So you want to Volunteer?
Spaying and neutering hundreds of cats every year isn’t done without a lot of generous volunteers. Approximately two weeks before an FCA clinic, the volunteer coordinator sends out an e-mail seeking help. Responding the email is all you need to get started, but what can you expect at a clinic?
Volunteers are arranged into groups of 3-4 students, organized so groups have members with a range of FCA experience. There are generally between 8 and 12 groups per clinic, though it depends on the number of volunteers and cats available. Each group consists of two 3rd or 4th year students that rotate between the surgeon and anesthetist roles. Students must have completed the Junior Surgery course to perform surgery, and preference for surgeon volunteers is given to those who have previously volunteered. Though we cannot promise, we try to have every surgeon do at least one spay at each clinic.
The remaining volunteers act as assistants, and allow a great opportunity for underclassman to gain clinical experience. Together the team draws blood, places catheters, prepares the surgical site, administers vaccines, and performs a physical exam. One team member also assumes the role of surgeon’s assistant, and will scrub into surgery and support the surgeon by holding tools and other tasks. In the process, novices gain new clinical skills and experienced volunteers hone their talents while helping their colleagues.
Two additional volunteers will not be in a group, and instead be placed in the recovery area and monitor cats after they have left surgery. Responsibilities include taking temperatures, transporting cats to carriers, and communicating with drug coordinators if reversals are needed.
If this sounds daunting rest assured that clinics are always supervised by a licensed veterinary technician, an anesthesiologist, and several clinicians that supervise both in the surgery room and the prep room.
Volunteers are arranged into groups of 3-4 students, organized so groups have members with a range of FCA experience. There are generally between 8 and 12 groups per clinic, though it depends on the number of volunteers and cats available. Each group consists of two 3rd or 4th year students that rotate between the surgeon and anesthetist roles. Students must have completed the Junior Surgery course to perform surgery, and preference for surgeon volunteers is given to those who have previously volunteered. Though we cannot promise, we try to have every surgeon do at least one spay at each clinic.
The remaining volunteers act as assistants, and allow a great opportunity for underclassman to gain clinical experience. Together the team draws blood, places catheters, prepares the surgical site, administers vaccines, and performs a physical exam. One team member also assumes the role of surgeon’s assistant, and will scrub into surgery and support the surgeon by holding tools and other tasks. In the process, novices gain new clinical skills and experienced volunteers hone their talents while helping their colleagues.
Two additional volunteers will not be in a group, and instead be placed in the recovery area and monitor cats after they have left surgery. Responsibilities include taking temperatures, transporting cats to carriers, and communicating with drug coordinators if reversals are needed.
If this sounds daunting rest assured that clinics are always supervised by a licensed veterinary technician, an anesthesiologist, and several clinicians that supervise both in the surgery room and the prep room.