Cheat sheet
VTNE Cheat Sheet
Pharmacy and Pharmacology
- 13% of exam
- Drug calculations Dosage and CRI Controlled substances Drug classes and reversal Administration routes
Surgical Nursing
- 13% of exam
- Asepsis and sterilization Surgical prep Instrument ID Sterile field Perioperative monitoring
Dentistry
- 7% of exam
- Triadan charting Periodontal probing Prophy sequence Dental radiographs FORL recognition
Laboratory Procedures
- 9% of exam
- Tube anticoagulants Hematology methods Urinalysis Parasitology Quality control
Animal Care and Nursing
- 20% of exam
- Vital signs Fluid therapy Nutrition and RER Restraint and behavior Husbandry and sanitation
Diagnostic Imaging
- 6% of exam
- ALARA safety Positioning Technique kVp mAs Contrast agents Radiation protection
Anesthesia
- 13% of exam
- Machine checks Monitoring parameters Breathing systems Recovery and extubation Anesthetic drugs
Emergency and Critical Care
- 7% of exam
- RECOVER CPR Triage primary survey Shock fluids Toxicology emesis Heatstroke cooling
Pain Management and Analgesia
- 7% of exam
- Pain scoring Multimodal plans NSAID safety Local blocks Pre-emptive analgesia
Communication and Client Relations
- 5% of exam
- Informed consent Teach-back discharge Medical records SOAP Professionalism Documentation
Quick Facts
- Exam VTNE
- Questions 170 MCQ
- Pass Score 425 scaled
- Pass Rate About 65%
- Time 3 hours
- Administrator AAVSB and PSI
- Cost $375 application fee
Drug Calculation Chain PH
- Dose mg/kg x BW then divide
- Dose: mg/kg x kg Volume: dose / conc CRI: x60 / conc
NSAID vs Corticosteroid PH
NSAIDs
- COX inhibitor
- GI renal risk
- Never combine
Steroids
- Immunosuppress
- Anti-inflammatory
- Never combine
- Both ulcer risk
Dosage Calculation Picker PH
- Need drug dose → mg/kg x BW ( Dose in mg )
- Need drug volume → dose / concentration ( Result mL )
- Need CRI mL/hr → dose x BW x 60 ( / concentration )
- Need fluid deficit → BW x % x 1000 ( mL deficit )
- Need maintenance → 60 mL/kg/day ( Dog baseline )
- Need RER → 70 x BW^0.75 ( kcal/day )
Pharmacy Calculations PH
- CRI Constant rate infusion
- mg/kg Dose per weight
- mL/hr Pump rate
- q12h Every 12 hours
- PO By mouth
- mEq Milliequivalent unit
- mcg/kg/min CRI dose rate
Atipamezole vs Naloxone PH
Atipamezole
- Alpha-2 reversal
- Dexmedetomidine
- Sedative reversal
Naloxone
- Opioid reversal
- Hydromorphone
- Pure mu antagonist
- Sedative vs opioid
Pharmacology Drug Classes PH
- Naloxone Opioid reversal
- Atipamezole Alpha-2 reversal
- Maropitant NK-1 antiemetic
- Furosemide Loop diuretic
- Carprofen COX inhibitor NSAID
- Acepromazine Phenothiazine sedative
- Flumazenil Benzodiazepine reversal
Surgical Asepsis SU
- Mayo-Hegar Needle holder
- Metzenbaum Delicate tissue scissors
- Backhaus Towel clamp
- Spore test Sterilization proof
- Damp pack Treat contaminated
- Clean-contaminated Hollow viscus entry
- Clipping Preferred over shaving
Perioperative Flow SU
- Skin prep Incision outward circles
- Sterile zone Front gown and gloves
- Instrument count Reconcile before closure
- Circulator Non-sterile supply role
- Hands up Water drips to elbows
- Hypothermia Slows recovery and clotting
- Active warming Prevent heat loss
