The countdown has begun for Vets Now's ECC congress, which begins online on the 4th November.

Vets Now says that the move to holding the 4 day congress online has resulted in a surge in interest from international delegates, with veterinary surgeons and nurses from more than 20 countries, including Kuwait, Hong Kong and Australia, due to attend.

Speakers at the event this year include Dan Fletcher, Megan Brashear and Claire Sharp.

Megan (pictured right), who is a vet tech specialist and small animal veterinary nursing manager at the Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Indiana, will talk about how mastering the basics can give veterinary nurses a confidence that can make a real difference in critical moments. She said: "So much of veterinary nursing is about understanding the basics. You have to be able to spot the signs the animal is giving you that they aren’t doing well.

"Don’t think you have to know everything all the time, just being really solid on your basics is going to help you immensely when dealing with critical patients.

"So, I’m trying to teach why it’s important to understand the medicine. If you have a dog in shock and you give it a fluid bolus, don’t just walk back to your vet and ask what they want you to do next. 

"I can do that physical exam, give a good update and ask if they want me to repeat it. 

"That’s what a great veterinary nurse does. We’re not just there to carry out orders, we’re there to interpret changes and make suggestions as to what we can continue to do to help that patient."

Dan Lewis, Vets Now’s national ECC lead, said: “The interactive platform we’re using is cutting edge and it provides so much more than just webinars. There will be live content, an interactive exhibition hall and more opportunities than ever for delegates to network and learn from some of the world’s leading veterinary experts discussing emergency and critical care. 

"Our programme this year has been carefully tailored to provide an inclusive learning experience for vets and vet nurses no matter what stage they’re at in their career, from students through to specialists. 

"We’ll obviously miss seeing everyone in person, but we’re very excited that we can gather together online for a one-of-a-kind experience.” 

Full four-day tickets for delegates range in price from £60 to £175 and ticket-holders will be able to access all the sessions on-demand for up to a month following the event.

Click here to book your place at Vets Now’s ECC Congress.  Registrations close on November 1. To book your place, visit: congress.vets-now.com

PS: Whilst you're here, take a moment to see our latest job opportunities for vet nurses.