Dr. Sturtz asked if I would review this text and I heartily agreed. In the world of education of future veterinary technicians, instructors are often left scratching their heads when finding ways to best make sure the essential technician skills put forth by the American Veterinary Medical Association's Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA) should be covered, taught, and tested. In their efforts, the editors have compiled skill lists following the essential skills required of a graduating veterinary technician into a handy spiral bound text. Laurie Buell, MS, LVT and coeditor Dr. Sturtz are both educators of veterinary technician students, and along with two other veterinary technician educators and a general practice veterinarian they incorporated a broader definition of the skills into this handy check off list.
The text is divided into nine sections closely mimicking the seven domains identified by the CVTEA to be those skills required by a graduating veterinary technician student from either a 2- or 4- year veterinary technician program. The sections are: Veterinary Management; Pharmacology; Medical Nursing; Anesthesia; Surgical Nursing and Assisting; Clinical Laboratory Procedures; Radiography; Laboratory Rabbits, Rats and Mice: Care and Procedures; and Avian and Exotic Animal Nursing. Each section is further divided into skill sets such as anesthetic monitoring or patient evaluation, preparation, and positioning. Within the subsections, the essential skills, knowledge, and decision-making capabilities to be accomplished throughout a student's school years are each followed by the standard criteria that instructors and veterinary mentors will use to evaluate the student. Directions for use of the manual are included to clearly outline the duties of the student and the evaluators. Space for the associated course and evaluators initials as well as space for notes along the right hand column is conveniently available.
The favorite parts of this text for me as an educator both on-site and online are the subtle ways the authors included step-by-step criteria. This not only aids in finding the criteria to evaluate, but subtly teaches the student to learn to set patterns in how s/he performs daily tasks so things aren't forgotten. Some of the more general tasks have examples included to initiate use as well as remind the student. Other tasks and criteria conveniently leave out specifics, implying those will be specifically identified in the associated course. I delight in the fact that a student's command of veterinary terminology is required for this text- again, another subtle way to teach as well as lead. Veterinarians reviewing this text will pleasingly see specific instructions where "at the veterinarian's direction or discretion" is included, carefully teaching again the 'endpoint' of a veterinary technician's duties to understand but not diagnose, prognose, prescribe, or perform surgery. There is some duplication between the sections; however, I see these duplications as a good reminder to the students that behaviors are to be consistent between each situation, as well as teaching the student how to be professional both in appearance and in communication with a veterinarian, co-worker, or client. From start to finish this text backs up each section with a wide variety of excellent references, indicating the extent of the authors to substantiate the information within. These references are ones the student can refer back to as s/he enters and continues in the career.
The very few downfalls for this text are in its design for New York veterinary technician students. Educators in other states/provinces would need to edit those portions specific to their state/provincial veterinary practice act and situations specifically concerning rabies, management, and technician duties and supervision. Additionally, the lack of diagnostic imaging other than radiology is apparent; however, at this time the CVTEA does not include imaging such as ultrasound, endoscopy, or other such modalities in its essential skills list. Unfortunately, I personally find that a minimal knowledge of some of these is essential knowledge needed by a graduating veterinary technician.
I thoroughly enjoyed reviewing this text since I had attempted to design something usable, small, and durable for the students at my previous teaching institution to satisfactorily track and acquire their "see one, do one, teach one" requirements for the essential skills. This text is a labor of love by these educators and could be relatively easily incorporated into any program with the small editing caveats above to specify state/province requirements. For veterinarians in practice it's an excellent way to remind staff and supervisor of what knowledge a veterinary technician is required to know: those things that separate veterinary assistants from credentialed veterinary technicians.
Linus Publications, Inc.: Deer Park, NY (2008)
138 pgs, soft cover, spiral bound
ISBN: 1-60797-003-1.