Triadan Quadrants DE
- 1R 2L upper 3L 4R lower
- 1xx right maxillary 3xx left mandibular Clockwise right to left
Dental Charting Triadan DE
- Triadan 1xx Right maxillary
- Triadan 2xx Left maxillary
- Triadan 3xx Left mandibular
- Triadan 4xx Right mandibular
- Tooth 104 Right maxillary canine
- Adult dog 42 permanent teeth
- Adult cat 30 permanent teeth
Dental Prophylaxis DE
- Dog pocket 1-3 mm normal
- Cat sulcus Under 1 mm
- Prophy sequence Scale polish irrigate
- M3 mobility Severe extraction cue
- FORL Feline tooth resorption
- Cuffed ET Airway protection
- Low speed polish Avoid pulp heat damage
Lab Tubes and Anticoagulants LA
- EDTA purple CBC anticoagulant
- Sodium fluoride Gray top glucose
- Serum red Chemistry clots
- Lithium heparin Blood gas syringe
- Order of draw Prevent additive carryover
- Hemolysis Falsely raises potassium
- Gray top Inhibits glycolysis
Lab Diagnostic Methods LA
- Refractometer Urine specific gravity
- PCV Spun hematocrit tube
- Buffy coat WBC and platelets
- Fecal flotation Eggs float dense solution
- Diff-Quik Romanowsky cytology stain
- Neutrophil Most numerous WBC
- Reticulocyte Regenerative anemia marker
Five Rights of Meds NU
- Patient drug dose route time
- Right patient Right drug dose Right route time
Contact vs Airborne Precautions NU
Contact
- Gown gloves
- Dedicated equipment
- Treat last
Airborne
- Negative pressure
- N95 respirator
- Aerosol route
- Surface vs aerosol
Vital Signs NU
- Rectal temp 100.5-102.5 F
- Dog HR 70-120 bpm
- Cat HR 140-220 bpm
- Resting RR 16-30 breaths per min
- CRT Under 2 seconds
- Maintenance fluid 60 mL/kg/day
- Gestation 63 days dog cat
Nursing Care and Husbandry NU
- RER formula 70 x BW^0.75
- Fluid deficit Weight times percent times 1000
- Decubital ulcer Reposition and pad
- Isolation rule Treat patient last
- Leptospirosis Zoonotic via urine
- Cage card ID allergies alerts
- Refeeding Start below RER
ALARA Principle IM
- ALARA: time distance shielding
- Short exposure time Step back distance Lead apron shield
Barium vs Iodinated Contrast IM
Barium
- Upper GI study
- No perforation
- Cheaper
Iodinated
- Perforation safe
- Water-soluble
- Faster clearance
- Perforation decides
Contrast Agent Picker IM
- No perforation → Barium ( Upper GI )
- Perforation suspected → Iodinated ( Water-soluble )
- Image too dark → Reduce mAs ( Fix technique )
- Motion artifact → Sedate ( Avoid retakes )
- High scatter → Collimate ( Restrict beam )
Imaging Safety and Contrast IM
- ALARA Time distance shielding
- Collimation Restrict beam reduce scatter
- kVp Beam energy penetration
- mAs X-ray quantity density
- Lead PPE Out of primary beam
- Sedation For motion artifact
- Right lateral Right side down
- Barium Upper GI no perforation
- Iodinated Safe if perforation
SpO2 vs EtCO2 AN
SpO2
- Oxygenation
- 95-100 percent
- Hemoglobin saturation
EtCO2
- Ventilation
- 35-45 mmHg
- CO2 elimination
- O2 vs CO2
Anesthesia Troubleshooting AN
- EtCO2 rising → Assist ventilation ( Hypoventilation )
- SpO2 below 90 → Check airway O2 ( Hypoxemia )
- Hypotension → Reduce depth ( Per clinician )
- Bradycardia → Atropine ( Anticholinergic )
- Hypothermia → Active warming ( Monitor temp )
