Surgery | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Skills & Competencies

Skills developed through this program

Auto-populatedfrom O*NET via SOC 29-2056.00

Skills

Active ListeningCritical ThinkingSpeakingReading ComprehensionComplex Problem SolvingWritingMonitoringCoordination

Knowledge

Medicine and DentistryCustomer and Personal ServiceBiologyEnglish LanguageMathematics

Abilities

Oral ExpressionDeductive ReasoningInductive ReasoningNear VisionOral ComprehensionWritten ComprehensionProblem SensitivityInformation OrderingSpeech RecognitionSpeech Clarity

Tasks

Administer anesthesia to animals, under the direction of a veterinarian, and monitor animals' respon
Care for and monitor the condition of animals recovering from surgery.
Maintain controlled drug inventory and related log books.

Technology

Medical softwareData base user interface and query softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwareElectronic mail software

Tools

Adult Magill forcepsAdult non-rebreather oxygen masksAdult styletsAerosol nebulizersAirway suction unitsAmbu bagsAmbulancesAnesthesia syringesAnimal capture netsAnimal catching polesAnimal electrocardiograph ECG unitsAnimal nail trimmersAnimal snaresArterial line cathetersArtificial airway holders

Work Values

RelationshipsSupportWorking ConditionsRecognitionIndependenceAchievement

Career Pathways

Occupations this program prepares you for

Auto-populatedfrom O*NET + BLS

Occupations matched to this program, with median wage, top wage, growth, and openings
SOC	Occupation	Method	Wage	Growth	Openings
Match confidence: medium29-2056.00	Veterinary Technologists and Technicians	title_inference	$45,980 median$60,880 top	+9.09%	1,220

Program Pathways

Credentials this program stacks toward

No program pathways.

What You'll Learn

Key competencies developed through this program

Auto-populatedfrom NSX Competency Framework

Mastery: advanced (Level 4)(based on Master's Degree)

Anesthesia protocol development — design, implement, and evaluate evidence-based anesthesia and analgesia protocols for the entire patient population, training junior technicians on their application across a multi-specialty veterinary organization.
Competency framework and training design — develop structured onboarding curricula, skills assessments, and continuing education plans for veterinary technician staff, raising clinical standards across the department or multi-site practice.
Controlled substance program leadership — establish facility-wide controlled drug policies, oversee audit systems, liaise with DEA and state regulators, and mentor staff compliance at an organizational governance level.
Quality assurance and patient safety initiatives — lead root-cause analyses of adverse events, design corrective action plans, and implement safety checklists that reduce preventable errors across the entire clinical operation.
Emergency preparedness strategy — create, test, and refine mass-casualty and critical-care emergency response protocols for the facility, coordinating drills and inter-agency communication in a hospital or high-volume urban clinic.
Laboratory quality control management — establish and monitor analytical accuracy standards for in-house diagnostic equipment, evaluate new testing platforms, and ensure compliance with AVMA and accreditation body requirements.
Mentorship and professional development leadership — guide individual technician career progression, advocate for credentialing advancement, and foster a culture of continuous learning within a veterinary department or teaching hospital.
Technology and workflow optimization — evaluate, select, and integrate new medical software, diagnostic instruments, and electronic records systems, leading change management efforts to improve efficiency across the practice.
Interdepartmental and client relations strategy — represent the technical team in hospital leadership meetings, address complex client escalations, and collaborate with practice owners to align clinical service delivery with organizational goals.
Evidence-based practice advocacy — review current veterinary literature, translate emerging research into actionable clinical protocols, and present findings to staff and stakeholders to drive adoption of best practices across the organization.

Program Details

Detailed information about this program

No detailed information available.

Requirements

What you need to earn this credential

No requirements listed.

Financial Aid

Eligible funding programs

No funding information available.

Scholarships

No scholarships listed.