This elective will provide the veterinary student with hands-on clinical experience in a nonprofit, high-volume veterinary setting serving dogs and cats in Southwest Florida. The student will work alongside veterinarians and veterinary technicians and participate in the daily clinical and surgical workflow under appropriate veterinary supervision.
The primary focus of the elective will be high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter (HQHVSN) medicine and surgery. Depending on the student's experience level and demonstrated competency, opportunities may include patient assessment, development of anesthetic plans, calculation and administration of medications, IV catheter placement, induction and intubation, anesthetic monitoring, surgical preparation, participation in spay and neuter procedures, postoperative recovery, pain management, and discharge planning.
The student may also gain exposure to preventive medicine, vaccination protocols, infectious and parasitic disease prevention, community cat/TNR medicine, and the management of common medical conditions encountered in a nonprofit veterinary setting.
Throughout the elective, emphasis will be placed on safe and efficient patient care, proper surgical technique, anesthesia and pain management, clinical decision-making, teamwork, medical record documentation, and communication. The experience will also provide insight into the role of nonprofit veterinary medicine in improving access to veterinary care and addressing pet overpopulation within the community.
All procedures and clinical activities will be performed at the discretion of and under the supervision of the attending veterinarian, based on the student's training, experience, and demonstrated competency.
Our clinical facilities are equipped to support high-volume small animal surgery, anesthesia, preventive care, diagnostic testing, and general veterinary medicine. Available resources include dedicated surgical and treatment areas, anesthesia machines, oxygen, multiparameter patient monitoring/ECG equipment, IV fluid pumps, surgical instrumentation, autoclave/sterilization equipment, in-house laboratory capabilities, digital radiography, microscopy, and standard emergency and resuscitation equipment.
The student will have access to appropriate medications, anesthetic and analgesic agents, laboratory and diagnostic resources, medical records, and patient-care equipment necessary for the cases in which they participate. Educational opportunities will include direct case discussion with veterinarians, review of anesthetic and surgical plans, supervised development of technical and surgical skills, and feedback regarding clinical decision-making and patient care.
The student will be expected to participate in a full-time clinical schedule during the elective, generally Monday through Friday during normal clinic hours. The student should arrive on time and be prepared to participate throughout the complete patient-care and surgical day.
This is intended to be a hands-on clinical experience rather than an observational-only externship. The student will work directly with the attending veterinarian and veterinary team and will be expected to actively participate in patient care to the extent appropriate for their level of training and demonstrated competency.
Responsibilities may include reviewing patient histories, performing physical examinations, developing anesthetic and treatment plans with the veterinarian, calculating medications, placing IV catheters, assisting with induction and intubation, preparing patients for surgery, monitoring anesthesia, participating in surgical procedures, overseeing postoperative recovery, completing medical records, and assisting with discharge planning.
The student is expected to ask questions, participate in case discussions, demonstrate appropriate professional communication and teamwork, follow hospital safety and infection-control protocols, and accept feedback from supervising veterinarians and staff.
Surgical responsibilities will progress based on the student's experience, comfort level, demonstrated skills, and the supervising veterinarian's assessment. Patient safety and quality of care will remain the priority at all times.
405 SGT Joe Jones Road
Immokalee , FL 34142
United States