Veterinary Assistant Course Curriculum

The comprehensive curriculum of Blackstone’s online Veterinary Assistant course covers a broad range of topics.

Unit I: Blackstone’s Skills for Success

Chapter 1

Discusses learning styles and intrinsic and extrinsic motivation; explains the difference between visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners and field dependence and field independence.

Chapter 2

Discusses the importance of finding a place to study, setting realistic goals, and avoiding distractions and procrastination.

Chapter 3

Covers learning strategies, including the SQ3R; explains how to take notes, use memory tricks and references, and prepare for multiple-choice tests.

Unit II: English and Written Communication

Chapter 1

Covers the parts of speech including nouns, verbs, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections.

Chapter 2

Covers the parts of a sentence including the subject, predicate, direct object, indirect object, subject compliment, phrase, and clause.

Chapter 3

Covers pronoun/antecedent agreement and pronoun usage; explains how pronouns are used in sentences; covers subject/verb agreement.

Chapter 4

Covers sentence types and sentence punctuation.

Chapter 5

Covers fundamentals of written communication including using active versus passive voice, writing unified and coherent paragraphs, and writing topic sentences for paragraphs. Discusses common types of business communication including business letters and memorandums.

Unit III: Introduction to Computers, Keyboarding and Office Technology

Chapter 1

Covers how computers are used in the office today, the different types of computers, and the parts of a computer system.

Chapter 2

Covers basic keyboarding skills using Blackstone’s Online Typing Tutor.

Chapter 3

Covers the Internet, the World Wide Web (WWW), URLs, the different types of Internet connections, search engines, email, and other uses for the Internet.

Chapter 4

Covers other types of office technology, including office telephones and the different types of telephone calls; fax machines; photocopiers; multipurpose machines; transcribers; digital cameras; and wireless communication.

Unit IV: Veterinary Anatomy & Medical Terminology 1

Chapter 1

Introduces veterinary medical terminology, including an overview of common root words, prefixes, suffixes, combining vowels, simple and compound words, combining forms, directional terms, and planes of the body.

Chapter 2

Covers common root words, prefixes and suffixes related to cells; common medical terms related to cells; anatomic components of animal cells; and animal cell physiology.

Chapter 3

Covers common root words, prefixes and suffixes related to the body and biology; common medical terms related to the body and animal physiology; basic chemistry, including atomic structure and molecular bonds; general body structure and organization; and functional relationships of body tissues and organs.

Chapter 4

Covers the hematopoietic system, including common root words, prefixes and suffixes related to blood; common medical terms related to blood; the composition of blood; basic morphologic characteristics of normal blood cells; basic physiology of hematopoiesis and function of major blood constituents; hematology; and common red blood cell shape changes.

Chapter 5

Covers the lymphatic system, including root words prefixes and suffixes related to the lymphatic system; common medical terms related to the lymphatic system; basic anatomy and physiology of the lymphatic system; and role of lymphatic system in immunity and edema formation.

Unit V: Veterinary Anatomy & Medical Terminology 2

Chapter 6

Covers the musculoskeletal system, including common root words, prefixes and suffixes related to the musculoskeletal system; common medical terms related to the musculoskeletal system; major bones and joints of domestic animals; parts of a bone; bone growth and repair; joint anatomy and function; major muscle groups and common intramuscular injection sites of domestic animals; and types of traumatic fractures.

Chapter 7

Covers the cardiovascular system, including common root words, prefixes and suffixes related to the cardiovascular system; common medical terms related to the cardiovascular system; cardiovascular anatomy; common pulse points and phlebotomy sites in domestic animals; cycle of blood flow in an adult animal; cardiac cycle, heart sounds and electrocardiography; and common cardiac diseases.

Chapter 8

Covers the respiratory system, including common root words, prefixes and suffixes related to the respiratory system; common medical terms related to the respiratory system; the respiratory and thoracic cavity; respiratory physiology with regard to breathing mechanisms, respiratory volumes, gas exchange, and protective mechanisms; and pathophysiology of common domestic animal respiratory diseases.

