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Clinical Competencies
Veterinarian's Oath

Clinical Competency Requirements for Class of 2010

Checklist in .xls format

Core Material:

Every Veterinary Student must get signed off on the following tasks:

Husbandry/Restraint/Routine Client Education skills

•  Demonstrate the ability to identify the major categories for common domestic species. Includes being able to identify yearling heifer, steer calf, brood cow, etc. Identify common coat colors in the horse, mare, gelding, stallion, foal, yearling.

•  Demonstrate the ability to safely catch and restrain a horse, a cow, a pig and a sheep. Includes haltering, leading, twitching, restraining for venapucture, and picking up feet.

•  Demonstrate a quick release knot and a quick-release halter tie or a quick release tail tie.

•  Demonstrate the ability to safely catch and restrain a dog, a cat, a bird species, a reptile species, one small mammal other than a dog or cat.

•  Demonstrate the ability to observe animal and state whether behaviors observed are normal/abnormal, one large animal species, one small animal species, one bird species, one reptile species, one small mammal other than dog or cat, one species of choice

•  Demonstrate the ability to identify and evaluate basic large animal foods types: at least 3 types of hay, 2 types of grain, 2 major pig feeds

•  Demonstrate ability to counsel potential owner on pet/animal selection criteria (eg:spp/breed vs. owner lifestyle)

•  Demonstrate ability to educate owner on housing needs/socialization needs and methods /nutrition/ training (including house-breaking, if appropriate) and normal reproduction for one small animal and one large animal species

•  Demonstrate ability to counsel owner on core vaccination requirements for one small animal and one large animal species

•  Demonstrate ability to counsel owner on parasite control regimes for one small animal and one large animal species

•  Demonstrate the ability to counsel potential owner on selection of, biological requirements of, and proper husbandry techniques for a zoological species commonly seen in practice.

Physical exam skills

Orthopedic (lameness) exam on a small animal patient and a horse, including naming and identification of all major joints, recognizing normal angles and range of motion for major joints and the hoof, use of a goniometer, use of a hoof tester , use of a hoof pick, use of a hoof gauge, flexion tests, thigh circumference measurement in dog

Neurologic exam small animal patient, horse, must demonstrate:

Patellar reflex

Withdrawal reflex

Panniculus reflex

Deep pain assessment

Menace response

Palpebral reflex

Pupillary light reflex

Conscious proprioception

Hopping

Bladder palpation/expression

Ophthalmic exam, including use of direct and indirect ophthalmoscope, ocular pressure measurement, small animal patient, horse. Must demonstrate:

Menace response

Pupillary light reflex

Dazzle reflex

Schirmer tear test

Fluoroscein staining

Dermatologic exam, as appropriate for patient, Must demonstrate:

General dermatologic exam

Recognize primary and secondary dermatological lesions

Otic examination

Skin scrapings - deep / superficial

Skin cytology - tape/swab/aspiration

Otic cytology

Site selection and indications for for wedge/punch skin biopsies

Appropriate methods of collection of samples for bacterial / fungal culture

Woods lamp examination

Trichogram

Cardiovascular exam, including identifying, describing, and assessing the clinical significance of transient heart sounds and murmurs, examining arterial and venous pulses, obtaining a resting standard 6-lead EKG, accurately measuring noninvasive arterial blood pressure in small and large animal patients

Oncologic exam, including tumor map, caliper measurement, fine needle aspirate, lymph node palpation and identification

Reproductive exam

Sample taking

Radiology, Necropsy, Clinical Pathology

Basic medicine skills, experience, problem solving and case management

Anesthesia and pain management, patient welfare

Assist intubation of one bird species, one reptile species, and one small mammal other than dog or cat.

Dentistry

•  Dental exam on small animal patient, including charting of lesions

•  Dental exam on a large animal patient, demonstrating the ability to age a horse and a cow by its teeth. Know eruption times used for aging immature animals.

