American Allied Health CVA Exam Study Guide

Veterinary Assistant - answer-High School Diploma; animal experience... Veterinary Technician - answer-High School Diploma; 2-year degree (associate's degree/LVT [Licensed Veterinary Technician] Certification) Veterinary Technologist - answer-LVT-continue education OR Bachelor's Degree with Veterinary Experience (Medical Lab Specialist) Veterinarian: Education - answer-4 years undergrad (Bachelors Degree), 4 years Vet Med School (Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine) Staff Injuries - answer-Can include: bites, fall, scratches, exposure to radiation and zoonotic diseases...back injuries... Biohazardous Waste - answer-Medical waste that can cause infection; ex: blood, urine, feces, tissues, needles, scalpel blades Sharps Container - answer-Dispose of needles, scalpel blades that have been used. OSHA regulations - answer-Occupational Safety and Health Administration; ensuring that the staff are always using the utmost care while handling animals, equipment, chemicals, etc Common cleaning agent used in vet clinics - answer-Diluted bleach, antiseptic, disinfectants, deodorizers, anti-virocides, anti-bactericides, anti-fungicide Foods & Plants to be avoided by animals- Foods toxic to animals - answer--chocolate -grapes/raisins -avocado -grapes -coffee/tea -alcohol -garlic -onion -human food/scraps -milk Priority of Animal Safety - answer-Animal safety is most important in the vet clinic. Making sure all procedures, restraints, etc are done with the most humane way possible. Autoclaving/chemical sterilization - answer-Autoclaving is done by applying heat and pressure to sterilize. Chemical sterilization: putting the equipment into chemicals to sterilize Types of sanitation: cleaning, sterilizing, disinfecting, antiseptics Types of chemicals used: alcohols, aldehydes, chlorine, iodine/iodophors, ammonias Poisonings - answer-Bleach, antifreeze, etc SDS Safety Data Sheet - answer-Lists the use ingredients, how to store, etc of ALL chemicals in vet clinic/other business Nosocomial infections - answer-Infection/disease acquired at a hospital Zoonotic infections - answer-Disease/infection passed from animals to humans (ex: rabies, scabies, ringworm) Clostridial infections - answer-Infection caused by the clostridia bacteria (ex: tetanus and botulism) Signs of Animals in Distress - answer-[Tail between legs, hair standing up] Poor vital signs, white/pale gums, dehydrated, could be bleeding, respiratory distress-needing CPR, foreign object in airway or eyeball or body, low temperature, coughing/wheezing, may have a broken limb Veterinary Dentistry - answer-Parts of the tooth, periodontal disease/gingivitis, dentistry tools: scaler, ultrasonic scaler, toothbrush, x-ray, removal of teeth if needed Veterinarian Radiation - answer-X-ray, dosimeter, X-rays normally done to view bones-but can be done to view any other area (ex: abdomen [air or foreign objects] and chest) Complications - answer-Exposure to radiation of the technician/veterinarian, poor view of animal-not be able to diagnose, animal could not cooperate for an x-ray Metric Conversion - Weight - answer-Always measured in LBS or KG Metric Conversion (dosages/conversions) - Measurements - answer-Height, Temp, Respiration rate, heart rate, (vital signs) Metric Conversion (dosages/conversions) - Vaccines - answer-Common vaccines: Kennel cough, Parvo, Rabies, Distemper, Lymes; done on a vaccine schedule (refer to your vaccine chart) Metric Conversion (dosages/conversions) - Injections- Modes of administering - answer-Nasal, Oral, IM, IP, IV, Sub-Q Metric Conversion (dosages/conversions) - Sites For Injections - answer-Nasal-nose, Oral-mouth, IM-in muscle, IV-in vein, IP-in abdomen, Sub-Q-under skin (neck/shoulder/arm pit