Vetward Course Pathway
Our classes start with the beginning fundamental skills and build on that with each level teaching progressively more difficult veterinary skills. All students must start with the Beginning Fundamentals class, but each additional level class can be taken in any order up until the level capstone class, which will be a culmination of the skills learned in that level and will serve as an indicator of readiness for the next level classes. Additional classes are in the planning stage and new classes are frequently added.
Beginning Fundamentals Course
Skills Learned:
- How to approach animals safely
- Proper restraint (how to safely hold animals for procedures)
- Basic use of stethoscope
- How to assess vital signs
- Bandaging techniques
- Syringe handling
** All students must start with this course first **
** Must be 12-18 or contact for exception**
Level 2 Classes:
Level classes can be taken in any order up until the capstone class
Suture Lab (Level 2)
New Skills Learned:
​
​- Intro to basic surgical equipment
- Holding instruments correctly​
- Opening and closing needle driver smoothly​
- Basic suturing techniques and do's/don'ts​
- Inserting and extracting needle smoothly
- How to follow suture pattern diagrams​
- Making square knot and surgeon's knot​
- Basic interrupted and continuous suture patterns​
All students get their own suture pad, basic suture instrument kit and practice suture to keep
Coming Soon!
Level 2 Capstone
*Must have taken all Level 2 classes prior to taking this class*
New Skills Learned:
- Taking history
- Flow of typical vet appointment
- Reading and using veterinary records
- Presenting vet information​
Level 2 skills tested with mock cases:
Each student will have an individual mock case and will have to:​
- Take a history
- Use and record vet record
- Take vital signs and document
- Present case
- Restrain for exam
- Suggest diagnostic tests from past Level 2 classes
- Perform diagnostic tests
​
**Performance in this class will indicate if the student is ready to move on to Level 3 classes**​​​
Level 3 Classes:
**Must have passed Level 2 Capstone to take Level 3 classes**
Level classes can be taken in any order up until the capstone class
Injection Lab (Level 3)
New Skills Learned:
- Locations for injections
- Reconstituting medication​
- Drawing up injectable medications
- Syringe measurement
- Basic drug math
- Practice giving injections using models
Blood Draw Lab (Level 3)
New Skills Learned:
- Anatomical locations for IV blood draws
- Restraint for different locations
- Practice drawing simulated blood on models
- Using blood tubes
IV Catheter Lab (Level 3)
New Skills Learned:
- Anatomical locations for IV catheters
- Restraint for different locations
- Preparing for placing IV catheter on small animals
- Practice placing IV catheters on models