TECH120-1210: Practical Review for Veterinary Technicians: W2010-11 VTNE Preparation Class

INSTRUCTOR(S):
Nanette Walker Smith, MEd, RVT, CVT, LVT
Darci Palmer, BS, LVT, VTS (Anesthesia)
Barb Burri, MEd, MBA, CVT, LVT
Shelley Shopsowitz, RVT, BA
Mark Sharpless, RVT, CMAR, RLATG, CPIA
Mary Mould, RVT, AS

COURSE OPEN: December 30, 2010-March 9, 2011 (Note: Class message boards will remain open for interaction with the instructors through the VTNE testing window ending March 31, 2011).

REAL TIME SESSIONS: Sundays, January 9, 16, 23, 30 and Feb 6, 13, 20, and 27, 2011; 8:00pm-9:30pm ET (USA)
Course RTS Times in Your Area: World Clock Converter
Practice Sessions: In order to prepare you for a successful experience in your CE course, we request you attend a practice session prior to the first RTS. Times and dates will be listed in your course confirmation email. Expect to spend up to 1 hour at one of the 2-4 practice sessions held prior to the first RTS.

Level and Prerequisites: This course is designed to help veterinary technician students review the basics of veterinary technology in an overview format and topics students should know upon graduation from an AVMA/Canadian accredited veterinary technology program. It is not designed to provide in-depth knowledge on each subject as it is assumed the student has that knowledge and is reviewing information in preparation for sitting for the VTNE.
VSPN CE course: This course has been RACE for approved for veterinary technicians.
Note: This class does not guarantee passage of the exam; we will approach as many topics as possible in an effort to help the student identify levels of competency as an aid to focus study efforts. In depth and advanced topics will NOT be covered.

Course Description:
Designed to provide an overview and review of what veterinary technology students are required to know as essential skills, tasks, and knowledge base upon graduation from an AVMA or CVMA approved veterinary technology program, this course will endeavor to review as much as possible in the two months preceding the VTNE testing window.

• This course will consist of eight (8) 90 minute Real Time Sessions
• Real Time Sessions will include discussion of systems to aid the thinking process, use of methods to study and remember data, and exposure to interactive poll questions in a multiple choice format.
• Library materials may also include handouts, study lists, flashcards, and/or other materials to help direct the student better identify what aspects of veterinary technology s/he needs to concentrate on for each topic.
• Message boards will be used to stimulate questions and guidance between all students and instructors. They should be used often to discuss homework, questions, and ideas for studying and retention of veterinary topics.
• Weekly homework quizzes will be available online to enhance the student's study of course topics providing additional exposure to the various styles of questions seen on the VTNE or state board exam.
• Due to the large amount of topics covered in this course, weekly study guides will not always cover what will be covered in the Real Time Session or vice versa. Edited Real Time Session transcript logs will be available in the course area library the day after each class session and should be treated as additional handouts, augmenting the library handouts, quizzes, and message boards discussions.
• Active engagement in the full run of the course should help students organize their studies and allow for better competency and test taking skills in an organized fashion.

Upon completion of this class, students

• should be able to easily recall the basics of veterinary technology (those subjects taught in a typical 2-year veterinary technology program).
• should be able to solve multiple-choice questions similar to those given on the VTNE or any state board exam.
• should be able to locate, examine, and interpret information and apply study materials.
• will have built a network of colleagues through interaction with other course participants for sharing ideas and resources.
• will have been exposed to a minimum of 500 questions stimulating review of basic veterinary technology.

Course Materials: Course materials will be available in the course library prior to each Real Time Session.

• Due to the amount of material to be covered, it is highly recommended the student comes to class having reviewed the handouts for that week, reviewed the previous week's homework and study guide, utilized the message boards for the course, and is prepared to interact during the Real Time Session.
• Students and graduates of AVMA/Canadian accredited veterinary technology programs should have the majority of or a similar set of the references and resources listed for this course. Below is our list of highly recommended texts for adjunctive information. A more complete list is available to participants once the course opens.