- Shallow breathing → Ventilate ( Check depth )
Anesthesia Monitoring AN
- EtCO2 35-45 mmHg ventilation
- SpO2 95-100 percent saturation
- Hypotension Reduce anesthetic depth
- Bradycardia Atropine anticholinergic
- Depth signs Eye position jaw tone
- Preoxygenation Oxygen reserve before induction
- Hypothermia Slows recovery metabolism
Anesthesia Equipment AN
- Cuffed ET Secure airway prevent aspiration
- Non-rebreathing Under 5-7 kg
- Soda lime CO2 absorbent change when colored
- Scavenging Remove waste anesthetic gas
- Pop-off valve Keep open avoid barotrauma
- Leak test Before every anesthetic case
- Brachycephalic Extubate fully awake
RECOVER CPR EM
- RECOVER: CAB then drugs
- C compressions 100-120 A airway intubate B breathe 10/min
Triage Priority Order EM
- Airway blocked → Intubate first ( A first )
- Breathing cyanotic → O2 first ( B priority )
- Shock signs → Crystalloid bolus ( 10-20 mL/kg )
- GDV tympany → Stabilize then surgery ( Emergency )
- Heatstroke → Cool actively ( Stop 103 F )
Emergency and CPR EM
- RECOVER rate 100-120 compressions per min
- Compression depth One-third to half chest
- Ventilation 10 breaths per min
- Triage ABC Airway breathing first
- Shock bolus 10-20 mL per kg
- Heatstroke Stop cooling at 103 F
- GDV Tympany unproductive retching
- Emesis Noncaustic toxin only
Pre-emptive vs Rescue Analgesia AN
Pre-emptive
- Before stimulus
- Prevents wind-up
- Lower total drug
Rescue
- After pain onset
- Harder to control
- More drug needed
- Before vs after
Pain and Analgesia AN
- Multimodal Different pain pathways
- Pre-emptive Before painful stimulus
- Opioids Acute pain cornerstone
- NSAIDs COX inhibitor renal caution
- Bupivacaine No IV regional
- Lidocaine Nerve conduction block
- Glasgow scale Standardize pain assessment
- Cat pain Hiding reduced grooming
Client Communication CO
- Teach-back Confirm client understanding
- Informed consent Risks options signature
- Discharge Written home instructions
- SOAP Subjective objective assessment plan
- Treatment sheet Schedule and document
- Professionalism Empathy and clear language
Common Traps
Sterile field break
- Glove outer is sterile ≠ Glove cuff not sterile
KCl route danger
- Never IV push bolus ≠ Dilute and infuse slowly
NSAID steroid combo
- Both cause GI ulcers ≠ Never give together
Bupivacaine IV risk
- Cardiotoxic if IV ≠ Regional block only
Damp autoclave pack
- Moisture wicks microbes ≠ Reprocess as contaminated
Barium perforation
- Barium causes granuloma ≠ Use iodinated instead
SpO2 EtCO2 confusion
- SpO2 is oxygenation ≠ EtCO2 is ventilation
Last Minute
- 1. RER = 70 x BW^0.75
- 2. Maintenance 60 mL/kg/day
- 3. Pass score 425 scaled
- 4. 170 questions 3 hours
- 5. RECOVER 100-120 compressions per min
- 6. EtCO2 target 35-45 mmHg
- 7. SpO2 target 95-100%
- 8. Bupivacaine no IV regional
- 9. KCl never IV bolus
- 10. Barium no perforation
- 11. Extubate brachycephalic awake
- 12. Triadan 1R upper 3L lower
- 13. Animal care 20% top weight
- 14. NSAIDs inhibit COX enzyme
VTNE Veterinary Technician
- Practice Questions 149 questions Study Guide 54 topics Cheat Sheet 115 facts Flashcards 50 cards Shorts 1 short Videos 2 videos Blogs 4 blogs Free CE Podcast