•  Demonstrate canine or feline dental cleaning and extraction

Basic surgery skills, experience, and case management

Emergency and intensive care case management

•  Demonstrate thoracocentesis in small animal patient

•  Demonstrate abdominocentesis in small animal patient

•  Demonstrate CPR for a small animal patient

•  Demonstrate working knowledge of cardiac resuscitation drugs and goals for a small animal patient

•  Outline steps for resusciation of either a large or small animal in hypovolemic or septic shock including: goals of therapy, fluid therapy (choice of fluid, rate and amount, IV catheter choice), drug therapy and monitoring response of therapy.

Health promotion, disease prevention, zoonosis and food safety

•  Health promotion/disease prevention

•  See restraint/husbandry/routine education/TAU sections

•  Demonstrate ability to educate lay person(s) on 5 zoonotic diseases including at least one that involves zoological species

•  Spend one day with food safety veterinarian and demonstrate ability to educate lay person on 5 diseases transmitted by food, the role of the veterinarian in preventing transmission, and the precautions the lay person should take.

•  Evaluate a veterinary clinical facility for environmentally responsible clinical practices including disposal of discarded therapeutants, energy conservation, and emissions/discharge management.

•  Evaluate an animal production facility (farm, zoo, lab animal) for environmentally responsible practices including waste disposal, human/production animal/wildlife interactions, energy conservation, and emissions/discharge management.

•  Fill out and complete a Coggins test form

•  Complete a health certificate

Client communications and ethical conduct

•  Present one ethical dilemma facing an individual veterinarian or the profession, demonstrate ability to choose a position based on system of values

•  Demonstrate the ability to educate lay person(s) on an ethical or welfare issue applicable to zoological species. (Maintaining wild animals in captivity in zoos, as companion animals, Game ranching, Human interactions with urban/suburban wildlife, Wildlife Rehabilitation, Extralabel use of drugs in Wildlife).

•  Written Communication

•  see Medicine skills

•  Oral Communication

•  See Medicine skills, Animal Welfare

•  Client sensitivity/Grief counseling

•  Participate in counseling of a client that has lost an animal or Explain stages of grief and techniques for helping client deal with loss

•  Teamwork

•  Be a member of 5 teams and receive passing grades for team participation skills

•  Conflict resolution

•  Present one legal/conflict issue, demonstrating knowledge of the legal issue, both points of view in conflict, suggest possible resolution

Strong appreciation for the role of research in furthering the practice of veterinary medicine.

Each DVM student is required to have one research-related educational experience before graduation. Such experiences could include, but are not limited to:

1. Being in the Clinician Scientist Focus Area, with completion of its research requirements.

2. Performing a summer of approved research at NCSU or another institution.

3. Research thesis option within Zoological Medicine Focus Area.

4. Successful completion of a research-related selective (i.e. Intro to Research at the CVM, Molecular Medicine Initiative selectives, research selectives personally arranged or already existing such as Advanced Pathology)

5. Attending a research-related conference and supplying a three-page report on the experience.

6. Attending the annual CVM Research Forum and supplying a three-page report on the experience.

7. Attending a research seminar at the CVM, elsewhere at NCSU or at another institution and writing a three-page report on the seminar and one related publication. (Attending clinical conference is not included.)

8. Writing and submitting a research proposal to an extramural funding agency.

9. Research experiences in Special Topics courses (i.e. Swine Medicine).

FOCUS AREA MATERIAL: EACH FOCUS AREA WILL DETERMINE REQUIRED TASKS FOR STUDENTS IN THE FOCUS AREA

The following skills will be checked off in
Health Maintenance and Animal Production I, II, III
Teaching Animal Unit 
Must Learn Skills

Equine:

