{"id":29631,"date":"2023-09-01T13:51:20","date_gmt":"2023-09-01T13:51:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/?p=29631"},"modified":"2023-09-01T18:54:42","modified_gmt":"2023-09-01T18:54:42","slug":"vts-in-physical-rehabilitation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarynurse.com\/personal-professional-development\/vts-in-physical-rehabilitation\/","title":{"rendered":"VTS in Physical Rehabilitation"},"content":{"rendered":"

I <\/span>worked as a veterinary nurse for a few years before realizing that I wanted to challenge myself and my knowledge of veterinary medicine. I knew I loved being a veterinary nurse, along with the technical, problem-solving, and nursing skills that come with the role, but I wanted to be better and to do better for my patients. I wanted to become a veterinary technician specialist. So, I searched for a specialty that would combine my love of anatomy and physiology with the use of technical and nursing skills, all while looking at the big picture and caring for the patient as a whole. I found that pursuing a specialty in physical rehabilitation would satisfy this passion.<\/p>\n

As a physical rehabilitation veterinary nurse, I am always hearing, \u201cthis room is so colorful\u201d and \u201cyou\u2019re so lucky you get to swim with animals all day!\u201d Yes, my job is colorful, and yes, I do get to swim with some patients, and yes, I do have fun, but it is a lot more than what people see. For example, that colorful physioball is one of many tools that help provide support for a neurologic patient who is relearning how to walk. Also, the patient I am swimming with is recovering from supraspinatus tendinopathy and is trying to regain tensile strength via resistance while using the water buoyancy and warmth for pain relief.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Sandy Gregory, MEd, RVT, CCRA, VTS (Physical Rehabilitation), performing assisted standing and weight shifting to increase balance, proprioception, and core strength with a physioball under the front limbs and a trampoline under the hind limbs<\/p><\/div>\n

There is a lot of thought that goes into an individualized therapeutic exercise plan. Becoming a VTS in physical rehabilitation means possessing superior knowledge of and providing expert-level medical care to manage common conditions seen within physical rehabilitation. Veterinary nurses\/technicians with this specialty are dedicated to ensuring the wellbeing and safety of their colleagues, patients, and owners while managing applications of therapeutic treatments and modalities within a specified treatment plan. These plans should be executed with exemplary ability to assess pain in animals while effectively communicating rehabilitative plans or treatments to pet owners and industry leaders. <\/span><\/p>\n

Academy of Physical Rehabilitation Veterinary TechnicianS History<\/h3>\n

The Academy of Physical Rehabilitation Veterinary Technicians (APRVT) organization began in 2012. It was previously known as the American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinary Technicians, which was under the auspices of the American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians but was dissolved after a leadership change. <\/span><\/p>\n

With passion for the specialty still brimming, a team of charter members, including an integral veterinarian mentor, decided to pursue the formation of the APRVT in order to continue advancement of the veterinary <\/span>nursing profession in this area. After years of hard work, vision, and passion, a petition for specialty academy formation was submitted to the NAVTA Committee on Veterinary Technician Specialties (CVTS) for recognition. The CVTS accepted this petition and the APRVT became a provisionally recognized veterinary technician specialty in March of 2017.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Maria Maddox, LVT, CVT, CCRP, VTS (Physical Rehabilitation), performing manual therapy including massage, myofascial work, and joint mobilizations.<\/p><\/div>\n

Application Process and Requirements<\/h3>\n

The APRVT application consists of 2 phases: preapplication and final application. The first phase of the application consists of documentation of a work history as a credentialed veterinary nurse\/technician, filling out waivers\/agreement forms, meeting a points-based participation system, documentation of specialty-specific continuing education, and selection of a veterinary mentor. The final application phase of the process includes updated documentation previously provided in phase 1 as well as submission of detailed case logs, proof of physical rehabilitation\u2013specific skills demonstrating proficiency without coaching or prompting, and case reports showcasing their knowledge and skills of physical rehabilitation.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Deana Cappucci, LVT, CCRVN, VTS (Physical Rehabilitation), performing therapeutic laser.<\/p><\/div>\n

A successful application relies on reading the full application experience requirements and necessary documentation prior to starting and submitting the preapplication as there are specific eligibility requirements that need to be met to apply. See <\/span>BOX 1 <\/b><\/span>for a full preapplication and <\/span>BOX 2 <\/b><\/span>for a final application checklist. To review each step in full detail, visit the academy\u2019s website at <\/span>aprvt.com<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

BOX 1 Phase I (Preapplication Requirements)<\/div>
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