Office Management The Veterinary Technician

Appointments Rooms should be stocked with daily use items Cotton balls (dry and with alcohol) Dry gauze & Swabs Stethoscope Thermometers Ear cleaning supplies, mineral oil, saline Nail trimmers, styptic powder Needles, syringes, blood tubes gloves Treats Anything else?

Appointments Once reception checks patient in you will need to…. Take a through history Why is the patient here? What procedures do they need? Signs/Symptoms? Anything abnormal? Diet/Nutrition? Weight & TPRs Collection lab samples Fecals OHW or other blood work Ear cytology samples

Appointments Running/analyzing lab work Think ahead & get ready Vaccines, pre-meds, meds, equipment/supplies need for procedure Assist DVM and Restrain patient Create invoice for services rendered Fill any prescriptions needed Go over discharge instructions with client Schedule any follow up appointments

The Drop Off Take through history when patient is dropped off Ask what the patient is being dropped off for? What procedures to be completed while patient is in clinic? Get a phone number where client can be reached if questions come up or if vet needs to speak with client

Baths & Dips Preferred to be dropped off first thing in the morning so procedure can be completed and patient will be dry before being discharged Check to see when last bath/dip was performed to make sure it is due/not overdue If skin scraping is needed, complete before the bath/dip

Surgery Patients Should be fasted the night before and dropped of the night before or morning of surgery Have owner sign anesthetic release Verify services to be performed with client Spay and declaw or just spay? Get a phone number where client can be reached

Lab Work-Ups Bloodwork Presurgical panels Critical care Comprehensive Thyroid Blood smears Fecals Urinalysis Cytology Ear Impression smears Skin scrapes

Preparing for Surgery Towel/blanket on table for surgery patient Monitoring equipment Oxygen/anesthetic Tubes, reservoir bag, mask ET tube (lidocaine if cat) with tie gauze Syringe to inflate cuff on ET tube Lube for eyes Square gauze to hold tongue Sterile sx pack, suture & blade (or tissue glue) Put gown, hat, mask, sterile gloves & scrub out for Surgeon Anything else you may need Microchip Declaw supplies Vaccinations Nail trimmers

During Surgery Monitor vitals of patient often Watch oxygen and anesthetic levels May need to switch out or refill during long procedures Have emergency drugs easily accessible Atropine & epinephrine May be required to scrub in and assist surgeon with actual surgery

Post Operative Care Continue to monitor vitals of patient until awake from anesthetic Check temperature periodically & keep the patient warm May need to place E-collar if pet goes for sutures

Cleaning up after Surgery Sharps/Bio Hazardous Lab samples Biopsy Histopathology Wipe table/equipment down Clean instruments Wrap packs & autoclave

Dentals Same anesthetic prep for surgery. Hook up dental machine Fill water reservoir Have dental equipment on hand Ultrasonic Scaler Sulcus probe Extractors Hand instruments for removing tartar/plaque Polish Mask, protective eyewear gloves for you!

Discharging the SX Patient Call owner after Sx Invoice Sx and Services rendered Prescriptions Discharge instructions Schedule to go over with client Speak to them in their language Speak professionally Take time to answer questions

The Critical Care Patient Place I.V. catheter Administering medications Monitor Symptoms Progress TPRs, MM Assisted feeding Cleaning wounds Bandage changes

Emergencies Know how to assess the situation Excessive bleeding – apply pressure/bandage Difficulty breathing – give oxygen Not breathing – ambu bag, place ET tube, CPR Get DVM immediately Administer emergency drugs

House Calls & Mobile Vets Some small animal vets still do Large animal vet definitely still do Make sure you have all the supplies that you anticipate needing during the house call.

Kennel Walking/exercising dogs Cleaning cages Boarding Administering medications Individual meals Keeping things organized Kennel boards

Other duties as assigned Cleaning facility Painting Babysitting Cleaning the Vet’s house Picking pecans Killing hornets