Veterinary Assistant and Technician Preparation for Pre-Surgery

10091134 Veterinary Assistant and Technician Preparation for Pre-Surgery

Course Information

Description

This course will prepare you for your surgical nursing courses in the Veterinary Technician Program. You will learn to identify, select, prepare, clean, sterilize, and maintain common veterinary surgical instruments and equipment and to identify, prepare, operate, and clean veterinary anesthetic equipment. You will also learn the basics of aseptic technique and anesthetic monitoring. An introduction to perianesthetic drugs, including premedicants, induction agents, inhalant anesthetics, and analgesics will be provided.

Total Credits

Course Competencies (Course Outcomes)

Select appropriate equipment and instruments to include in veterinary surgical procedures

Assessment Strategies

Role-play simulation, Skill Demonstration, Exam

Criteria

Identify common veterinary surgical instruments by sight

Explain the purpose of common veterinary surgical instruments and equipment

Select proper instruments and supplies to include in small animal orthopedic surgical pack

Select proper instruments and supplies to include in small animal ophthalmic surgical pack

Select proper instruments and supplies to include in a large animal emergency surgical pack

Demonstrate proper use of veterinary surgical instruments and equipment

Select proper instruments and supplies to include in small animal general surgical pack

Select proper instruments and supplies to include in small animal soft tissue surgical pack

Select proper instruments and supplies to include in a large animal general surgical pack

Develop familiarity with fluid delivery systems
Prepare and maintain sterility of surgical instruments and packs

Assessment Strategies

Skill Demonstration, Exam

Criteria

Clean, dry, and lubricate instruments according to best practices

Clean and fold surgical gowns and drapes according to best practices

Demonstrate techniques to properly prepare gowns, gloves and drapes for surgical packs

Organize pack contents and wraps the surgical pack

Demonstrate proper storage and rotation of surgical packs

Compare methods of physical sterilization to methods of chemical sterilization

Use an autoclave according to manufacturer's protocol

Explain the benefits and limitations of cold sterilization of instruments

Describe potential consequences of breaks in sterility

Describe the types of sterilization indicators
Don gown and gloves using aseptic technique

Assessment Strategies

Skill Demonstration, Exam

Criteria

Open a sterile surgical pack using sterile technique

Perform a surgical scrub of the hands and arms

Don a surgical gown using sterile technique

Don surgical gloves using sterile open gloving technique

Don surgical gloves using sterile closed gloving technique

Assist another person with gowning and gloving using sterile technique
Identify, clean and maintain surgical and anesthetic equipment

Assessment Strategies

Skill Demonstration, Exam

Criteria

Identify common veterinary anesthesia equipment

Identify common used veterinary surgical instruments

Identify common suture materials, types, and sizes

Clean anesthetic machine according to manufacturer's protocol

Disconnect gas supply and anesthetic machine

Disconnect a simulated patient with an anesthetic machine in an instructor-provided scenario.

Handle instruments during cleaning process

Explain type of water and detergents used during the instrument cleaning and drying process

Explain the process and purpose of ultrasonic instrument cleaning and drying

Clean surgical instruments by hand

Use an ultrasonic cleaner to clean instruments according to manufacturer's protocol

Dry instruments

Treat instruments with lubricant

Launder cloth gowns and drapes

Operate and maintain suction and cautery machines

Describe the principles of operation and maintenance of fiber optic equipment

Maintain endoscopic equipment