Veterinary Assistant Program
Our Veterinary Assistant diploma program is located within our Highland Heights Veterinary Hospital location. Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital is modeled after the human medical concept providing advanced veterinary care and a 24-hour emergency department. Metropolitan's Highland Heights hospital houses several specialty departments which includes cardiology, critical care, oncology, neurology/neuro-surgery, surgery (soft-tissue and orthopedic), ophthalmology, internal medicine, and exotics. As well as hosting an in house blood bank where a specialized team collects blood donations later used for for our own hospitalized patients.
What does this mean for our students?
Our Veterinary Assistant students will have the unique opportunity to apply their knowledge from the classroom into the clinical setting by having hands-on opportunities. Students learn to be an effective veterinary assistant through the study of veterinary office procedures, animal handling and restraint, medical terminology, radiology, and ultrasound imaging. During the externship portion of the program students have an opportunity to put into action the job specific skills learned by assisting both veterinarians and veterinary technicians all the while spending time in a veterinary emergency room and specialty hospital.
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Program Objectives
This program is designed to prepare students to demonstrate the following learning outcomes:
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Utilize knowledge and interpersonal skills to educate clients and communicate effectively with colleagues.
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Operate and maintain veterinary equipment and facilities.
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Provide appropriate restraint for physical examinations and other diagnostic procedures.
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Maintain inventory and order processing of medications and other hospital supplies.
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Provide support with pre- and post-operative patients.
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Prepare the patient and maintain sterility for common surgical procedures.
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Properly collect, store, and package laboratory samples.
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Provide medical treatments to animals under veterinary care with supervision.
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​Assist with digital imaging by taking radiographs or assisting with ultrasounds.