region) Common Venipuncture Sites - answer-Cephalic- forearm, Jugular- neck (2 jugular veins), Femoral/Saphenous- inner thigh Specimen Collection - answer-Urine- direct urine sample (insert a needle into bladder and draw urine) or catch method (cup and a stick) Blood- via needle/syringe Fecal- collected immediately after animal relieves itself Capillary (sticks & refill time)- 1-2 seconds after pressing on gums Tubes and common testing - answer-Blood test, check fecals for parasites, urine analysis (checking PH levels, white blood cell count/etc), x-rays and ultrasound, regular physical/wellness exam Smears - answer-Blood smears to check blood under microscope for different bacteria present Veterinary Surgery- Positioning - answer-Lateral recumbency & dorsal recumbency Veterinary Surgery- Pulse oximetry - answer-measures the oxygen levels in the blood during surgery Veterinary Surgery- Suture - answer-stitches- repairing torn tissue/organs/etc, closing wounds; types: dissolving (inside the body), nylon, silk, stainless steel, catgut (dissolving suture) Veterinary Surgery- Instruments - answer-forceps (tweezers), scissors- can cut tissue and sutures, scalpel handle, scalpel blade Veterinary Surgery- Dressings - answer-used for keeping the wound or surgical site clean. Can be used during surgery (betadine over entire surgical area- then drape with surgical towels) or after for wound care (4 layers of bandaging.....cotton, gauze pads, gauze rolls, tape, vet wrap) Veterinary Surgery- Bone marrow biopsy sites - answer-humerus, pelvis, & femur. Uses 16-18 gauge needles- tests for red/white blood cell count (BCC), platelets levels, fat, cartilage, and bone. Helps with disease diagnosis Veterinary Surgery- Catheterization Sites - answer-Cephalic, jugular, urinary catheter Gestation Nutritional Needs - answer-length of pregnancy More nutrients (fat/protein/carbs) additional vitamins and minerals are also required, potentially other supplements as well-as prescribed by veterinarian Gestation Duration - answer-Canine- 60-63 days Feline(cat)- 60-63 days Rabbit- 28-30 days Bovine(cow)- 283 days Equine(horse)- 11 months or 330 days Porcine(pig)- 3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days- 114 days Front Office- Charting - Why important and what does it include? - answer-Scheduling appts/surgeries. 'Charting' is usually referred to as the animal's Medical Record- detailing it's information, medical history; allergies, medications, etc Patient/Client relationship with Veterinarian is important also! Front Office- SOAP - answer-Subjective. Objective. Assessment. Plan. - A method of documentation employed by Veterinarian to write out notes and patient charting Front Office- POMR - answer-Problem. Oriented. Medical. Record. Baseline data, problem list, and a plan for care- another process for Vet to go through to diagnose patient Front Office- POVMR - answer-Problem. Oriented. Veterinary. Medical. Record. Restraints Proper holding techniques - answer-Lateral, Dorsal, Sternal Recumbency, Jugular, Saphenous, Cephalic Venipuncture. The stretch=cats. Standing & Sitting restraints. Others: muzzle, air muzzle (brachycephalic/cats), cat bags/kitty burrito, and gauze muzzle Vital Signs (normal ranges for animals listed below) (Pulse, Temp, Respiration, Mucous Membrane, Capillary Refill Time, [Weight]?) - answer-Dog canine T: 101.5-102.5 R: 10-30 BreathsPM HR: 70-120 BPM Cat feline T: 101.5-102 R: 140-220 BreathsPM HR: 140-220 BPM Horse equine T: 100 R: 8-16 BreathsPM HR: 30-60 BPM Bird avian T: 107 R: 15-30 BreathsPM HR: 200-400 BPM Pig porcine T: 101.5 R: 8-20 BreathsPM HR: 60-100 BPM Sheep ovine T: 102-103 R: 12-20 BreathsPM HR: 60-90 BPM Goat caprine T: 103 R: 10-30 BreathsPM HR: 70-90 BPM Cow bovine T: 101 R: 10-30 BreathsPM HR: 60-70 BPM