Chapter 9

Covers the neurologic system, including common root words, prefixes and suffixes related to the neurologic system; common medical terms related to the neurologic system; neuroanatomy; neurophysiology with regard to neurotransmission, motor and sensory pathways, autonomic pathways and olfaction; the reflex arc with regard to spinal reflexes; the blood-brain barrier; and pathophysiology and diseases as they relate to the neurologic system.

Unit VI: Veterinary Anatomy & Medical Terminology 3

Chapter 10

Covers the eye, including common root words, prefixes and suffixes related to ophthalmology; common medical terms related to ophthalmology; ocular anatomy; ocular physiology with regard to aqueous production, flow and drainage; and the visual pathway.

Chapter 11

Covers the ear, including common root words, prefixes and suffixes related to the ear, common medical terms related to the ear, otic anatomy, otic physiology with regard to the auditory pathway and equilibrium; and common otic pathophysiology and disease.

Chapter 12

Covers the alimentary system, including common root words, prefixes and suffixes related to the alimentary system; common medical terms related to the alimentary system; alimentary anatomy; comparative dentition and dental formulas; digestive physiology; basic nutrients and nutrition; and common pathophysiology and disease conditions.

Chapter 13

Covers the urinary system, including common root words, prefixes and suffixes related to the urinary system; common medical terms related to the urinary system; urinary anatomy; renal physiology with regard to urine production, water homeostasis, waste excretion and electrolyte homeostasis; and common urinary diseases and their pathophysiology.

Unit VII: Veterinary Anatomy & Medical Terminology 4

Chapter 14

Covers the reproductive system, including common root words, prefixes and suffixes related to the reproductive system; common medical terms related to the reproductive system; male and female reproductive anatomy, reproductive physiology as it relates to estrus, gestation, parturition, lactation and spermatogenesis.

Chapter 15

Covers the endocrine system, including common root words, prefixes and suffixes related to the endocrine system; common medical terms related to the endocrine system; endocrine anatomy; endocrine physiology with regard to hormones and negative feedback; and endocrine physiology and pathophysiology with regard to functions and effects of each major endocrine organ.

Chapter 16

Covers the integumentary system, including common root words, prefixes and suffixes related to the integumentary system; common medical terms related to the integumentary system; integumentary anatomy; and integumentary physiology and pathophysiology with regard to functions including hair growth, wound healing and allergic dermatitis.

Chapter 17

Covers pharmacology, including common root words, prefixes and suffixes related to pharmacology; common medical terms related to pharmacology; metric system with regard to weights, volumes and conversions; medication administration with regard to the five rights and relative rates of drug uptake per different routes; pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics; and prescription writing and transcription.

Unit VIII: Interpersonal Communications

Chapter 1

Discusses the various types of knowledge, types of goals used in the workplace, different means of providing feedback, incentives common to the workplace, and the different roles exhibited in the workplace.

Chapter 2

Explains techniques that promote effective nonverbal communication, listening and speaking. Explains proper technological communication techniques.

Chapter 3

Explores the concept of culture, the importance of cultural diversity in the workplace, and overcoming communication barriers caused by diversity.

Chapter 4

Covers attributes of successful teamwork, the role of the team leader, and overcoming barriers to effective teamwork.

Unit IX: Critical Thinking Skills

Chapter 1

Provides an introduction to the critical thinking process, explores the importance of critical thinking skills and characteristics of critical thinkers, and describes a method to use for critical decision making.

Chapter 2

Covers schema, inference, and judgment and how these apply to critical thought.

Chapter 3

Discusses metacognition, the process of thinking about thinking, and how it builds critical thinking skills.

Chapter 4

Explains how consequences, assumptions, stereotypes, connotation and impulsive thinking affect critical thought, as well as how to identify strong conclusions to critical issues.

Chapter 5

Provides analyses of persuasive strategies that help develop arguments, including ethos, pathos and logos.

Chapter 6

Explores how to interpret and use three main critical theories—Marxist, Feminist and Deconstruction.

