood collection, catheter placement, and administering injections. This tier also focuses on monitoring critical care patients and providing accurate patient assessments. Their expertise supports the veterinary team in delivering effective patient care.
- Lab Work and Equipment
- Collect fecal samples
- Able to review cytology for fecal, ear, urine, and skin samples
- Operate all lab equipment, maintenance, and care of units and space
- Basic understanding of how to read lab work to report to doctors
- Blood Collection and Catheter Placement
- Draw blood from the following veins: cephalic, lateral saphenous, and jugular.
- Place catheters in the following locations: cephalic vein and saphenous vein
- Assessments and Monitoring
- Provide an accurate body condition score (BCS)
- Monitor critical care patients
- Injections
- Administer intramuscular injections
- Administer subcutaneous injections
Any inability to perform the above tasks will require completion before advancing to the next stage.
Level IV: Advanced Veterinary Assistant
Purpose: This veterinary assistant is skilled in performing complex tasks such as surgical preparation, anesthesia monitoring, and dental procedures. They handle detailed drug calculations and are proficient in sterilizing surgical instruments. Additionally, they excel in client communication, explaining surgical outcomes and lab results, and are knowledgeable in advanced animal behavior and handling techniques. This role ensures high-quality patient care and effective communication with pet owners.
Everything in Level 3
- Drug Calculations
- Use the hospital's spreadsheets for drug calculations
- Calculate doses without a spreadsheet
- Surgery
- Surgical Preparation and Breakdown
- Surgical preparation
- Surgical breakdown
- Properly sterilize instruments and wrap packs to specifications
- Operate autoclave
- Identify all used surgical instruments by name
- Know the different surgery packs and what instruments are contained in each pack
- Client Communication
- Counsel clients post-surgical procedures
- Prepare detailed estimates
- Understanding of lab work to have in-depth conversations with the owner based on doctor guidance
- Anesthesia Monitoring
- Monitor anesthesia and understand appropriate levels
- Know when to inform the veterinarian with concerns about the patient’s vitals
- Understand common EKG abnormalities
- Dental Cleanings
- Perform routine dental cleanings
- Know the dental chart
- Know how to take dental radiographs
- Animal Behavior and Handling
- Knowledge of advanced animal behavior and handling techniques
Any inability to perform the above tasks will require completion before advancing to the next stage.
Level V: Expert Veterinary Assistant
Everything in Level 4
Purpose: This level is responsible for advanced surgical support, emergency care, and critical patient management. They handle complex clinical situations, perform specialized procedures like cystocentesis, and provide leadership in training and client management. Their expertise also extends to advanced dentistry and inventory control, ensuring comprehensive care and operational efficiency within the practice. This role is crucial for maintaining the highest standards of veterinary treatment and recovery.
- Client Management
- Handle client complaints and difficult situations
- Training and Supervision
- Train all other levels of veterinary assistants
- Wound Management and Bandaging
- Knowledge of wound management and bandaging
- Place proper bandages
- Emergency Care and Diagnostics
- Diagnose different stages of shock based on clinical signs, vitals, and blood pressure
- Provide direction to the veterinarian to provide life-saving aid, including:
- Control bleeding
- Administer parenteral fluids and pharmacological agents under veterinary supervision
- Resuscitate with oxygen
- Establish open airway breathing by intubation
- Perform external cardiac massage
- Apply temporary bandages or splints
- Provide external supportive treatment for wounds, burns, and heat exhaustion
- Critical Patient Care and Monitoring
- Perform critical patient care and monitoring
- Advanced Dentistry
- Common abnormalities on the dental radiographs
- How to grade teeth based on the following:
- Periodontal disease
- Tooth mobility
- Tooth resorptive lesion
- Fractures
- Perform dental extractions (non-surgical)
- CPR Certification
- CPR certification for canines and felines
- Inventory Management
- Knowledge of inventory management and ordering
- Advanced Surgical Techniques and Recovery
- Understanding of advanced surgical techniques and patient recovery
- Advanced Surgical Assistance
- Ability to assist with advanced surgical procedures (advanced soft tissue & orthopedics)
- Cystocentesis
- Perform cystocentesis, ultrasound-guided only
- Understand a normal vs. abnormal bladder
- Visualize the aorta and other surrounding vasculature and anatomy around the bladder
Any inability to perform the above tasks will require completion before advancing to the next stage.