Description

Extern Will Learn & Be Exposed To:  

• Gain a working knowledge in high quality, high volume spay/neuter clinic operations, as well as vaccine clinic operation.
• Learn to apply your skills and knowledge of surgical preparation, surgical recovery, basic wellness care, and clinic operation in a real-world setting.
• Manage heard health among the shelter population of dogs and cats via routine physical exams, supportive care, treatment plans and specialty surgeries when opportunities arise.

Essential Learning Objectives and Duties Include:  
Essential Care Clinic

• Observe flow of patient appointments through clinic from start to finish.
• Perform physical examinations and discuss findings and recommendations with DVM
• Demonstrate knowledge of common viral and bacterial agents and the vaccinations we use to protect against them
• Be able to explain common vaccine scheduling guidelines and the differences between types of vaccines
• Display proficiency in Animal handling, collecting TPRs, performing physical examinations, drawing up and administering vaccinations
• Practice and improve on phlebotomy skills
• Practice Fear Free techniques for safe handling
• Discuss and reflect on medical concerns noted during physical examinations with DVM
• Administer vaccinations under direct supervision of DVM or RVT 

HQHV Spay/Neuter Surgery

• Observe all aspects of surgery including pre-op exams, pre-medication, induction, intubation, anesthesia monitoring, surgery, recovery, and post-op checks.
• Will expand knowledge of anesthesia and analgesia medications used, instrumentation, suture materials, surgical knots and patterns, tissue handling, surgical procedures and techniques, anesthesia monitoring equipment, anesthesia depth and monitoring parameters.  
• Calculate, draw up and administer anesthesia and analgesia drugs
• Induce and intubate surgical patients
• Place IV catheters
• Learn about intra-op and post-op complications as well as formulation of differential diagnosis lists and treatment plans. Gain experience with medication dosing and calculations.
• Animal handling, assisting with patient exams, performing phlebotomy, drawing up vaccines, performing surgical clipping and prepping, monitoring during recovery.
• Perform feline and canine castration and ovariohysterectomy surgeries with direct supervision of veterinarians.
• Perform other special surgeries as available under direct supervision of veterinarians. 

Shelter Medicine

• Perform a comprehensive physical exam on a feline and canine patient and identify major and minor findings.
• Provide a complete and prioritized problem list, including both major and minor problems.
• Develop a diagnostic plan based on physical exam findings keeping in mind limits of shelter resources.  
• Evaluate and interpret results from diagnostics (e.g. bloodwork, radiographs, ultrasound).
• Accurate record keeping by completing in a timely manner SOAP- focused medical records.
• Develop a comprehensive anesthetic, sedation, and pain management plan for patients.
• Perform phlebotomies, cystocentesis (with and without ultrasound guidance), and collect efficient and adequate radiographs.
• Understand and develop vaccination protocols for shelter animals. Be able to draw up and administer vaccines correctly.
• Perform free-free and safe handling of animals.
• Participate in shelter rounds and discuss medical and behavioral findings.
• Participate in Pathway planning meetings and develop comprehensive and well thought out recommendations for shelter animals.
• Recognize common infectious diseases and understand outbreak avoidance and management in a shelter setting.
• Assist the shelter veterinarian in soft-tissue surgeries outside of typical spay/neuter surgeries. 
• Perform feline and canine castration and ovariohysterectomy surgeries with direct supervision of veterinarian. 

Admin

• Maintains a clean and sanitary work area in all workspaces and holding areas according to policy.
• Enter data, logs, and relevant memos in medical record software.
• Perform administrative tasks such as email, phone messages, and compile daily reports and monthly statistics.
• Other duties as required. 

This is an unpaid externship.

Externship is only available for 1- or 2-week blocks.

Requirements

Qualifications/Expectations:  

• Currently enrolled in an AVMA accredited veterinary medical program and in the 4th year, in clinic rotations.
  • We can accept 1st - 3rd year students into externship, however some learning abilities will be different
• Open-minded and accepting of a diverse clientele; aware of personal bias and willing to address this bias and empathize towards a wide range of situations.  
• Ability to be objective, diplomatic, and informative.  
• Capable of balancing multiple priorities, with limited resources, in a fast-paced environment.