If you consider yourself an animal lover, surely at some point you have thought of dedicating yourself professionally to their care and well-being, and thus making your vocation your profession… is this your case?
Among the professions in the animal world, clinical veterinary assistant (ACV) is undoubtedly one of the favorites and one of the most demanded, that is why in this article on our site in collaboration with VETFORMACIÓN we bring you closer to a little more the day to day of this beautiful profession and that, on the other hand, has become essential within any veterinary center. Discover with us what a veterinary clinical assistant does and where to study this course.
What is a clinical veterinary assistant?
Is the professional who, within the team of a veterinary center, is in charge of assisting clinical care Surely the term " veterinary technical assistant" or ATV, since this is how it was previously known, but due to its training, skills and professional skills, today today the term veterinary clinical assistant is more accurate.
The professional facets mastered by a clinical veterinary assistant
A clinical assistant is trained to perform many functions within a veterinary center, which is why this professional is key within the team of a veterinary clinic, a reference hospital, a recovery center for wildlife etc, and always working hand in hand with the vet
We can say that the professional facets that any veterinary clinical assistant must master are seven, can you guess what they are? We tell you about them below:
- Customer service and communication and management: When we enter a veterinary center, the first person we usually see is a ACV, since one of its functions is to serve and advise the client. Offering trust and good care is the first step for the experience of the animal in the veterinary consultation and that of its family to be positive. In addition, an ACV must know the different veterinary services and products that are offered in the clinic, manage the center's management software to create appointments, search for clinical records, make payments, check and replenish the stock of veterinary products and be familiar with the different legal documents (microchip, passport, he alth card…).
- Knowing the patient as a species: anatomy, physiology, behavior… An ACV must have knowledge about the animal as a whole in order to be able to detect possible clinical signs of disease, behavioral changes, etc. It is necessary to know the clinical examination techniques, to be accustomed to the drugs that are most frequently used in each species, to know the vaccination and deworming protocols, to have basic notions of nutrition… Many aspects influence he alth and disease, as well that the more knowledge we have, the more we can help patients.
- Getting around the clinical consultation: to be able to participate in the consultation, it is necessary for the LCA to know the basic material used, as well as knowing how to carry out a good physical examination of the animal (examination of mucous membranes, auscultation, palpation of lymph nodes, assessing body condition and hydration status, taking temperature,…). In addition, it is important to know how to hold the animal correctly and to have notions of first aid in order to be able to react to emergency situations.
- Collection and analysis of biological samples: in day-to-day clinical practice it is common to have to obtain different biological samples, store them correctly and process them: blood, urine, feces, hair… LCAs play an important role in this area, correctly using and maintaining laboratory equipment, preparing samples for viewing under a microscope or analysis, performing rapid tests, etc.
- Support in the operating room: before, during and after any intervention, the veterinarian needs the assistance of a veterinary clinical assistant, for What is essential is that he knows the different support tasks in the operating room, such as asepsis and disinfection protocols, preparing the patient for surgery, sterilization of surgical material, knowing how to act in the event of an anesthetic or surgical complication, cleaning and dressing of wounds, etc.
- Knowledge in diagnostic imaging: Radiography is the diagnostic imaging test most frequently performed in the veterinary clinic, for knowing how to correctly position and prepare the patient to obtain a good radiological image, as well as knowing how to carry out subsequent processing, is very valuable for a stroke, in addition to knowing how to recognize the basic anatomical structures in the image.
- Hospitalization of animals: many patients need hospitalization and the stroke is a key part of the clinic team to ensure that the patient's stay patient is pleasant while he recovers. It is important to know how to use the different equipment, such as infusion pumps, knowing how to insert a catheter, administer medication through different routes, tube feeding…
How can I become a clinical veterinary assistant?
There are many schools that offer veterinary clinical assistant training, but since today it is not an approved training, it is important to opt for those trainings adapted to the official regulations of the INCUAL (Institute National Qualifications) published in the BOE (Royal Decree 705/2017, of July 7), in terms of the content of the training and number of teaching hours, such as the one offered by VETFORMACIÓN.
In addition, it is important to choose the training school well A school specialized solely in the veterinary sector, with a team made up of true experts of each subject taught, will make a difference in terms of teaching and will be a plus on your resume.
To finish, not only is a course with enough hours of theoretical training important, in this profession it is vital to carry out internships that provide sufficient experienceenough to be able to perform the daily work in the clinic satisfactorily. Carrying out training, productive practices and with veterinary tutors who are continuously by our side, undoubtedly makes a difference in the training of the future ACV.
All these positive characteristics can be found at the veterinary training school VETFORMACIÓN, being able to choose the type of modality that best suits you, online or face-to-face, in both cases giving great importance to practical training. In addition, you can complete your training with various specialization courses according to your interests: canine and feline ethology, physiotherapy and rehabilitation, hospitalization, radiographic assistant…
If you want to meet the VETFORMACIÓN team in person, and you live in or around Barcelona, we encourage you to visit them from March 16 to 20, 2022 at the Saló de l'ensenyament, in the Montjuic de Barcelona.
If your passion is animals and you have always wanted to train to be a veterinary clinical assistant, don't miss the opportunity to train with VETFORMACIÓN!
