KSUCVM • SCAVMA

FAQ - Juniors

ExternshipsSenior Rotations  |  S.O.A.P.s

Externships

  • Externships are 3 weeks that you may spend at a veterinary clinic or veterinary hospital other than the KSU-VMTH during your senior year, that will count towards your required 42 senior credits.
     

  • You are allowed to take one externship that will count as a 3 week rotation during your senior year, which must be approved by the head of Clinical Sciences, Dr. Bonnie Rush. However, you do get 6 weeks off your senior year, so if there is more than one externship that you would like to participate in, you may do so during those 6 weeks that you have off, it will just not be on your transcript, and you will not have to pay tuition for those credit hours.
     

  • There is a book in the dean’s office that contains a list of externships that past seniors have taken, consisting of what the externship was, and what the student felt they gained from that externship, if it was a valuable one or not. This book must remain in the dean’s office, but you may go and and look at it at any time.
     

  • KSU-CVM does not provide any funds towards externships, and neither does SCAVMA. If you choose to do an externship, you are responsible for travel and lodging costs.

Senior Rotations

  • You will be signing up for your senior rotations shortly after the beginning of your junior year. There is one 6-week and nine 3-week required core rotations that you are required to participate in. You will have four 3-week elective rotations that you must take, but you get to choose what electives you decide to take. You will also get 6 weeks off (two 3-week rotations). Your senior year rotations begin in May, the week after finals.
     

  • You will get the chance to pick when you want up to three of your rotations, whether it is a core rotation, or your 6 weeks off. Once you choose these three rotations, you are not allowed to switch them, so choose carefully. The other rotations will be assigned randomly, and you will have the opportunity to switch spots with other students.  Each week you spend in a core or elective rotation counts as one credit, with a total of 46 weeks/credits required.
     

  • Core senior rotations that are required:
     

    • Equine – 6 weeks (consists of 2 weeks of medicine, 2 weeks of surgery, and 2 weeks of field service)
       

    • Agricultural Animals (In House) – 3 weeks
       

    • Agricultural Animals (Field Service) – 3 weeks
       

    • Small Animal Medicine – 3 weeks
       

    • Pet Health Clinics – 3 weeks
       

    • Small Animal Surgery (Orthopedic) – 3 weeks
       

    • Small Animal Surgery (Soft Tissue) – 3 weeks
       

    • Anesthesiology – 3 weeks
       

    • Radiology – 3 weeks
       

    • Diagnostic Medicine – 3 weeks
       

  • Electives that are offered: (All electives are 3 weeks, although you can take some electives more than once, and you must sign up for 3 electives unless you substitute one of those electives with 3 credits from mini-electives.)
     

    • Clinical Externship
       

    • Advanced Agricultural Practices
       

    • Advanced Anesthesia
       

    • Advanced Equine Medicine and Surgery
       

    • Advanced Small Animal Medicine
       

    • Advanced Small Animal Surgery (Soft Tissue or Orthopedic)
       

    • Cardiology
       

    • Clinical Equine Theriogenology
       

    • Companion Animal (common known as Common Practice over in the clinics)
       

    • Dermatology
       

    • Exotic Animal and Wildlife Medicine
       

    • Oncology
       

    • Opthamology
       

  • There are also a variety of mini-electives and special electives that are offered, which are 1-2 credit classes that are offered in either early mornings or evenings. These are primarily large animal oriented. Certain rotations will not allow you to take a mini-elective while on that rotation, so you must schedule carefully if you are interested in taking a mini-elective. If you do take mini-elective or special electives, they count towards your required 46 credits, so if you were to take at least 3 credits worth of mini-electives, you could theoretically get an additional 3 weeks off for a total of 9 weeks off your senior year.

S.O.A.P.s

  • For Junior Surgery class, there seems to be some confusion as to how to do SOAPs. The following is an abbreviated, simplified description of how to write up a SOAP.
     

  • To begin with, state the history of the animal, and why it has been presented to you (i.e. elective OHE). Next, list and number the reasons and/or problems that you note about the animal, and SOAP each individual problem.
     

  • First, list the problem. Example, #1 – Pruritis. Under each problem, list your SOAP.
     

  • S – stands for subjective. After S list your observations about the animal. For example, BAR (bright alert responsive), friendly, energetic, scratching quite a bit.
     

  • O – stands for objective. After O list facts about the animal. For example, the TPR (temperature, pulse, respirations), small patches of alopecia, fleas present. It is also acceptable to list S & O together, with observations and facts listed together after S & O:.
     

  • A – stands for assessment. After A list differentials for what could be causing the problem, and your reasons as to why or why not they are likely, and descriptions of the assessments. For example, Flea Allergy Dermatitis, Skin allergy, Addison’s Disease, Cushing’s Disease, Earmites, Mange. Most likely is flea allergy dermatitis because of the concurrent presence of fleas. Flea Allergy Dermatitis is an allergic dermatologic reaction as a result of the flea saliva injected into the skin.
     

  • P – stands for plan. After P list what you plan to do to treat the problem, or if you don’t plan to treat the problem at all. For example, will treat animal with Frontline. If problem persists longer than one week after treatment, will recheck and reevaluate for other possible causes of pruritis.
     

  • Once you have successfully treated a problem, or if you don’t plan to treat it, note it, and then don’t list the problem again unless it reoccurs. Each problem has the same number each time.
     

  • Example of the most common junior surgery problem:
      

    • Day 1: History: 2 year old female dog was referred from the Topeka Humane Society for an elective OHE. Animal is listed as a stray, no other history known.
       

      • Problem #1: Elective OHE
         

        • S: Dog is BAR. Very energetic. Physical exam showed presence of fleas, but no other abnormalities.
           

        • O: Temp – 101.2 F, Pulse – 96, Respirations – 20.
           

        • A: Elective OHE - to prevent unwanted pregnancy, to reduce the risk of uterine and mammary neoplasia, and to increase likelihood of adoption.
           

        • P: Will perform a standard OHE on Wednesday, October 5th. A fecal and a CBC will also be performed prior to surgery to check for any possible problems.
           

      • Problem #2: Fleas
         

        • S & O: Dog has fleas present over entire body surface. Both fleas and flea dirt are noticeable visually.
           

        • A: Fleas – can result in flea allergy dermatitis as a result of a reaction to the flea saliva injected into the skin resulting in pruritis.
           

        • P: Will give dog a Capstar, and will also bathe dog using a flea & tick shampoo.
           

    • Day 2:
       

      • Problem #1: Elective OHE
         

        • S & O: Dog is BAR. Temp – 100.8 F, Pulse - 100, Respirations – 28 Fecal was negative, nothing abnormal in CBC results.
           

        • A: Dog is ready for OHE tomorrow.
           

        • P: Will perform elective OHE tomorrow afternoon.

 

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