Stacey Toro-Hathaway, RVT
3114 Harward Dr.
Sanford NC 27332
RVT AND ASSISTANT WORDING WITHIN THE
NC VETERINARY PRACTICE ACT
A PROPOSAL TO: NC VETERINARY MEDICAL BOARD
November 13, 2014
919-499-7193
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November 13, 2014
OBJECTIVE
The main objective of this proposal is to request wording changes to the North Carolina
Veterinary Practice Act regarding veterinary technicians and unregistered assistants
within the veterinary profession as well as incorporating a section entitled Registered
Veterinary Technician Job Task Regulation.
OVERVIEW
The current wording regarding veterinary technicians and veterinary employees in the NC
Veterinary Practice Act is currently lumped together in one section. Specifically § 90-187.6 (a)
(b) (c). The definitions and descriptions outlined makes it rather vague as to what the
difference is between a veterinary technician and an unregistered assistant. Adding the
wording of “direct” & “indirect” to the practice act can help with clarification as to what duties
may be performed by each employee.
Many veterinarians have started using the word “nurse” to job titles, including for unregistered
assistants. This practice has been adopted to supposedly ease tensions between the two
within a work environment, however, it can be confusing and misleading to the clientele, in turn
misleading them into believing in a false skill and knowledge level.
Veterinarians also already have their employees, both technicians and unregistered assistants,
working under “indirect” orders, so by outlining this distinction within the practice act will allow
employees to work without committing a misdemeanor as stated within the practice act.
Many of the suggestions within this proposal has been adapted from the California Veterinary
Medical Board. Upon research of different practice acts, this one in particular has clearly
defined definitions and a job task regulation section for veterinary technicians.
PROPOSED CHANGES
DEFININITIONS
CURRENT:
§90-181 11(a) (b)
"Veterinary technician" means either of the following persons:
A person who has successfully completed a post-high school course in the
care and treatment of animals that conforms to the standards required for
accreditation by the American Veterinary Medical Association and who is
registered with the Board as a veterinary technician.
A person who holds a degree in veterinary medicine from a college of
veterinary medicine recognized by the Board for licensure of veterinarians and
who is registered with the Board as a veterinary technician
SUGGESTED REVISION:
“Veterinary technician” “technician” “nurse” means either of the following
persons:
A person who has successfully completed a post-high school course in the
care and treatment of animals that conforms to the standards required for
accreditation by the American Veterinary Medical Association and who is
registered with the Board as a veterinary technician.
A person who holds a degree in veterinary medicine from a college of
veterinary medicine recognized by the Board for licensure of veterinarians and
who is registered with the Board as a veterinary technician.
The term “technician” used within the practice act, shall also include the title
“nurse”.
“Veterinary assistant” “Unregistered assistant” means any individual who is not
an RVT or a licensed veterinarian.
REGISTERED VETERINARY JOB TASK REGULATION
NEW TO THE PRACTICE ACT
Animal Health Care Tasks Definitions.
For purposes of the rules and regulations applicable to animal health care tasks
for registered veterinary technicians and unregistered assistants, contained in the
article, the term:
(a) "Veterinarian" means a North Carolina licensed veterinarian.
(b) "R.V.T." means a registered veterinary technician, veterinary nurse certified
by the Board.
(c) "Unregistered assistant" means any individual who is not an R.V.T. or a
licensed veterinarian.
(d) "Supervisor" means a North Carolina licensed veterinarian or if a job task so
provides an R.V.T.
(e) "Direct Supervision" means: (1) the supervisor is physically present at the
location where animal health care job tasks are to be performed and is quickly
and easily available; and (2) the animal has been examined by a veterinarian at
such time as good veterinary medical practice requires consistent with the
particular delegated animal health care job task.
(f) "Indirect Supervision" means: (1) that the supervisor is not physically present
at the location where animal health care job tasks are to be performed, but has
given either written or oral instructions ( "direct orders") for treatment of the
animal patient; and (2) the animal has been examined by a veterinarian at such
times as good veterinary medical practice requires, consistent with the particular
delegated animal health care task and the animal is not anesthetized.
(g) "Animal Hospital Setting" means all veterinary premises.
(h) "Administer" means the direct application of a drug or device to the body of an
animal by injection, inhalation, ingestion, or other means.
