Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

This course serves as an introduction to advanced topics in veterinary nursing and veterinary specialties. The goal is to provide students with a broad view of veterinary technician career opportunities in addition to general practice.

The course is designed for second year veterinary technology students and is a graduation requirement for the Associates Degree in Applied Sciences in Veterinary Technology.  Credits in this course are not transferable to a four year school towards a baccalaureate degree.

There is no specific text required for this course.

Upon completion of the course students will be able to:

• Recognize and properly respond to veterinary medical emergencies.
• Apply effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation techniques to small animal patients.
• Recognize common cardiac arhythmias via electrocardiogram. 
• Apply the principles of transfusion medicine in a clinical setting, including cross matching, blood typing, blood collection, and administration.
• Follow the steps of a necropsy procedure and the protocols for submitting tissues for histopathology.
• Communicate in a professional manner when presenting research in front of a group.
• Utilize appropriate resources for researching veterinary medical subjects, such as libraries, journal articles, textbooks, online resources, and personal communications.
• Assess job opportunities available to those with a veterinary technician degree using knowledge about the various veterinary and veterinary technician specialties, as well as other career options.

This course is designed to be a lecture- laboratory course.  It is a three-credit-hour course that meets for six-lecture-laboratory hours per week.

Lecture will cover various topics, including first aid, CPR, and electrocardiography.  Numerous guest lecturers will be utilized to speak about, and in some cases provide wet labs in their areas of specialty, such as exotic animal medicine, surgery, anesthesia, and imaging. A field trip to OSU's College of Veterinary Medicine will include requisite participation in necropsy procedures.

Students will be required to research a topic, write a term paper, and present a 20-minute oral presentation.  The speech will include a powerpoint presentation and the speaker will allow time to address audience questions. The presentation should be no longer than 30 minutes in length.  

Deliver an effective oral presentation on a veterinary medical topic with an accompanying powerpoint presentation and written research paper.  Grades will be based on the student's understanding of the course content as demonstrated by periodic examinations, the term paper and oral presentation, performance of laboratory competencies, a comprehensive final examination, and by attendance.  To earn a passing grade, the student must attend a minimum of 80 percent of each of the lecture and lab classes.  

1.0  FIRST AID

INSTRUCTIONAL GOAL:  
The goal is for the student to develop the knowledge and skills to become proficient at first aid and CPR techniques.

2.0  ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY

INSTRUCTIONAL GOAL:  
The goal is for the student to develop a basic knowledge of diagnostic and monitoring electrocardiography, and be able to recognize certain dangerous abnormal cardiac rhythms.  A guest lecturer specializing cardiology may provide this lecture. 

3.0  TRANSFUSION MEDICINE 

The student will develop a basic knowledge of the principles of transfusion medicine, including blood products, compatibility, and administration.

4.0 NECROPSY TECHNIQUES

The student will develop a basic knowledge of proper necropsy procedure and submission of tissues to a diagnostic laboratory for histopathology.

5.0 SPECIAL AREAS OF INTEREST IN VETERINARY MEDICINE

INSTRUCTIONAL GOAL:  
The student will develop a basic knowledge of specialized veterinary fields of interest.  Guest lecturers will present these topics. Topics will vary based upon speaker availability but may include cardiology, neurology, necropsy, transfusion medicine, exotic animal medicine, and employment success/interview skills.

6.0  LABORATORY COMPETENCIES

INSTRUCTIONAL GOAL:  
The student should demonstrate the ability to perform adequately the necessary tasks required of a veterinary technician.

• maintain emergency medical supplies/crash cart*
• perform first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (simulation acceptable)*
• use resuscitation bag*

​7.0  ORAL PRESENTATION AND TERM PAPER

INSTRUCTIONAL GOAL:  
Students will research an instructor-approved special topic of interest in veterinary technology utilizing available resources (such as the PCC library, journal articles, textbooks, and online  veterinary resources).  Students are required to deliver an oral presentation on their chosen subject and utilize an accompanying powerpoint presentation to enhance the speech.