New Mexico Veterinary Technician — Requirements & Free Practice

Inferred from the examination name; the authority has not published an examination outline.

• Veterinary Practice Act (NMSA 1978, Chapter 61, Article 14)
• 16.25.1 NMAC General Provisions
• 16.25.2 NMAC Examination and Licensure - Veterinarians
• 16.25.3 NMAC Professional Conduct
• 16.25.6 NMAC Veterinary Technicians
• 16.25.7 NMAC Facility Licenses
• 16.25.8 NMAC Bovine Artificial Insemination and Pregnancy Diagnosis Technicians
• 16.25.9 NMAC Minimum Standards
• 16.25.11 NMAC Parental Responsibility Compliance

• Pharmacy and Pharmacology (13%)

  • Utilize knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology as it applies to the use of pharmacological, chemical, and biological agents.
  • Prepare medications in compliance with veterinarian's orders.
  • Calculate medications, fluid therapy rate, and continuous rate infusions based on the appropriate dosage in compliance with veterinarian's orders.
  • Dispense medications in compliance with veterinary orders.
  • Maintain controlled drug inventory, related logbooks, and medical records.
  • Recognize classifications of drugs, their mechanisms, and clinically relevant side effects.
  • Store, handle, and safely dispose of pharmacological, chemical, and biological agents.
• Surgical Nursing (13%)

  • Utilize knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology as it applies to surgical nursing.
  • Prepare the surgical environment, equipment, instruments, and supplies to meet the needs of the surgical team and patient.
  • Prepare patient for surgical procedure.
  • Function as a sterile surgical technician to ensure patient safety and procedural efficiency.
  • Function as a circulating (non-sterile) surgical technician to ensure patient safety and procedural efficiency.
  • Clean instruments by the appropriate method (including but not limited to manual, soak, or ultrasonic).
  • Maintain aseptic conditions in surgical suite and during surgical procedures.
  • Maintain the surgical environment, equipment, instruments, and supplies to meet the needs of the surgical team and patient.
  • Sterilize equipment and supplies by the appropriate method (including but not limited to steam, gas).
• Dentistry (7%)

  • Utilize knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology as it applies to dentistry.
  • Prepare and maintain the environment, equipment, instruments, and supplies to meet the needs of the dental team and patient.
  • Perform Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment (COHAT) (including but not limited to scaling and polishing; manual and machine).
  • Produce diagnostic dental radiographs.
• Laboratory Procedures (9%)

  • Utilize knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology as it applies to laboratory procedures.
  • Prepare and maintain specimens and documentation for in-house or outside laboratory evaluation.
  • Perform laboratory tests and procedures (including but not limited to microbiology, serology, cytology, hematology, urinalysis, and parasitology).
  • Maintain laboratory equipment and related supplies to ensure safety and quality of results.
• Animal Care and Nursing (20%)

  • Utilize knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology as it applies to patient care and nursing.
  • Document and manage initial and ongoing evaluations of patient to provide optimal care (including but not limited to physical, behavioral, nutritional, clinical procedures, and mentation status).
  • Perform nursing procedures and maintenance of prescribed treatments (including but not limited to catheterization, wound management, and bandaging).
  • Perform clinical procedures to aid in diagnosis and prognosis (including but not limited to blood pressure measurement, electrocardiography, and tonometry).
  • Provide a safe, sanitary, and comfortable environment for patient to ensure optimal healthcare and client/personnel safety.
  • Maintain diagnostic equipment and related supplies to ensure safety and quality of results.
  • Administer medications via the appropriate routes (including but not limited to topical, intravenous, subcutaneous).
  • Collect specimens for in-house or outside laboratory evaluation.
  • Recognize and respond to behavioral characteristics of patient.
  • Restrain patient with or without equipment for treatment following safety protocols.
• Diagnostic Imaging (6%)

  • Utilize knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology as it applies to diagnostic images.
  • Produce and document diagnostic images and/or radiographs (excluding dental) following protocols for safety and quality of results.
  • Maintain imaging/radiograph equipment and related materials to ensure safety and quality of results.
• Anesthesia (13%)

  • Utilize knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology as it applies to anesthesia.
  • Assist in the development and implementation of an anesthetic plan to ensure patient safety and procedural efficacy.
  • Prepare anesthetic equipment and related supplies to ensure operator and patient safety.
  • Maintain anesthetic equipment and related materials to ensure reliable operation.
  • Establish and maintain a patent airway using endotracheal intubation.
  • Monitor and respond to patient status during all stages of anesthesia (pre-, peri-, and post-).
• Emergency Medicine/Critical Care (7%)

  • Utilize knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology as it applies to emergency medicine and critical care.
  • Perform triage of a patient presenting with emergency/critical conditions (including but not limited to shock, acute illness, acute trauma, and toxicity).
  • Perform emergency nursing procedures (including but not limited to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), control acute blood loss, and fracture stabilization).
  • Perform critical care nursing procedures (including but not limited to blood component therapy, fluid resuscitation, and ongoing oxygen therapy).
  • Perform ongoing evaluations of physical, behavioral, nutritional, and mentation status of patient in emergency and critical conditions.
• Pain Management/Analgesia (7%)

  • Utilize knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology as it applies to pain management and analgesia.
  • Recognize need for analgesia in patient.
  • Assist in the development and implementation of the pain management plan to optimize patient comfort and/or healing.
• Communication and Veterinary Professional Support Services (5%)

  • Educate the client about animal care, risks, and side effects to promote and maintain the health of animals and the safety of client/public (including but not limited to behavior, nutrition, pharmacological/biological/chemical agents, dental health, anesthetic procedures, pain assessment/management, pre- and post-operative care, preventative care, zoonosis)
  • Maintain professional communication in all client and veterinary team interactions.
  • Collect patient information (including but not limited to signalment, medical history, primary complaint).
  • Provide assistance with the euthanasia process (including but not limited to consent, aftercare, grief management).