HIGHLY Recommended:

• Blood, D. C., Studdert, V. P., & Gay, C. C. (Ed.) (2007). Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary, 3rd ed. Elsevier Health. VIN Store at: https://store.vin.com/custom/edit.asp?p=82402 or other good veterinary medical dictionary.
• Veterinary Support Personnel Network. (2008). VSPN Notebook�, version 3.0 is online at VSPN for free. The printed version 3.0 is available through the VIN Store at https://store.vin.com/custom/edit.asp?p=99853. NOTE: the supplement to version 3.0 (updates and corrections for the printed version) are in progress for printing now. Please ask before purchasing for the timeline for this printing. The online version is complete and updated anytime corrections or additions are done.
• Colville, T. P. (2010). Review Questions & Answers for Veterinary Technicians 4th ed. Elsevier Health. VIN Store at: http://store.vin.com/custom/edit.asp?p=91423
• Tighe, M. M. & Brown, M. (2008). Mosby's Comprehensive Review for Veterinary Technicians, 3rd ed. Elsevier Health. VIN Store at: http://store.vin.com/custom/edit.asp?p=82333
• McCurnin, D. M. & Bassert, J. M. (2010). Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians, 7th ed. Elsevier Health. VIN Store at: http://store.vin.com/custom/edit.asp?p=82142.
• Other texts that might be of interest for further resources will be listed in the course area library.

About the Instructor: Please click on the instructor names above to view their bio pages.

Course Outline:
Week 1 (Real Time Session January 9): Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, Zoonoses, and Disease Prevention
Lecturer: Nanette Walker Smith, MEd, RVT, CVT, LVT
Real Time Session: Review of anatomy, physiology, pathology, zoonoses, and disease prevention

Week 2 (Real Time Session January 16): Clinical Pathology
Lecturer: Mary Mould, RVT, AS
Real Time Session: Laboratory procedures including sampling, parasitology, hematology, and microbiology

Week 3 (Real Time Session January 23): Mathematical Calculations and Pharmacology
Lecturer: Barb Burri, MEd, MBA, CVT, LVT
Real Time Session: Review of mathematical calculations and pharmacology

Week 4 (Real Time Session January 30): Nursing of All Common Species (physical exam, handling, restraint, and basic nursing), nutrition, reproduction and genetics. This will include a brief overview of other species including ratites, caged birds, poultry, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and wild animals
Lecturer: Mary Mould, RVT, AS
Real Time Session: Review of physical exam, handling, restraint, and basic nursing of all common and some less common species.

Week 5 (Real Time Session February 6): Fluid Therapy, Anesthesia, Pain Management
Lecturer: Darci Palmer, BS, LVT, VTS (Anesthesia)
Real Time Session: Anesthesia

Week 6 (Real Time Session February 13): Emergency/Critical Care, Surgery (assisting and instrumentation), Radiology, Diagnostic Imaging, Injuries/Wound Care, Bandaging, and Dentistry with emphasis on equine and food animals
Lecturer: Barb Burri, MEd, MBA, CVT, LVT
Real Time Session: Emergency/critical care, surgery (assisting and instrumentation), radiology, diagnostic imaging.

Week 7 (Real Time Session February 20): Large Animal Medicine and Nursing with emphasis on equine and food animals
Lecturer: Shelley Shopsowitz, RVT, BA
Real Time Session: Review of all large and food animal topics

Week 8 (Real Time Session February 27): Medical Terminology, Office Practices, Client Relations, Ethics, Animal Welfare, Law, and Occupational Hazards
Lecturer: Mary Mould, RVT, AS
Real Time Session: In this last week we will focus on a final review of medical terms, office and safety regulations and any last questions before the VTNE.

CE HOURS: 12

Tuition: $210 ($105 for enrolled VT program students or those who have graduated within 6 months of the course start date, see below).
*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: To ensure participants are ready and prepared for classes, enrollment will close when the maximum number of participants is reached on or by December 30, 2010.

**For more on how online CE works see the VSPN Participant's Resource Center

Note: "This course has been approved for 12 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).

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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 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. (Refund policy 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).

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** 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 & VSPN CE Director

VSPN CE Services: VSPNCE@vspn.org
1-800-846-0028 or 1-530-756-4881 or direct line to VIN/VSPN from the United Kingdom: 01452226154
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
Mary Mould (Mary@vspn.org); ext 159
Nanette Walker Smith (Nanette@vspn.org); ext 187

[ CE MAIN | COURSE CATALOG | RACE/GETTING CREDITS | ONLINE CE HOW TO | SUGGEST A COURSE | VIN MAIN ]

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