veterinary-scientist/references/tasks.md

Tasks & work activities — veterinary scientist

Source: O*NET 30.3, occupation 29-1131.00 (Veterinarians).

Task statements

• [Core] Advise animal owners regarding sanitary measures, feeding, general care, medical conditions, or treatment options.
• [Core] Attend lectures, conferences, or continuing education courses.
• [Core] Perform administrative or business management tasks, such as scheduling appointments, accepting payments from clients, budgeting, or maintaining business records.
• [Core] Counsel clients about the deaths of their pets or about euthanasia decisions for their pets.
• [Core] Examine animals to detect and determine the nature of diseases or injuries.
• [Core] Treat sick or injured animals by prescribing medication, setting bones, dressing wounds, or performing surgery.
• [Core] Inoculate animals against various diseases, such as rabies or distemper.
• [Core] Collect body tissue, feces, blood, urine, or other body fluids for examination and analysis.
• [Core] Operate diagnostic equipment, such as radiographic or ultrasound equipment, and interpret the resulting images.
• [Core] Educate the public about diseases that can be spread from animals to humans.
• [Core] Train or supervise workers who handle or care for animals.
• [Core] Euthanize animals.
• [Core] Conduct postmortem studies and analyses to determine the causes of animals' deaths.
• [Core] Plan or execute animal nutrition or reproduction programs.
• [Supplemental] Provide care to a wide range of animals or specialize in a particular species, such as horses or exotic birds.
• [Supplemental] Establish or conduct quarantine or testing procedures that prevent the spread of diseases to other animals or to humans and that comply with applicable government regulations.
• [Supplemental] Direct the overall operations of animal hospitals, clinics, or mobile services to farms.
• [Supplemental] Specialize in a particular type of treatment, such as dentistry, pathology, nutrition, surgery, microbiology, or internal medicine.
• [Supplemental] Inspect and test horses, sheep, poultry, or other animals to detect the presence of communicable diseases.
• [Supplemental] Research diseases to which animals could be susceptible.
• [Supplemental] Determine the effects of drug therapies, antibiotics, or new surgical techniques by testing them on animals.

Detailed work activities

• Analyze medical data to determine cause of death.
• Analyze test data or images to inform diagnosis or treatment.
• Collect biological specimens from patients.
• Communicate health and wellness information to the public.
• Conduct research to increase knowledge about medical issues.
• Counsel family members of clients or patients.
• Determine protocols for medical procedures.
• Develop medical treatment plans.
• Examine patients to assess general physical condition.
• Immunize patients.
• Maintain medical facility records.
• Maintain medical or professional knowledge.
• Maintain professional knowledge or certifications.
• Manage healthcare operations.
• Operate diagnostic imaging equipment.
• Operate on patients to treat conditions.
• Perform clerical work in medical settings.
• Prescribe medications.
• Provide care for animals.
• Provide health and wellness advice to patients, program participants, or caregivers.
• Schedule patient procedures or appointments.
• Supervise medical support personnel.
• Train medical providers.
• Treat acute illnesses, infections, or injuries.
• Treat animal injuries or illnesses.