Chapter 7

Covers deductive reasoning, establishing premises and validity in critical thought, and interpreting and creating syllogisms.

Chapter 8

Defines emotional intelligence and explains its role in the critical thought process.

Unit X: Veterinary Office Assisting 1

Chapter 1

Introduces the various members of the veterinary health care team and continuing education opportunities.

Chapter 2

Introduces the receptionist team, including staff etiquette; effective phone techniques; managing multiple phone lines; turning phone calls into appointments; taking messages; liability of telephone calls; personal phone calls; managing and processing mail; client relations; common veterinary practice forms; reviewing invoices with owners; payment for services; and handling special situations with clients.

Chapter 3

Discusses team management, including leadership; positive effects of a team; the four R’s of team management; empowering employees; delegation; methods of communication; conflict management; increasing staff efficiency; time management; decreasing loss; and selecting, motivating and retaining team members.

Chapter 4

Introduces veterinary ethics and legal issues, including the code of ethics, veterinary ethics, legal issues, and the most common complaints to the Board of Veterinary Medicine.

Chapter 5

Covers human resources, including organizational behavior; hiring the perfect team, employment laws; Equal Employment Opportunity; employee manuals; employee procedure manuals; payroll; personnel files; team training; Workers’ Compensation insurance; theft and embezzlement; termination; and problem-solving skills.

Chapter 6

Covers stress and burnout, including stress identification, coping with stress, substance abuse and dependence, and preventing career burnout.

Unit XI: Veterinary Office Assisting 2

Chapter 7

Introduces practice design, including principles of time and motion; body positioning; ergonomics; health and safety of reception team members; design and function of effective practices; creating comfortable reception areas and exam rooms; consultation rooms; and retail, middle and treatment areas.

Chapter 8

Discusses technology in the office, including information systems; hardware and software; selecting hardware and software; cost analysis; software implementation; Internet security; backing up the system; and cameras, scanners and copiers.

Chapter 9

Covers outside diagnostic laboratory services, including choosing a diagnostic laboratory, sample submission, laboratory forms, sample shipment, sample pickup, results, fees, and client service.

Chapter 10

Discusses marketing, including branding the practice; indirect, direct, internal and external marketing; Web sites; business cards; magnets; practice brochures; client education materials; on-hold messaging; donations; gift certificates; and implementing a marketing and training program for team members.

Chapter 11

Introduces client communications, including verbal and written skills; client compliance; body language; estimates; ensuring client understanding; understanding client and patient needs; barriers to client communications; improving verbal image; and client retention.

Chapter 12

Discusses interacting with a grieving client, including the human-animal bond; the euthanasia procedure; pet memorials; cremations; and dealing with grief.

Unit XII: Veterinary Office Assisting 3

Chapter 13

Covers appointment management systems, including paper versus software appointment scheduling, designing an appointment book template; factors in appointment scheduling; scheduling for productivity; adapting the schedule for emergencies; handling habitually late clients; management during busy times; management of walk-ins; patient drop-off, handling no-show appointments and clients who arrive on the wrong day; appointment cards; entering appointments; units for appointment scheduling; calling and reminding clients of appointments; and training new employees to use the appointment system.

Chapter 14

Introduces medical records management, including legibility of medical records; choosing a filing system; paper and computerized medical records; choosing medical records software; medical records release; establishing a medical records; taking a history; SOAP and POMR medical records; herd health records; purging medical records; client discharge instructions; common abbreviations; radiographs; and backing up the computer system daily.

Chapter 15

Covers inventory management, including fundamentals of inventory; distributors and manufacturer representatives; designing an inventory system; handling expired medications; returning products to distributors; developing an effective product markup; Material Safety Data Sheets; capital inventory; and decreasing loss.

Chapter 16

Discusses management of controlled substances and schedule of drugs.

Chapter 17

Introduces controlled substances, radiology, surgical, laboratory and miscellaneous logs.

