Supervision Of Registered Veterinary Technicians

A. A registered veterinary technician’s professional activities must be under the supervision and direction of a licensed or license-exempt veterinarian. (1) Direct supervision: Treatment of animals at the direction, order or prescription of a licensed veterinarian who is available on the premises and has established a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship. NMSA 1978, Section 61-14-2(I). (2) Indirect supervision: Treatment of animals when a licensed veterinarian is not physically present at the location but has given written or oral instructions for treatment of the animal; the animal has been examined by veterinarian at such times as good veterinary medical practice requires consistent with the particular delegated veterinary care task; and the animal is not anesthetized. (3) The following life-saving aid and procedures a registered veterinary technician may perform under prior approval of the licensed veterinarian in the absence of direct supervision includes: (a) application of tourniquet or pressure bandages to control hemorrhages; (b) administration of pharmacological agents to prevent or control shock, including parenteral fluids, and shall only be continued after direct communication with a licensed or license exempt veterinarian. (c) resuscitative oxygen procedures; (d) establishing open airways including intubations but excluding surgery; (e) external cardiac resuscitation; (f) application of temporary splints or bandages to prevent further injury to bones or soft tissues; (g) application of wound dressings and external supportive treatment in severe burn cases; and (h) external supportive treatment in heat prostration or hypothermal cases.