IVSA Nicaragua Trip 2014 Supplemental Information
“Teams” for 2014 will be determined based on your rankings for preferences in specific areas of the clinic. Not everyone
will be able to have their first choice for “teams” but everyone is always encouraged to help out other teams as much as
possible. Teams will be responsible for organizing and gathering the necessary supplies, documents and protocols for
their area of the clinic. This involves coordination with the executive board contact member as well as other teams so as to
ensure that we solicit for donations and make purchases appropriately. Additional team assignments outside of specific
clinic area needs will be divided amongst the teams as evenly as possible.
DESCRIPTION OF CLINIC ROTATIONS (List your top 5 on the application)
The following are descriptions of each of the jobs you may be performing in the clinic. Everyone will rotate through and
perform most jobs at least once.
Intake/Reception/Triage/Clinic Flow Manager
Students will work with a translator to triage patients Students will assign a number from the master list, begin paperwork,
start the history if time allows, organize people and animals into lines and waiting areas. Will also assist the recovery
team with discharging animals post-op. May also assist the physical exam/wellness teams in the afternoon. Try to keep an
eye on the overall flow of the clinic, and shift resources accordingly.
Physical exam/wellness
Students will work in pairs to perform pre-surgical and preventative care physical examinations. Filling out a physical exam
form and photographing each dog are a top priority (ie: Sponsor a Dog Fundraiser). One team will perform physical
exams and collect necessary lab specimens for possible surgical patients. All animals going to surgery must have a physical
exam, TP, PCV, 4x Snap test, and adequate history/signalment collected and recorded before being admitted by
induction. Any preventative health treatments will be dispensed under the advisory of a DVM (largely deworming,
ectoparasite treatments, and vitamin injections). Judicious use of muzzles and using your best judgment with these dogs,
who are not accustomed to restraint is encouraged. During the afternoon if physical exam patients are scarce, students
can assist the recovery team in sending surgery patients home with proper medications.
Induction
Students will work together to set up for the day by drawing up doses of sedation and anesthesia drugs and setting up the
prep area while the PE team is doing the day’s first exams. Once animals have been cleared for Sx, they will transition
animals from the physical exam area into the surgery area. For each surgical candidate, these students will draw up
anesthetic drugs, place IV catheters, induce and intubate animals, perform a BMBT for patients with low platelet counts or
those that are Ehrlichia positive and perform a rough prep of the surgical site.
Surgery
Teams will be made up of one surgeon (3rd or 4th year) and one assistant (2nd or 3rd year). As the clinic progresses, some
underclassman may be able to perform a neuter with the help of an upperclassman and at the discretion of the supervising
veterinarian. There will be 1-2 DVMs in the surgery area to oversee students and step in if there is a problem.
Anesthetist
Injectable anesthesia will be used and minimal monitoring equipment is available in Nicaragua. Students will be responsible
for monitoring depth of anesthesia, HR, Pulses, RR, temp, and fluid flow using a stethoscope, thermometer, and their own
senses. In addition, the anesthetist is responsible for handing-off the patient to recovery, as well as keeping complete
anesthesia records. One anesthetist is typically assigned to each surgery table. The primary goals of this student are to:
o
o
MAKE SURE THE PATIENT IS STABLE
ADMINISTER MORE ANESTHESIA WHEN THE PATIENT GETS LIGHT
Recovery
Students will monitor animals as they wake up from anesthesia. Warming these dogs up is our #1 priority. We will have
hairdryers and space blankets, fleece blankets, etc to help. The recovery student is responsible for making sure the animal
goes home with all the proper medications (dewormer, antibiotics, pain meds, etc). Student should be recording vitals and
recovery time on sheet and discharging the patient, via a translator, with any discharge instructions.
Diagnostics
Students will perform each of the following tests on every small animal:
o blood smear
o fecal floatation
o total protein
o PCV
o Platelet count
o 4x SNAP test
These tests are required for small animal patients before being admitted to surgery. Students will perform tests on large
animal specimens as requested. Students will record results in the laboratory notebook and on each patient’s paperwork.
There is a lab manual describing these duties in more detail.
Large Animal
The LA Clinic students will assist vets in the clinic (usually horses, pigs, goats) with physical exams, blood draws, fecal
collection, deworming, pregnancy checks, ectoparasite control, castration, equine dentals, etc. If farm calls are needed, two
students will assist a vet on calls out to farms in the community. The majority of this work will be deworming, ectoparasite
control, and pregnancy checks in cattle.
Research
Many research opportunities are available with funding from the Department of Biomedical Sciences. A meeting with
faculty to discuss research ideas and grant proposal writing will be held during Winter Team.
Project Teams (List top 3 on your application to be considered for the trip)
1. Veterinary Recruitment
❖ Students involved with this will draft. Students on this team are responsible for recruiting veterinarians. This
includes writing letters to invite veterinarians, update IVSA informational brochures, tend to publicity events,
publicize the trip to veterinarians, hold conference calls, and follow up with interested veterinarians.
Additional ideas are welcomed and encouraged.
2. Silent Auction
❖ Students will assist in recruiting professors and clinicians at the school to donate items to be auctioned off in
the spring. Students in this team will prepare all needed supplies for the silent auction. Documents and
materials from previous years must be updated and adequate publicity for the event must occur. This is
our largest fundraiser.
3. Corporate Donation Coordination
❖ Contacts drug representatives and student representatives to solicit for product donations. Generates
needed list to request for specific products to ensure maximum benefits from these established relationships.
Generates and sends out letters to corporations in Spring. Students must assist with necessary follow-up
and thank-yous before and after the trip.
4. Drug Permits
❖ Students must generate the necessary documents in order to bring controlled drugs and other supplies into
Nicaragua. Involves work with the DEA, the Nicaraguan ministry of agriculture (MAGFOR), the team
designated DEA licensed veterinarian transporting the supplies, and our contact in Nicaragua. This
communication needs to begin in May.
5. Community Education
❖ Organizes a public health seminar to give to the eager-to-learn community of Merida.
6. Fundraising and Donation Collection
❖ Letters calling for donations from Oregon veterinary clinics must be sent out early in winter term. Donated
boxes must be collected and inventoried as they arrive. Additionally, there are many opportunities to
apply for grant money through SAVMA and other veterinary support organizations that we have been
successful in obtaining in the past. New money-making schemes are welcomed and encouraged!
7. Sponsor A Nicaraguan Animal
❖ Appropriate advertising and updating of documents must be completed by August before the trip at the
very latest. Labeled pictures (to match to animals paperwork) must be collected for a variety of species so
that “thank you” documents and materials can be delivered appropriately post trip. This also requires
collecting and assembling all the thank you cards AFTER the trip is over. This is another major fundraiser
for the trip.
8. Logistics
❖ Coordination of transport, housing and airfare is a must in order to ensure the maximum safety, economic
satisfaction and fun for everyone on the trip. We have numerous contacts established over the past few
years to utilize.