Middlesex Community College
Veterinary Technology Program
Spring 2017
Course Syllabus
VET*286 CRN XXX
Veterinary Technician Externship II
Instructor: Dr. Christopher Gargamelli
MxCC email: cgargamelli@mxcc.edu
Telephone: 860-343-5842
Office: Snow Hall Room 407
Office hours: By appointment.
Course Description:
VET *286, 1 credit Veterinary Technology Externship II
Students must demonstrate competency in the defined learning objectives in order to
meet program completion expectations. Students will be responsible for documenting
completion of a comprehensive checklist of activities reflecting these objectives. Students
and site supervisors will be provided with an externship manual that includes checklists.
The externship will offer a supervised experience under the direction of a licensed
veterinarian or certified technician through placement at an off-site veterinary hospital,
private practice, laboratory facility or other appropriate site. Students will refine skills
learned in previous and concurrent veterinary technology courses. A minimum of 200
hours of participation in a position relating to the veterinary technology field in a facility
approved by the Veterinary Technology Program Coordinator is required. Prerequisites:
VET *205, VET* 212, VET*230, and VET* 280, each with a grade of “C” or better, and
approval of the Vet Tech Program Coordinator.
Learning Objectives:
Students completing the course will be able to:
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Demonstrate skills and knowledge of domestic animals including: normal values
for temperature, pulse and respiration.
Conduct a thorough and accurate physical examination including the proper use
of the stethoscope.
Restrain animals for physical examination and veterinary techniques.
Perform animal nursing and critical care for all common domestic animals,
including: restraint, medication administration and diagnostic sampling for
laboratory evaluation.
Maintain of fluid therapy, apply and remove bandages and splints.
Explain and apply established emergency protocols.
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Assist with animal surgery including: knowledge of routine procedures and
operating-room equipment;
Prepare the patient, veterinary personnel and equipment for sterile surgical
procedures.
Demonstrate competency as a surgical assistant to the veterinary surgeon during
surgical procedures.
Induce, stabilize, monitor and maintain anesthesia under supervision of the
veterinarian.
Recognize and report anesthetic emergencies; apply resuscitation techniques and
CPR.
Assist with diagnostic imaging, including radiography and ultrasound.
Expose, develop, and evaluate radiographs to provide diagnostic images for
veterinary interpretation and diagnosis.
Properly clean and maintain diagnostic imaging equipment.
Perform common laboratory procedures, including: hematological examinations,
blood chemistries, urinalysis, parasitic examinations, cytological procedures,
microbiological procedures, and necropsy.
Provide competent assistance with office procedures including telephone contacts,
appointment scheduling, admitting and discharging patients.
Maintain medical and financial records.
Establish and maintain a clean and orderly veterinary facility.
Communicate with the public, clients, and colleagues through both verbal and
written communication skills, including effective listening.
Design and deliver grief-management assistance to clients and colleagues.
Demonstrate knowledge of the common medicines used in veterinary medicine,
including types and groups of drugs.
Label and package dispensed drugs; using weights and measures correctly.
Calculate dosages.
Safely store, handle, and dispose of controlled substances, biologics, therapeutic
agents, and hazardous wastes.
Differentiate between normal and abnormal patient responses to medication.
Understand basic knowledge of animal health, common diseases, and disease
processes for all common domestic and farm, food animal species.
Demonstrate skills and knowledge associated with cleaning, sanitizing, and
sterilizing equipment and facilities, including knowledge of products, equipment,
procedures, and techniques routinely used in reducing, eliminating, or preventing
contamination of the veterinary clinics.
Grading:
 Weekly logs 15%
 Supervisor evaluation 30%
 Case study 15%
 Final report 15%
 Skills checklist 25%
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Your supervisor’s evaluation will be utilized to calculate your final grade for the
externship. Failure to provide the proper documentation (Weekly Logs) and final reports
as directed above will have a negative effect on your final grade. If you have any
questions about the grades for this course, please ask. It is very important that you follow
the guidelines in the Externship manual to receive the highest grade possible.
Incompletes or grades below “C” will prevent you from moving on or graduating from
the Veterinary Technology Program – NO EXCEPTIONS.
