NAVLE Practice Test

• Prioritizing diagnostic procedures based on available resources
• Obtaining specimens or samples for lab studies
• Interpreting diagnostic images
• Reading and interpreting farm-based computer reports or production records to understand herd-level health parameters
• Reviewing animal medical records to determine health status
• Investigating possible exposure of companion animals to toxins
• Creating or updating medical records
• Observing and interpreting an animal’s mental status and behavior
• Developing a differential diagnosis
• Obtaining animal health history from clients
• Formulating a diagnostic plan
• Performing general physical examinations
• Performing postmortem examinations to determine cause of death
• Formulating possible differential diagnoses
• Interpreting findings from physical examinations
• Interpreting findings from laboratory tests
• Performing system-specific examinations
• Interpreting cytologic specimens
• Investigating possible exposure of food or game animals to toxins
• Interpreting principles of pathophysiology and mechanisms of action
• Interpreting findings from postmortem specimens
• Obtaining diagnostic images
• Performing standard diagnostic tests on samples
• Interpreting results of system-specific examinations

Health Maintenance and Prevention (35%)

• Administering general anesthesia
• Applying a splint, cast, or other stabilization device
• Caring for wounds or surgical incisions
• Determining prognosis
• Evaluating a treatment outcome
• Establishing a rehabilitation plan
• Administering a biological or pharmacological agent other than anesthesia
• Establishing a treatment plan
• Formulating or evaluating a behavior modification plan
• Performing major surgical procedures
• Formulating patient/herd/population management and treatment plans
• Synthesizing multiple sources of diagnostic information, including local disease prevalence, to determine diagnosis
• Prescribing a biological or pharmacological agent
• Performing common therapeutic/surgical procedures
• Treating minor injuries or trauma
• Administering local anesthesia
• Referring clients to veterinary specialists for further diagnostic studies or treatment

• Advising clients on health maintenance for herd, flock, or individual pets
• Discussing euthanasia with clients
• Explaining diagnosis and prognosis to clients in lay terminology
• Teaching clients about preventive care
• Ensuring clients understand the effects of prescribed pharmaceuticals
• Providing verbal instructions regarding follow-up care
• Obtaining informed consent from clients
• Explaining research results to clients and their implications for animal care
• Talking with clients to clarify concerns and expectations regarding care
• Advising clients regarding appropriate and inappropriate pharmacy compounding
• Discussing strategies to reduce antibiotic resistance and antibiotic residues with clients or producers
• Recommending management options that align with clients’ cultural norms and values
• Informing clients of bad news
• Instructing clients on methods for isolating and quarantining diseased animals
• Negotiating payment plans with clients
• Helping clients differentiate trustworthy from unreliable information
• Writing summaries of animal care instructions for clients
• Using appropriate communication techniques
• Referring clients for grief counseling
• Providing instruction regarding food safety practices
• Discussing the limits of legal extra-label drug use with clients
• Instructing clients on obtaining diagnostic information from an animal’s home environment

Communication with Veterinary and other Professionals (3%)

• Mentoring and supervising veterinary and veterinary technician students
• Delivering verbal case summaries to other veterinarians or health care team members
• Building relationships with junior colleagues or new graduates
• Training staff in animal health and care
• Writing case summaries for use by other veterinarians or health care team members
• Guiding the work of associates or staff in the delivery of veterinary services
• Explaining research results to non-veterinary health workers
• Consulting with other veterinarians or veterinary specialists regarding animal care
• Delegating delivery of veterinary care and services to associates or staff
• Responding to unprofessional or unethical behavior in others
• Engaging regulatory bodies to improve standards of practice or address professional issues
• Describing disaster preparedness plans to coworkers

• Attending training on emerging technologies in veterinary medicine
• Encouraging wellness among veterinarians and support staff
• Consulting reference materials to formulate diagnosis or treatment options
• Conducting oneself in a professional, ethical, and legal manner
• Reading journal articles for professional development
• Exchanging new scientific or technical information with other health professionals
• Giving talks at professional meetings
• Participating in professional development activities
• Attending professional development seminars or workshops
• Participating in online professional development activities
• Participating in activities of local, national, or international professional associations
• Participating in or conducting investigations to test new procedures

Veterinary Practice Management (4%)

• Applying appropriate animal restraint
• Evaluating and purchasing major medical equipment
• Developing a budget for own practice or employer
• Preparing or updating the employee handbook
• Supervising paraprofessional or technical support staff
• Describing the workings of benefit plans to staff
• Purchasing expendable supplies
• Evaluating and purchasing office/practice management software
• Developing standard operating procedures
• Evaluating new medications, products, or treatment procedures for suitability in practice
• Negotiating work or practice arrangements with colleagues
• Reviewing practice management data, including business and financial records

• Applying isolation or quarantine and disinfection measures to the work environment for disease prevention or control
• Ensuring proper disposal of biomedical waste
• Evaluating animal environments to identify epidemiological problems and public health concerns
• Inspecting the practice environment to ensure safety and accessibility
• Informing clients or the community about effective methods for managing animal or human waste
• Instructing staff, colleagues, or others on proper techniques for biomedical waste disposal
• Monitoring the workplace to ensure compliance with hazardous materials requirements
• Instructing clients on humane methods to terminate diseased animals and dispose of infected carcasses

Veterinary Public Health (4%)

• Applying isolation or quarantine procedures for disease prevention and control
• Collaborating or consulting with clients, health professionals, government agencies, or community groups on public health issues like food safety and zoonotic diseases
• Investigating disease outbreaks
• Formulating patient or herd management and treatment plans for public health or zoonotic disease cases
• Participating in disease control or eradication programs
• Inspecting food to ensure consumer safety
• Reporting transboundary or zoonotic diseases to state, regional, or national agencies
• Conducting community education workshops on topics related to animal or human health
• Participating in epidemiologic inquiries of reportable diseases by collecting, handling, or transporting specimens
• Consulting with community stakeholders about animal population control
• Discussing animal care options with immunocompromised owners
• Informing clients or the community about prevention and treatment of zoonotic organism exposure

Animal Welfare Issues and Concerns (6%)

• Conducting periodic or annual examinations on client animals and discussing vaccination, deworming, diet, exercise, and other wellness considerations
• Verifying that diseased or infected animals have been managed according to professional or governmental guidelines
• Explaining the components of an animal welfare audit to clients
• Identifying and taking action on animal welfare problems
• Certifying that animals or animal products meet certain standards
• Conducting or overseeing an animal welfare audit
• Working with community groups or regulatory bodies to address the ethical treatment, health, and welfare of animals