I feel that veterinary assistants are an essential part of the team that cares for anesthetized patients in veterinary medicine.  They act as another set of eyes while the LVT or DVM is performing the procedure, and allow the LVT or DVM to focus fully on the procedure, resulting in better outome and shorter anesthesia times to the obvious benefit of the patient.  These assistants will also gain experience at the side of the licensed personel, so that they gain ability and also inspiration to want to further their own education.  When supervised by licensed staff, I feel assitants should be able to monitor anesthesia,  and place IV catheters.