Approach, catch and halter a horse

Lead and turn a horse at the walk

Lead a horse at the trot

Pick up a forelimb and hind limb of a horse

Groom and horse

Use hoof testers

Tie a quick release knot

Use a weight tape

Perform physical exam on adult horse

Perform physical exam on neonatal foal

Perform ocular exam

Place nose twitch

Perform skin fold twitch

Perform ear twitch

Place chain shank over nose

Place chain shank over lip

Complete written physical exam form

Collect blood into a vacutainer

Collect blood using a needle and syringe

Administer an oral medication

Administer an intramuscular injection

Administer an intravenous injection

Administer a subcutaneous injection

Fill out and complete a Coggins test form

Complete a health certificate

Perform lameness exam (including all flexion tests)

Perform neurological exam (including cranial nerve and movement exam)

Pass nasogastric tube

Cattle:

Herding Animals

Correctly halter a cow

Tie a quick release knot

Cast a cow with a rope

Perform a Physical exam

Identify methods of identification of animals

Body condition scoring and relation to life cycle

Feed identification

Collect blood sample from jugular

Collect blood sample from the tail vein

Perform and interpret a TB test

Injection site identification (Beef Quality Assurance)

Identify and perform an intramuscular injection

Identify and perform an intravenous injection

Identify and perform subcutaneous injection

Identify needle sizes for IM, SQ, and IV injections

Administer an oral bolus to at least 2 cows

Pass a stomach tube and administer oral fluids

Processing calves:

Know how to perform all procedures

Actively perform at least two procedures (tattooing, castration, dis-budding, implanting)

Pregnancy check > 5months

Collect a sterile milk sample

Perform a CMT test

Interpret a CMT test

Properly use a hoof knife

Restrain and lift a foot for trimming or lameness evaluation

Sheep/Goats

Know and use FAMACHA system for parasite control

Blood collection from jugular vein

Identify jugular landmarks, lung fields, rumen location

Determine age of goats or sheep

Perform vaccinations

Perform intramuscular injection (identify sites)

Perform subcutaneous injection (identify sites)

Perform a foot trim

Body condition score a goat or sheep

TB test a goat or sheep

Disbudding procedures and nerve blocks (goat only)

Perform an ultrasound pregnancy diagnosis

Interpret an ultrasound diagnosis

Perform a physical exam

Interpret ultrasound pregnancy diagnosis

Restrain a sheep or goat

Administer an oral medication to a sheep or goat

Swine:

Safely restrain suckling, nursery, and finisher pigs

Safely move nursery or finisher pigs between pens or sort within pen

Identify which TAU pig housing facilities are for what age groups

Collect and interpret sow and piglet data to:

Calculate pigs born alive, total pigs born, number of piglets born alive, percent of piglets liveborn. Calculate the total number of pigs weaned, % preweaning mortality for a farrowing group, count # pigs currently in the nursery, and calculate current % nursery mortality.

Identify the major feed ingredients in pig rations

Recognize normal feeding behavior

Perform pregnancy diagnosis in female pigs using different methods

Identify signs of estrus in the female pig

Complete physical examinations on individuals and groups of pigs

Calculate rates of morbidity and mortality

Restrain and collect blood from nursery and/or finishing age pigs

List the key criteria for selection of optimal pigs for diagnostic testing

Identify these key diagnostically significant anatomic structures:

Tonsils, turbinates, region of stomach prone to ulcers, ileum, spiral colon, lung lobes, lymph nodes

Poultry:

Catch and safely restrain a turkey for physical examination

Catch and safely restrain a chicken for physical examination

Perform a basic physical examination on turkey

Perform a basic physical examination on a chicken

Evaluate general health status of a turkey flock

Evaluate general health status of a chicken flock

Perform a cloacal swab on a turkey

Perform a cloacal swab on a chicken

Perform a tracheal swab on a turkey

Perform a choanal swab on a turkey

Collect a blood sample via wing vein on a turkey

Collect a blood sample via wing vein on a chicken

Perform a subcutaneous injection on a turkey

Perform an intramuscular injection on a turkey