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Courses open for VSPNer registration

STAF114-0104 : Vet. Asst. Module 1 - The Basics of Becoming a Veterinary Assistant and an Orientation to the Veterinary Hospital

INSTRUCTOR:
Heather Howell, LVT, MBA

DATES:
January 9 - February 7, 2004
Real Time Sessions: Wednesday evenings January 14, 21, and 28; 9:30pm - 11:00pm ET (USA)

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

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 module will focus on the first few days of a veterinary assistants training.

All members of the veterinary support staff are encouraged to join the course and its discussions; however, this course is focused toward veterinary assistants, animal caretakers and new hospital employees.

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

COURSE OUTLINE:

Week 1 - Hospital Definitions, Basic Terminology, and the Roles of the Veterinary Staff
Content: This session will cover the basic knowledge of how each position in a veterinary hospital contributes to the overall health of the hospital and patients and how to fit in at your new job. Basic medical records charting and veterinary terminology will also be covered to enable you to professionally interact with the staff and the clients. Taking initiative, anticipating the doctor and technician's needs, and becoming indispensable in your position will also be discussed.

Week 2 - Safety and Basic Animal Restraint/Handling
Content: This session will cover on the job safety and common hospital hazards, including how to manage such hazards. Patient restraint and handling will also be covered including restraints used for a variety of procedures. Tips on becoming proficient at handling and anticipating patients will also be discussed.

Week 3 - Client Interaction, Phone Skills, and Building the Hospital Team
Content: This session will touch on client relations, phone skills, and handling the angry or upset client. This will be valuable for all veterinary assistants, particularly those in a smaller practice where cross coverage of job positions are required. The overall goal is to familiarize staff with common client issues and be able to utilize good phone skills and etiquette to reflect well on the practice. This session will also discuss the importance of smooth interaction between positions on the veterinary team and how to become an excellent team member.

TEXTS: None

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:
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

TUITION:
$72 ($65 early bird special if registered before December 31, 2003)
Full time students of AVMA and Canadian accredited VT Programs are eligible for a discount of $36 (upon verification of student status) * VT students, please include your program directors name, school, and school phone number) in the comments section of the CE registration form. Your registration will be delayed if this information is not included.

TO REGISTER:

*** For More Information on VSPN's upcoming CE Courses, check out www.vspn.org/CE

Note: "This course has been submitted for approval for 4.5 hours of continuing education credits in jurisdictions which recognize AAVSB's 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 VIN/VSPN for further information." (Attendees are encouraged to check with their licensing jurisdiction(s) for information regarding recognition by their board.)


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. (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 withdrawal retroactively. Note: To ensure rapid handling of your request for withdrawal, we recommend that you call the VIN office at 1-800-700-INFO.
Nanette R. Walker Smith, RVT, CVT
VSPN Content Director
Nanette@vspn.org or VSPNCE@vspn.org

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