Page 272 - Zoo Animal Learning and Training

256 Tasks for the Veterinary Assistant

it is used up the next day. If the drugs are schedule or
controlled drugs, alert the technician or veterinarian
who holds the keys so they can be locked up. Check the
surgical and control drug logs and update those as
required.
Wipe down the countertop with spray disinfectant,
check the sharps container and if full replace it with
another. Check the disinfectant spray, surgical scrub and
alcohol containers and refill so they are available at all
times. Restock cotton balls, gauze sponges, tongue
depressors, syringes, needles, IV catheters, applicator
sticks, adhesive tape, and self‐sticking tape rolls. Check
the artificial tears ointment tube and if almost gone
secure another from central stores and place it under
the old tube. Check to see if the bandage scissor got
moved and restore it in the proper drawer. Check the IV
drip sets and fluid bags and restock as necessary.
Clean the scrub sink where the veterinarians scrub
their hands. Make sure you look at the surrounding wall
above, below, and to each side. The brush tends to splat-
ter scrub solution everywhere! You can use wet paper
towels to clean the area as the surgical scrub is an all‐
purpose disinfectant. It does suds up so you may have to
use several paper towels to get the area and sink clean.
If there are any kennels or runs to clean, take care of
those as described in Chapter 4. Then sweep, moving all
of the tables and other moveable objects, and mop with
the surgical room mop bucket. Remember not to use the
general mop bucket or the one for the kennels as this
can ruin all of your hard work in cleaning and disinfect-
ing the surgery suite! When finished put the mop head
into the laundry and clean the mop bucket, then spray it
with disinfectant and allow it to air dry.

Learning Exercise
FIGURE 14.9 F/air canister.
In your reference book make a step‐by‐step protocol
after it weighs 50 g. New canisters are weighed and the for cleaning the surgical suite in the manner in
weight is marked on the side of the canister. After each which the text dictates or in how your program or
day’s surgeries the canister is weighed and the old weight facility wishes it to be accomplished.
is subtracted from the new weight and added to a
running total that is written on the side of the canister.
The next items to take care of are the air tubes and
rebreathing bags (Figure 14.10). Daily maintenance of Cleaning the Surgical Instruments
these include washing them out with warm soapy water,
rinsing thoroughly with warm water, and if your spray Veterinary assistants are charged with cleaning the sur-
disinfectant is OK to use on rubber and plastic, spray gical instruments. These are expensive to buy, and their
and let air dry. Hanging them up as shown in useful lifespan can be extended by proper cleaning tech-
Figures 14.10c/d will allow them to drain. If this poses a niques. As a rule, they should be cleaned as soon as pos-
slipping hazard, a folded towel or plastic boot mat works sible after use. Blood can corrode stainless steel and so it
well to contain the water. is important to soak them in cold water if they can’t be
If the medications for surgery are still out, put the cleaned immediately. To start cleaning, run the sink full
non‐scheduled drugs into the supply cabinet. Take note of hot water and use a detergent that is formulated for
of any that have reached the restocking point and if cleaning instruments. The pH must be neutral (5.5–8)
found restock putting the new bottle behind the old, so so it doesn’t corrode or stain the instrument. A brush is