(i) "Induce" means the initial administration of a drug with the intended purpose of
rendering an animal unconscious.
(a) The supervising veterinarian shall be responsible for determining the
competency of the R.V.T. or unregistered assistant to perform allowable animal
health care tasks.
(b) The supervising veterinarian of a R.V.T. or unregistered assistant shall make
all decisions relating to the diagnosis, treatment, management and future
disposition of the animal patient.
(c) The supervising veterinarian shall have examined the animal patient prior to
the delegation of any animal health care task to either an R.V.T. or unregistered
assistant. The examination of the animal patient shall be conducted at such time
as good veterinary medical practice requires consistent with the particular
delegated animal health care task.
Animal Health Care Tasks for R.V.T.
(a) Unless specifically so provided by regulation, a R.V.T. shall not perform the
following functions or any other activity which represents the practice of
veterinary medicine or requires the knowledge, skill and training of a licensed
veterinarian:
(1) Surgery;
(2) Diagnosis and prognosis of animal diseases;
(3) Prescription of drugs, medicines or appliances.
(4) Any act producing irreversible change in the animal
(b)
An R.V.T. may perform the following procedures only under the direct
supervision of a licensed veterinarian:
(1) Induce anesthesia;
(2) Apply casts and splints;
(3) Perform dental extractions;
(4) Suture cutaneous and subcutaneous tissues, gingiva and oral mucous
membranes,
(5) Create a relief hole in the skin to facilitate placement of an intravascular
catheter
(c) An RVT may perform the following procedures under indirect supervision of a
licensed veterinarian:
(1) Administer controlled substances.
(d) Subject to the provisions of subsection(s) (a), (b) and (c) of this section, an
R.V.T. may perform animal health care tasks under the direct or indirect
supervision of a licensed veterinarian. The degree of supervision by a licensed
veterinarian over a R.V.T. shall be consistent with standards of good veterinary
medical practices.
(a) Unregistered assistants shall be prohibited from performing any of the
functions or activities specified in subsections (a) (b) and (c) of Section 2036 of
these regulations, except that an unregistered assistant under the direct
supervision of a licensed veterinarian or registered technician may administer a
controlled substance.
(b) Subject to the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, unregistered
assistants in an animal hospital setting may perform auxiliary animal health care
tasks under the direct or indirect supervision of a licensed veterinarian or the
direct supervision of an R.V.T. The degree of supervision by a licensed
veterinarian over an unregistered assistant shall be higher than or equal to the
degree of supervision required when an R.V.T. performs the same task and shall
be consistent with standards of good veterinary medical practices.
.
Emergency animal care rendered by registered veterinary technician.
A registered veterinary technician may render the following lifesaving aid and
treatment to an animal under either direct or indirect supervision of a
veterinarian:
(1) Application of tourniquets and/or pressure bandages to control hemorrhage.
(2) Administration of pharmacological agents to prevent or control shock,
including parenteral fluids, shall be performed after direct communication with a
licensed veterinarian or veterinarian authorized to practice in this state. In the
event that direct communication cannot be established, the registered veterinary
technician may perform in accordance with written instructions established by the
employing veterinarian. Such veterinarian shall be authorized to practice in this
state.
(3) Resuscitative oxygen procedures.
(4) Establishing open airways including intubation appliances but excluding
surgery.
(5) External cardiac resuscitation.
(6) Application of temporary splints or bandages to prevent further injury to bones
or soft tissues.
(7) Application of appropriate wound dressings and external supportive treatment
in severe burn cases.
(8) External supportive treatment in heat prostration cases.
SUMMARY
As stated earlier, the above suggestions do come from the California Veterinary
Medical Board and can be found in its entirety at the following web address:
http://www.vmb.ca.gov/laws_regs/rvttasks.shtml
It is hoped the members of the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Board will
seriously consider the changes outlined above. If not all, at least some.
Veterinary Medicine is moving in the direction of concerned, caring and
knowledgeable owners. It is up to the NCVMB to start the change for technicians
in providing top quality health care for the pets of North Carolina. Yes, changes
need to happen on the practice level and client level, but if the NCVMB, is the
first line of quality, safe pet care.
PREPARED BY
Stacey T. Hathaway, RVT