Veterinary Externship

Job Description

Veterinary Extern – General Practice | NVA General Practice

The Tone:
This is an educational externship at NVA General Practice, situated within a supportive NVA hospital environment. While each NVA facility possesses its unique characteristics, all are uniformly dedicated to upholding excellent medical standards and delivering exceptional service to both animals and their loving owners. This externship is designed to provide veterinary students with a profound and unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the daily operational flow of a veterinary practice. It aims to facilitate the acquisition of valuable, hands-on clinical experience that complements their academic studies.

The TL;DR
• Role: Externship
• Type: Temporary
• Location: In-person

• Team: Works closely with supervising Associate Veterinarians, medical team, support staff, and clients.
• Mission: To understand day-to-day veterinary practice operations, gain hands-on clinical experience, and contribute to excellent patient and client care.

What You’ll Actually Do
• Patient Assessment: Actively engage in the fundamental processes of gathering comprehensive patient histories and meticulously performing physical examinations to inform diagnostic and treatment pathways.
• Treatment Planning Development: Collaborate closely with supervising Associate Veterinarians to develop and refine effective, individualized treatment plans for a diverse range of animal patients.
• Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures: Gain practical experience in executing various diagnostic services and contributing to essential dentistry services, ensuring a broad exposure to clinical practice.
• Surgical Engagement: Participate directly by observing, assisting in, or, under appropriate supervision, performing surgical procedures, enhancing understanding of surgical protocols and techniques.
• Patient Management and Communication: Contribute to the ongoing medical management of patients while also honing vital communication skills through interactions with the medical team, support staff, and clients.

The Must-Haves
• Background: The minimum qualification for this externship is current enrollment as a veterinary student in an accredited Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program, regardless of their current class year. This is structured as an Entry-Level educational experience, designed for students embarking on their professional journey in veterinary medicine.
• Experience: This externship does not require specific prior professional experience, aligning with its role as an educational opportunity for all veterinary students. The program is explicitly open to students at any stage of their DVM education, without prerequisites for prior hands-on clinical work.
• Skills: Candidates should possess foundational understanding and emerging abilities in patient history gathering, performing physical examinations, developing treatment plans, applying diagnostic principles, assisting in dentistry services, and an aptitude for observing or participating in surgical procedures. Strong communication skills for interacting with medical teams, support staff, and clients are also essential.
• Bonus: Veterinary students who have progressed into the clinical portion of their education are specifically eligible for a travel and living expense stipend, details of which are available via provided links.