Veterinary Science Technology Program:
Technical Standards for Admission, Progression, and Graduation
Technical standards describe the non-academic qualifications required for entrance to, continuation in, and graduation from the Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree program in Veterinary Science Technology at SUNY Delhi. Candidates must be able to meet these minimum standards, with or without reasonable accommodation, for successful completion of degree requirements.
SUNY Delhi has established these technical standards in an effort to provide a framework to balance several competing interests: (1) the rights of applicants and students; (2) the safety of students, staff, and veterinary patients; (3) the significant clinical training component of SUNY Delhi curricula; (4) the requirement imposed upon SUNY Delhi for accreditation by the American Veterinary Medical Association; and (5) the conditions for licensure of SUNY Delhi graduates. These competing interests and the nature of veterinary technician educational activities may prevent some prospective students from enrollment or continued enrollment in the Veterinary Science program at SUNY Delhi.
Communication: Use good communication skills in interacting with peers, staff, and college personnel.
Examples of relevant activities include, but are not limited to:
- Effective verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
- Effective use of the English language.
- Accurate recording of all information.
Sensory Skills and Observation: Functional use of senses.
Examples of relevant activities include, but are not limited to:
- The student must be able to assess patients in their environment in order to safely deliver nursing care. Examples of relevant activities include, but are not limited to:
- Detect changes in skin color.
- Detect subtle patient movement.
- Collect data from recording equipment and measuring devices.
- Detect fire in patient area and initiate emergency action.
- Draw the correct quantity of medication into a syringe.
- The student must be able to assess patients in their environments and to implement nursing care plans that are developed from such assessments. Examples of relevant activities include, but are not limited to:
- Detect sounds related to bodily functions using a stethoscope.
- Detect alarms (e.g. monitors, fire alarms).
- Detect the origin of sound such as the movement of large animals in a pen or corral; monitor multiple patients in an intensive care unit.
- Communicate clearly in a conversation.
- Communicate effectively with clients and with other members of the veterinary team.
- The student shall have the ability to sufficiently assess patients and implement the nursing care plan developed from such assessments. Examples of relevant activities include, but are not limited to:
1. Detect odors of bodily fluids or spoiled foods.
2. Detect smoke from burning materials.
- The student shall have the ability to sufficiently assess patients and to implement the nursing care plan developed from such assessments. Examples of relevant activities include, but are not limited to:
1. Detect changes in skin temperature.
2. Detect unsafe temperature levels in heat-producing devices used internally/externally with clients.
3. Detect anatomical abnormalities such as edema, infiltrated IV fluids.
- The student must be able to properly and effectively use equipment used to assess patient status. Examples of relevant activities include, but are not limited to:
1. Use a stethoscope to assess bodily function.
2. Use a compound microscope to identify cells and microscopic organisms.
3. Use monitoring devices such as a pulse oximeter.
4. Evaluate density patterns on a radiograph and ECG tracing.
Manual Dexterity and Motor Skills: Strength and mobility sufficient to perform patient-care activities and emergency procedures.
Examples of relevant activities include, but are not limited to:
- Perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
- Accurately place and maintain position of stethoscope for detecting sound functions.
- Manipulate small equipment and containers such as syringes, vials, and medication packages to administer medications.
- Transfer patients in and out of cages, kennels, and stalls.
- Lift or move patients or objects, turn and position patients as needed to prevent complications due to cage rest.
- Move his/her entire body quickly to move away from danger while handling animals in confined spaces.
- Properly restrain an animal patient for a medical procedure.
- Hang IV bags at appropriate level.
- Monitor volumes in bodily fluid collection devices.
Cognitive Ability: The student must have the ability to collect, analyze, and integrate information and knowledge to make clinical judgments and management decisions to promote patient outcomes.
Examples of relevant activities include, but are not limited to:
- Process information accurately, thoroughly, and quickly to prioritize tasks, perform math computations for medication dosage calculations.
- Demonstrate skills of recall using both long- and short-term memory, inferential reasoning, predicting possible outcomes, applications of knowledge and evaluation of predicted outcomes at appropriate times for point of program.
- Use critical thinking in the process of delivering care and comfort to patient.
Emotional Stability/Behavior/Social Attributes: Student is expected to have the emotional stability required to provide safe nursing care.
Examples of relevant activities include, but are not limited to:
- Exercise sound judgment, complete assessment and intervention activities, and develop sensitive interpersonal relationships with patients, clients, families, and others responsible for veterinary care.
- Demonstrate flexibility to function effectively under stress and adapt to multiple situations.
- Have sustained contact with multiple species of animals and their environments in which they are housed and treated.
- Handle strong emotions.
- Demonstrate compassion.
- Establish therapeutic relationships in a caring manner.
- Focus on and maintain attention to tasks.
