2021 - 2022 College Catalog 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2021 - 2022 College Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

VETS 441 - Advanced Surgical Nursing and Anesthesia


Credit Hours: 3
Lecture Hours: 2
Laboratory Hours: 4

Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in BS Veterinary Technology degree program or permission from instructor

Restriction(s): Major restricted

Corequisite(s): None

This laboratory focuses on the practical application of the components and monitoring of general anesthesia, use of anesthetic agents and monitoring equipment, anesthetic drug calculations, components and delivery of fluid therapy, use of aseptic technique, surgical assisting, and perioperative care of the small animal surgical patient.  Dogs and cats are used in the laboratory to gain experience in the administration and monitoring of general anesthesia, venipuncture skills, intravenous catheterization, advanced soft tissue and orthopedic preparation and procedures, and aseptic surgery.

Description of Group Project component:

Through this course, students will engage with local humane organizations to determine their needs in regards to medical and surgical services for dogs and cats.  A student driven project will assess those needs and organize a service project (spay/neuter clinic) to provide needed community service.  The capstone of this course will be to successfully facilitate and execute a service project assisting the community organizations in regards to the above consultations.  The students will then present their experience to fellow students and the campus community.

Student Learning Outcomes of the Course:

  1. Students will demonstrate proficiency in their ability to administer anesthetic-related drugs by injection, mask, induction chamber or endotracheal tube; place endotracheal tubes in patients when appropriate; utilize clinical signs and appropriate equipment to monitor patient status in all stages of anesthetic procedures; evaluate patient and implement and evaluate pain management protocols; recognize and respond appropriately to patients in compromised states; perform appropriate resuscitation procedures as needed.
  2. Students will demonstrate proficiency in their ability to maintain and operate anesthetic delivery and monitoring equipment at an advanced level of understanding
  3. Students will demonstrate proficiency in identifying standard soft tissue and orthopedic surgical instruments and knowledge of common procedures
  4. Given the characteristics of the patient and the surgical procedure to be performed, the veterinary technician student will use medical records and patient identification methods to assure that the patient and scheduled procedures are correct.
  5. Given the characteristics of the patient and the surgical procedure to be performed, the veterinary technician student will:
    1. Identify the appropriate area of hair to be removed and select appropriate methods to reduce microbial flora on the skin in the area of surgical site in order to decrease the chance of surgical wound contamination.
    2. Understand and utilize appropriate aseptic techniques to assist operative personnel in order to provide maximum safety and benefit to the patient.
    3. Assure that anesthetic and post-operative pain management protocols are appropriate to provide maximum safety and benefit to the patient.
    4. Understand and administer the appropriate methods of post-operative care to assure maximum safety and benefit to the patient.
    5. Properly select, wrap and sterilize appropriate instruments and supplies and prepare and maintain the surgical environment to ensure maximum safety and benefit to the patient.