Letter Grade Equivalents:
A = 93 – 100%
B = 83 – 86%
A - = 90 – 92%
B - = 80 – 82%
B + = 87 – 89%
C + = 77 – 79%
C = 73 – 76%
C - = 70 – 72%
D + = 67 – 69%
D = 63 – 66%
D - = 60 – 62%
F = 0 – 59%
Required Course Material:
MxCC Bookstore: Call 860.346.4490 or visit:
http://www.bkstr.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?catalogId=10
001&langId=-1&storeId=10724&demoKey=d
Purdue Rubrics Book – required for Standard of Care for clinical tasks.
Course Alignment with MxCC Core Competencies
How this course addresses MxCC core competencies:
1. Communication Skills: Students are encouraged to apply verbal
communication skills in discussing class work and conceptual exercises with the
instructor and fellow students. Written communication skills will be exercised
in a variety of ways, such as class homework assignments, laboratory
assignments or clinical skills (in appropriate courses), quizzes and
examinations. Students must be able to communicate effectively with other
technical staff, veterinarians, and clients.
2. Conceptual/Critical Thinking Skills: Students will be required to assess and
reflect on their individual learning styles. The scientific method will be the basis
for scientific inquiry throughout the course. Students will acquire, synthesize
and logically analyze information, and present their conclusions in written and
oral form during classroom and laboratory activities.
3. Information Literacy: Information literacy skills will be utilized to access and
use information contained in the Blackboard Course shell and Publisher
website.
4. Quantitative Reasoning: Throughout the course quantitative reasoning is
addressed via classroom discussion regarding various laboratory tests,
conventional medical tests, and integrated scientific concepts are applied as they
consider differential diagnosis and disease states with expected intervention
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strategies. Quantitative reasoning will be introduced on an as needed basis to
explain scientific data and trends in health care.
5. Understanding of Diversity: Some important contributions and discoveries
from persons of various ethnicity, race, culture, religion and national origin will
be discussed.
6. Values, Ethics and Responsible Citizenship: The course will make special
note of ethics and legal responsibilities of scientists, veterinary healthcare
providers, politicians and citizens.
7. Aesthetic Perspective: Students will be able to appreciate the symmetry and
beauty of a variety of species of animals and the interrelationship between form
and function.
MxCC Policies
IMPORTANT COLLEGE POLICIES!! PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!
For information about the college's policies and procedures regarding academic
honesty, accessibility/disability services, attendance, audio-recording in the
classroom, grade appeals, plagiarism, religious accommodations, weather and
emergency closings, and more, please go to the following
website: www.mxcc.edu/catalog/syllabus-policies/ or scan the QR code with your
smart phone. Also, please become familiar with the policies regarding nondiscrimination,
sexual misconduct, and general student conduct at the following website:
www.mxcc.edu/nondiscrimination/.
NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT
Middlesex Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious
creed, age, sex, national origin, marital status, ancestry, present or past history of mental
disorder, learning disability or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and
expression or genetic information in its programs and activities. In addition, the College
does not discriminate in employment on the additional basis of veteran status or criminal
record.
The following people have been designated to handle inquiries or complaints regarding
non-discrimination policies and practices:
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Primary Title IX Coordinator
Dr. Adrienne Maslin
Dean of Students/Title IX and Section 504/ADA Coordinator
amaslin@mxcc.edu; 860-343-5759; Founders Hall Room 123|
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Secondary Title IX Coordinator
Ms. Queen Fordham
Coordinator of the Meriden Center Welcome Desk
qfordham@mxcc.edu; 203-608-3011
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IMPORTANT Additional COURSE POLICIES!! PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!
Participation Policy:
Students are required to immediately report all absences first to the site supervisor then to
the CVT/Instructor/Program Coordinator. Students must complete and turn-in an
Attendance Sheet logging each day at their Externship Site. A minimum of 240 hours of
Externship time is required.
Plagiarism & Academic Honesty: Cheating of any kind will not be tolerated and
will result in a grade of “F” for the course and immediate referral to the Academic
Dean for further disciplinary action.
Externship Manual:
Students are responsible for reviewing all of the Externship Manual and compliance with
all facets of this document.
VET 286 externship
manual.docx
Course Outline:
VET 286 Course
Outline.docx
Cancellation and Weather Policy:
Each Externship Site will operate under its own weather and cancellation policies.
Students must comply with the site specific procedures.
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