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STAF117-1109 : Veterinary Assisting Module 4: Basic Concepts of Anesthesia, Elective Surgery, and Emergency Medicine

INSTRUCTOR:
Heather Howell, LVT, MBA

DATES:
November 24-December 23, 2009
Real Time Sessions: Monday evenings, November 30, December 7 and 14, 2009; 9:30pm-11:00pm ET (USA)

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Basic understanding of anesthesia and elective surgery is essential for veterinary assistants to help veterinarians and veterinary technicians with preparation, nursing care, monitoring, and recovery of patients. Not all practices perform every surgery but understanding terminology and considerations for clients can help ensure patient comfort. Once these basics are covered we will extend further into basic emergency medicine and the importance of triage in practice.

Heather Howell, LVT, MBA has taught numerous classes online for VSPN and has developed this series of course to help you better communicate with your peers and co-workers in and outside the office. All members of the veterinary support staff may join the course and its discussions; however, this course has a basic content and is focused toward new veterinary assistants, animal caretakers and new hospital employees in companion animal practices.

Module 4 has three (3) ninety (90) minute online interactive real time sessions covering discussion of situations; homework reinforcing the handouts and real time sessions; interactive message boards to discuss the real time sessions and homework; and a final exam. The course offers interactive cases that each participant must complete as homework during the course. The goal of the interactive cases is to test the participant's knowledge of the material discussed in each session.

Upon completion of this course, the participant should be able to

Goal of the course: To teach veterinary assistants, animal caretakers, and new employees necessary information so they may actively contribute to quality patient care. To impart knowledge and techniques veterinary assistants can utilize when assisting veterinarians and veterinary technicians. This course focuses primarily on companion animal practice.

TEXTBOOKS: There are no required texts for this course.
The instructor recommends the following texts for this module:

COURSE OUTLINE:

Weeks 1 & 2: Basic concepts in anesthesia and elective surgery
Content: These sessions discusses the basic concepts of anesthesia, surgery, the sterile field, and instrumentation. Routine elective procedures (ovariohysterectomy, castration, declaw, dentistry) are discussed in respect to the preparation, the procedure, potential surgical complications, and the role these surgeries play in the overall health of the pet. Client communication aspects of these topics will also be discussed. In addition, we will cover setting up for procedures, basic monitoring, and the veterinary assistant's role caring for the patient pre and post surgery.

Week 3: Basic concepts in elective surgery and emergency medicine/triage.
Content: This lecture will continue to discuss the basic concepts of surgery and move on to discuss the basics of emergency situations. The basic principles of triaging the potential emergency, obtaining an accurate history from the client in the face of an emergency, and discussion of what a true emergency is will be covered. In addition, we will cover the veterinary assistant's role in setting up for emergency care, monitoring the patient and necessary emergency equipment and pharmaceuticals.

LIBRARY MATERIALS: Library materials will be made available prior to the topic week so participants will have plenty of time to prepare for the real time sessions and discussion.

MESSAGE BOARD DISCUSSIONS: Message board discussions regarding the topic presented will begin on the day the course opens and continue for one week following the last real time session. These discussions will be held in the VSPN CE course area.

CE HOURS: 4.5 CEUs (per VA module)

TUITION:
$90 ($81.00 early bird special if registered before November 10, 2009).
*Enroll in all four VA Modules before August 24, 2009 and receive a 15% discount off the regular course price. This discount is only available through this date.
*Students currently enrolled in and taking at least 2 classes or 5 units at an AVMA accredited or CAAHT approved Veterinary Technician Program may be eligible to receive a 50% discount off the regular rate for this course (upon verification of student status). You must include the following information in the comments section of the CE enrollment form in order to be eligible for this discount: your program director's name and contact information (email/phone) and school name.

** NOTE: Enrollment will be closed when the maximum number of participants is reached or at 5pm ET the day of the first real time session.

**The Participant's Resource Center includes all you need to know about online CE with VIN and VSPN: https://www.vin.com/CE/Public/VSPN/ParticipantVspn.htm

TO REGISTER:

  1. Each person must individually be a registered member of VSPN (www.vspn.org). Membership in VSPN is free.
  2. To enroll in any VSPN CE course click on the ENROLL NOW link below the course title on the right side of the page at www.vspn.org/CE
  3. Each enrollee must be able to receive emails from @vspn.org and @vin.com addresses. This is our major form of communication with participants. It is highly recommended that course participants use their own, personal emails rather than clinic/hospital email addresses.
  4. VIN Member veterinarians SHOULD NOT register for their staff. Please have the staff member register through VSPN. Please email VSPNCE@vspn.org if you have questions.
Note: "This course has been approved for continuing education credits in jurisdictions which recognize AAVSB RACE approval; however participants should be aware that some boards have limitations on the number of hours accepted in certain categories and/or restrictions on certain methods of delivery of continuing education. Call VSPN CE at 1-800-700-4636 for further information." (Attendees are encouraged to check with their licensing jurisdiction(s) for information regarding recognition by their board).
This course has also been submitted for approval for continual education units toward CVPM requirements through VHMA.
COURSE WITHDRAWAL AND REFUND POLICY: Withdrawal prior to the listed start date of a course entitles the registrant to a complete refund or a credit toward a future VSPN or VIN CE course, whichever is preferred. Withdrawal within 1 week after the listed start date (i.e. including no more than one real-time session) entitles the registrant to a credit toward any future VIN CE course. (Does not apply to courses with only one real-time session.) After the first real-time session, a registrant may withdraw due to special circumstances and receive prorated credit towards a future VIN course. These requests will be handled on an individual basis. The amount of the prorated credit will be determined based on 65% of the time remaining in the course at the time of withdrawal. It is not possible to withdraw retroactively.
Note: To ensure rapid handling of your request for withdrawal, we recommend that you call the VIN office at 1-800-700-INFO (4636).
** For More Information on VSPN's upcoming CE Courses, check out http://www.VSPN.org/CE

Nanette R. Walker Smith, M.Ed., RVT, CVT, LVT
VSPN Content Director & CE Coordinator
VSPNCE@vspn.org
1-800-846-0028 or 1-530-297-4950, ext 187

VSPN CE Services
1-800-846-0028 or 1-530-297-4950
Charlotte Waack (Charlotte@vspn.org), ext 193
Chris Upchurch (Chris@vspn.org); ext 197
Darci Palmer (Darci@vspn.org); ext 179
Debbie Bess (DBess@vspn.org); ext 178

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