VCA Veterinary Externship Skills List and Guidelines

Clinical experience is an integral part of the development of a veterinary student – providing

opportunities for observation and practice experience in a hospital environment under the

supervision of trained professionals. The experience should be similar to that of fourth-year clinics –

the Extern should be involved in discussions and integrally involved in all aspects of cases. If for

some reason, this is not possible, they should shadow the principal clinician, but be part of the

conversation as though they were the primary doctor, developing a rule-out list, workup, and

treatment plan including drug calculations and record-keeping.

Students must work under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian, as defined by the State

Practice Act of the state where the VCA hospital is located.

Externs need and want hands-on experience from a doctor’s perspective. VCA is committed to

creating an experience that will help them in their transition from student to doctor. The VCA facility

will make every effort to provide opportunities

to students to perform the following:

• Observe/assist doctors in providing care to hospitalized patients

• Observe and participate in office calls with staff doctors

• Observe special procedures - e.g. endoscopy, ultrasound

• Scrub in as the second assistant in surgeries on a case by case basis

o Students may not be left unsupervised, must have licensed DVM present in

surgical/anesthetized cases

• Attend daily hospitalized patient rounds

• Assist hospital team with the exceptional patient and customer care

• Assist with patient management

• Observe and participate in client communication

• Attend all hospital seminars and rounds

• Learn pain management guidelines and discuss analgesia protocols

• Perform venipunctures, place catheters, and assist with anesthetic induction with

appropriate oversight

• Create a diagnostic plan, treatment plan, and financial plan for patients

of interest

• Follow-through with cases from start to finish

• Examine drop-off patients and develop treatment plans

• Enroll in WOOF University and explore available courses—available soon

The following activities are prohibited by an Extern:

• Accessing, dispensing, administering or prescribing controlled substances

• Driving on behalf of VCA or a client

• Unsupervised Surgery; must have Licensed DVM present in any surgical engagement

FAQs:

What can the extern do when there is a slow period?

• Review any x-rays from the hospital’s case file

• Prepare a tech seminar

• Research a medical topic

• Assist technicians/assistants with patient care and recovery

• Prepare a presentation for staff about a medical topic

• Complete any WOOF U courses they are interested in

What can the Extern expect when it comes to surgical cases?

Student externs will not be able to perform unsupervised independent surgery at VCA hospitals.

If given approval, they may scrub in and assist the surgeon as directed. There must always be direct

supervision whenever they are with an anesthetized patient. Under special circumstances, Externs

may be able to assist with and perform spays and neuters on animals from shelter programs.

Oversight is always required by a staff doctor.