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Courses open for VSPNer registration

TECH120-0911: Practical Review for Veterinary Technicians: F2011 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, BS, RVT

COURSE OPEN: September 16-December 15, 2011 (Note: For a certificate of completion, participation statistics will be pulled and calculated on November 23; however, class message boards will remain open for interaction with the instructors through the VTNE testing window ending December 15, 2011).

REAL TIME SESSIONS (RTS): Sundays, September 25, October 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, and November 6 and 13, 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 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.

Upon completion of this class, students

Course Materials: Course materials will be available in the course library prior to each Real Time Session.
Required Textbooks(s): There is no required textbook for this course.
Recommended Textbook(s):

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

Course Outline:
Week 1 (Real Time Session September 25): Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, Zoonoses, and Disease Prevention
Instructor: Nanette Walker Smith, MEd, RVT, CVT, LVT
Real Time Session: Review of anatomy, physiology, pathology, zoonoses, and disease prevention

Week 2 (Real Time Session October 2): Clinical Pathology
Instructor: Mary Mould, BS, RVT
Real Time Session: Laboratory procedures including sampling, parasitology, hematology, and microbiology

Week 3 (Real Time Session October 9): 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
Instructor: Mary Mould, BS, RVT
Real Time Session: Review of physical exam, handling, restraint, and basic nursing of all common and some less common species.

Week 4 (Real Time Session October 16): Fluid Therapy, Anesthesia, Pain Management
Instructor: Darci Palmer, BS, LVT, VTS (Anesthesia)
Real Time Session: Anesthesia

Week 5 (Real Time Session October 23): Mathematical Calculations and Pharmacology
Instructor: Barb Burri, MEd, MBA, CVT, LVT
Real Time Session: Review of mathematical calculations and pharmacology

Week 6 (Real Time Session October 30): Large Animal Medicine and Nursing with emphasis on equine and food animals
Instructor: Shelley Shopsowitz, RVT, BA
Real Time Session: Review of all large and food animal topics

Week 7 (Real Time Session November 6): Emergency/Critical Care, Surgery (assisting and instrumentation), Radiology, Diagnostic Imaging, Injuries/Wound Care, Bandaging, and Dentistry with emphasis on equine and food animals
Instructor: Barb Burri, MEd, MBA, CVT, LVT
Real Time Session: Emergency/critical care, surgery (assisting and instrumentation), radiology, diagnostic imaging.

Week 8 (Real Time Session November 13): Medical Terminology, Office Practices, Client Relations, Ethics, Animal Welfare, Law, and Occupational Hazards
Instructor: Mary Mould, BS, RVT
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). NOTE: There is NO early bird discount date and Enrollment WILL CLOSE on September 16, 2011 at 5pm ET (USA) or earlier if the maximum number of registrants is reached.
*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).

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


  1. Enrollment qualifications: VIN CE courses are open to VIN member and non-member veterinarians. Veterinarians enrolling in a VSPN CE course must be a VIN member. Veterinary support staff must be a VSPN member to enroll in a VSPN CE or a VIN CE course open to VSPN member enrollment.
  2. Each enrollee must be able to receive emails from @vspn.org and @vin.com addresses. Email is our major form of communication with participants; personal emails are highly recommended rather than clinic/hospital email addresses.
  3. Each person is individually responsible for his/her own registration. To ensure that all information received is secure and correct, please do not enroll for a course on behalf of another individual.
  4. For further assistance call 1-800-700-INFO (4636) or email (VIN CE) CEonVIN@vin.com or (VSPN CE) VSPNCE@vspn.org). Please include the course title, your full name, and contact information in your correspondence.
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).
Course withdrawal and refund policy: A complete refund of the paid course price will be issued when your withdrawal request is received prior to the listed start date of the course. If you wish to withdraw after the start date please contact the VIN/VSPN office 1-800-700-INFO (4636) to discuss eligibility for a pro-rated refund.
* Note: To ensure rapid handling of your request for withdrawal, we recommend that you call the VIN/VSPN office at 1-800-700-INFO (4636).


** For More Information on VSPN's upcoming CE Courses, check out https://www.vin.com/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
Jennifer Withrow (Jennifer@vspn.org); ext 159
Nanette Walker Smith (Nanette@vspn.org); ext 187

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