Published Reviews

JAVMA Review

Reviewed by Jennifer L. Martin, DVM

Case Studies in Veterinary Technology: A Scenario-Based Thinking Approach does an exceptional job of filling a void that, up until now, existed within textbooks used by veterinary technician students. This textbook provides guidance to veterinary technician students by helping them learn critical thinking skills via a case-based format. The textbook is organized into chapters that closely coincide with the AVMA Veterinary Technology Student Essential and Recommended Skills List, which veterinary technology programs use when developing a curriculum to ensure critical skills are included in instruction.

The book begins with an introductory chapter that explains what critical thinking is and how to apply critical thinking skills to veterinary patients as well as an introduction to and examples of subjective-objective-assessment-plan (ie, SOAP) notes and the concept map. The next 13 chapters each contain several examples of cases on the chapter topic. These chapters include communication-documentation, restraint, surgical nursing, anesthesia, diagnostic imaging techniques, medical nursing and behavior, clinical laboratory procedures, pharmacology, nutrition, emergency medicine, zoonotics, and laboratory animals-exotics. The subsequent chapter contains examples of cases that allow veterinary technology students to practice developing SOAP notes and concept maps. The final chapter includes photographs of case studies. Among other items, the appendix contains tables that reference the AVMA essential and recommended skills with the case studies, and vice versa.

In addition to the numerous case studies, this book contains many other excellent features. First, the authors have seamlessly incorporated the individual skills from the AVMA Veterinary Technology Student Essential and Recommended Skills Lists into case studies throughout this textbook, which makes this an extremely practical book for instructors to integrate into many courses within a veterinary technology program. Second, the list of references included at the end of each case provides guidance for veterinary technology students as they work through the cases. A third feature of this paperback book is its reasonable price.

Overall, the authors do an outstanding job of providing veterinary technology students with a variety of case studies pertinent to contemporary veterinary medicine that will encourage them to further develop their problem-solving skills. With its outstanding content and affordable price, I believe this would be an excellent textbook to incorporate into the curriculum of veterinary programs.---By Jody Rockett & Chani Christensen. 452 pages; illustrated. Rockett House Publishing, 407 S 800 W, Heyburn, ID 83336. ISBN 978061543-505-3. 2010. Price $46.00.

NAVTA Review

Review by: Julie Legred, CVT

While doing this review, I had a hard time putting this book down. It is laid out in such a way that the instructors and individuals wanting just a review or to utilize in their curriculum will finally have a way to approach the technical aspects of cases, along with the critical thinking and communication aspects that comes along with them.

The book is structured by areas (nutrition, dentistry, anesthesia, pharmacology, etc.). In each area, instructions and a scenario are given, and then questions relating to each case are provided. This pushes the individual reading it to think about every aspect of the case and come up with the correct answers about things like equipment that might need to be used, preparation, instruments, calculations, client education and possible outcomes (adverse effects of medication, conditions related to lab findings, etc.). Having these items within each section and case provides an interactive way to engage learning and review. To fully understand a concept, you have to be active in then learning and review process rather than simply reading through a book, and this text accomplishes that.

There are clear and precise pictures included with some of the scenarios to give the individual some visual effects to help in their answers and conclusions. There is also a CD that can be purchased separately for instructors that provides the answer key as well as a quick reference tool. Another positive aspect of this text is the “How to Use” area on the publisher’s website, which gives direction in how to utilize this outstanding and much needed book.

Finally, there is a resource to push the critical thinking concepts that are so much a part of what we as veterinary technicians do in our career every day! This is a must-have for your veterinary technology resource library.