Chapter 18

Covers accounts receivable, including accepting payment on accounts receivable; instituting a no-charge policy; monthly statements; collection procedures for outstanding accounts; Fair Debt Collection Practices Act; telephone calls to collect outstanding accounts; collection letters; collection agencies; and employee accounts receivable.

Chapter 19

Discusses pet health insurance, including indemnity insurance, wellness plans, the benefits of pet health insurance, filing a claim, third-party payment systems, and making recommendations to clients.

Unit XIII: Veterinary Office Assisting 4

Chapter 20

Discusses preparing and maintaining a budget, including accounting and bookkeeping; accounting basics; creating a budget; equipment and payroll budgets; creating financial reports; analyzing revenue; and benchmarking.

Chapter 21

Provides an overview of occupational hazards and safety issues, including zoonotic diseases; disease transmission; control of zoonotic diseases; safety hazards in the veterinary practice; OSHA; developing safety protocols; implementing safety plans and protocols; hazard communication; developing a hospital safety manual; accident reporting and investigation; documentation; fire prevention; fire codes and inspections; and handling animal escapes.

Chapter 22

Introduces security issues, including the computer system; theft; security systems; cameras and recording devices; perimeter lighting; emergency calls; mobile practices; methods of defense; and safety of hospitalized patients.

Chapter 23

Covers clinical assisting, including examinations; vaccinations and diseases; diagnostics and diagnostic imaging; surgery; pharmacology; therapeutic diets; parasites; common small animal, equine, bovine, ovine, and caprine emergencies; common canine and feline disorders; housekeeping; boarding; and condo facilities.

Chapter 24

Provides an overview of calculations and conversions, including monthly finance charges; accounts receivable percentages; inventory turns per year; developing effective product and service markups; cost/benefit ratio; break-even analysis; payroll calculations; and drug and intravenous fluid calculations.

Chapter 25

Discusses professional development, including self-assessment; marketing skills; employment opportunities; preparing employment data; preparing for an interview and follow-up; receiving offers of employment; and retirement.

Unit XIV: Animal Restraint for the Veterinary Assistant

Chapter 1

Discusses restraint techniques for friendly, mildly aggressive, and moderately aggressive felines, including the use of restraint for medical and diagnostic procedures.

Chapter 2

Discusses restraint techniques for friendly, mildly aggressive, and moderately aggressive canines, including the use of restraint for medical and diagnostic procedures.

Unit XV: Time & Stress Management

Chapter 1

Discusses determining personal values through assessment activities and making decisions based on personal values.

Chapter 2

Covers creating new habits and patterns of behavior.

Chapter 3

Explores setting realistic goals and objectives to achieve desirable outcomes.

Chapter 4

Discusses prioritizing activities, projects and to-do items.

Chapter 5

Covers effective planning and scheduling.

Chapter 6

Explores how to analyze and deal with interruptions.

Chapter 7

Introduces the use of daily TimeLogs.

Chapter 8

Covers tips and tools to use in personal and work settings that assist with time management.

Chapter 9

Explores how self-esteem influences productivity.

Chapter 10

Provides tips for controlling stress at home and in the workplace.

Unit XVI: Management Practices & Principles

Chapter 1

Covers the role of the supervisor as a manager and a leader.

Chapter2

Explores effective communication.

Chapter 3

Discusses how to create a positive work climate.

Chapter 4

Covers building teams and managing conflict.

Chapter 5

Discusses delegating to employees.

Chapter 6

Covers developing job expectations.

Chapter 7

Introduces employee recruitment.

Chapter 8

Covers selecting employees.

Chapter 9

Introduces orienting and training employees.

Chapter 10

Discusses employee performance evaluation.

Chapter 11

Discusses disciplining employees.

Unit XVII: How to Find a Job as a Veterinary Assistant

Chapter 1

Covers job search correspondence including resumes and cover letters.

Chapter 2

Discusses job search techniques such as networking and using online employment search engines.

Chapter 3

Discusses job interviews; explains how to dress for an interview, what to bring to an interview, what to expect during an interview; discusses common questions asked during an interview and how to follow up after an interview.