Relationships & Accountability in Veterinary Nursing Practice

Module 1
Time Management, Organisation & Study Skills
- Time Management
- Learning Strategies

Module 2
Communication
Verbal & Non Verbal Communication
Communication Styles
Recognising Your Own Communication Style
Factors Affecting Communication
Improving Communication

Module 3
Record Keeping
Confidentiality
Data Protection
Sharing Information
RCVS Guide to Professional Conduct
Patient Records

Module 4
Different Roles Within the Practice
Role & Responsibilty of the Veterinary Surgeon
Role & Responsibility of the Veterinary Nurse
Role of the Lay Staff
Public Image & Professionalism

Module 5
Good Working Relationships
Factors Influencing behaviour & Attitude Towards Animals
Emotionally Charged Situations
Nursing Clinics
Referrals & Second Opinions

Module 6
Legal & Professional Regulatory Frameworks
Essentials of the Legal System
Duties & Rights
Regulation of Veterinary Nursing
Animal Protection

Module 7
Ethics
Ethics & Morality
Examples of Ethical Schools of Thought
Examples of Ethical Schools of Thought in Practice
Management of Ethical Problems

This part of the syllabus is not currently covered by the VetNurse Revision Guide.

Health & Safety in Veterinary Practice

Module 1
Aims of Effective Health & Safety Practice
Reducing Risks
Special Risk Cases
Human & Economic Costs of Poor Health & Safety
Accountability
Provisions of the Health & Safety at Work Act
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases & Dangerous Occurrences Regulations

Module 2
Principle Risks to Health & Safety in a Veterinary Practice
General Risks within the Practice
Hazards
Risks Associated with Infection
Risks Associated with Infestation

Module 3
Describe & Apply Safe Principles of Practice in Relation to a Range of Situations
Handling Hazardous Substances
Infection Control
Waste Disposal
Moving & Handling Animals & Equipment
Using & Maintaining Equipment
Radiation

Module 4
Management & reporting of Common Risks
Spillages & Breakages
Infection & Infestation
Electrical & Equipment Faults
Fire & Gaseous Leaks
Reporting Risks & Incidents

Module 5
Principles of Human First Aid
Ensuring Safety
Casualty Assessment
Basic Life Support
Emergency Management of Injuries

Module 6
Legislation
Identify provisions of Relevant Legislation in Relation to safe Nursing Practice

Health & Safety in Veterinary Practice is covered throughout the Revision Guide. Links to specific references will be added in due course.

Applied Functional Anatomy for Veterinary Nursing Practice
Module 1
Anatomical & Physical Terminology
Anatomical Planes & Directions
Common Pre-fixes & Suffixes
Modes of Movement
The Body Cavities

Module 2
Anatomical Landmarks
The Axial Skeleton
The Forelimb
The Hind Limb
Arteries & the Main Veins
Other Landmarks & Structures

Module 3
Normal Form & Function of the Bodily Systems & Relation to Abnormalities & Conditions Commonly Found in Practice
Cell Structure & Function
The Skin & Hair
The Musculoskeletal System
The Nervous System
The Endocrine System
The Circulatory System
The Respiratory System
The Digestive System
The Urinary System
The Reproductive System

Functional Anatomy is covered in chapters 7, 8 & 9 of the Revision Guide.

Maintaining Animal Health
Module 1 – Essential Factors for Maintaining Animal Health

• Promoting Animal Health
• Handling & Restraint
• Impact of Sensory Changes on Behaviour

Module 2 – Nutrition, Digestion & Fluid Balance

• Basic Nutrition
• Calculation of Nutritional & Fluid Needs
• Digestion
• Appetite Stimulants
• The Pancreas

Module 3 – Infection Control in Maintaining Animal Health

• The Major Groups of Disease Producing Infectious Agents
• Infection Control

Module 4 – Identification Methods & Safe Transportation

• Methods of Identification
• Blood Typing
• Safe Animal Transportation
• Passports

Module 5 – Breeding & Reproduction

• Breeding Cycles
• Foetal Development & Hormonal Controls
• Pseudopregnancy
• Parturition

Essential Veterinary Nursing Skills
Module 1 – Nursing Care to Support Veterinary Treatment

• Care Planning
• The Roles of the Veterinary Surgeon & Veterinary Nurse
• Care of the Patient

Module 2 – Animal Accommodation

• Ward Layout & Facilities
• Accomodation Size, Design & Maintenance
• Construction Materials & their Properties
• Environmental Conditions
• Isolation & Barrier Nursing
• Substrates & Bedding

Module 3 – Nursing Care & Patient Management

• Inpatient Assessment
• Clinical Effects of Common Diseases & Traumatic Conditions
• Clinical & Behavioural Indicators of Change in Condition
• Stress & Pain
• Body Temperature
• Physiology of the Cardiac Cycle
• The Vital Signs
• Admitting Patients
• Excretions & Secretions
• Inpatient Needs
• Minimising Stress
• Hair & Skin Types & Functions & Common Conditions
• Recumbency
• Hospital Record Keeping
• Post Operative Care
• Discharge Planning
• Wound Care & Management

Module 4 – Safe Administration of Medications

• Basic Legislation
• Risk Assessment
• Techniques for Administration of Medicines
• Record Keeping
• Disposal of Medicines
• Dispensing

Module 5 – Animal First Aid (& it’s Limitations)

• Principles of First Aid
• Triage
• Practical First Aid Patient Assessment & Transport
• Altered States of Consciousness
• First Aid for Fractures, Wounds, Haemorrhage, Burns/Scalds, Stings & Obstetrics
• CPR
• Care of the Neonatal & Geriatric Patient

Nursing Support in the Provision of Veterinary Practice
Module 1 – Sterilisation & Disinfection

• The Purpose of Sterilisation, Disinfection, Asepsis & Antisepsis
• Commonly Used Antiseptics & Disinfectants (Including Safe Storage & Toxicity Risks)
• Susceptibility of Different Organisms & Choosing an Effective Agent
• Definition of Infection, Contagion, Colonisation & Contamination
• Major Groups of Infectious Agents
• Methods of Disease Transmission & How to Prevent This
• Personal Hygiene & Protective Equipment
• Methods of Sterilisation for Surgical Instruments & Sterile Supplies
• Principles & Safe Operation of an Autoclave
• Assessment of the Efficiency of Sterilisation Processes
• Labelling & Storage of Sterilised Materials & Equipment

Module 2 – Equipment Commonly Used in Veterinary Practice & its Maintenance

• Diagnostic Equipment, Surgical Equipment & Instruments, Laboratory, Imaging & Anaesthetic Equipment
• Clinical Furniture
• Protocols for Checking & Maintaining Equipment
• Fault Finding & Actions
• Record Keeping With Regard to Equipment & Maintenance
• Routine Cleaning & Maintenance of Surgical Instruments (Prior to Sterilisation)

Module 3 – Maintenance of Specific Areas of the Veterinary Surgery

• Cleaning & Hygiene of the Clinical Environment
• Cleaning & Hygiene of Animal Accommodation
• Accommodation Usage & Cleaning During Outbreaks of Contagious or Zoonotic Disease
• Principles of Cleaning & Maintaining an Aseptic Operating Theatre
• Stock & Equipment Maintenance in Consulting Rooms, Prep Areas, Kennels/Cattery or Stables and Operating Theatre

Module 4 – Supply & Safe Storage of Veterinary Medicines

• Placing an Order for Veterinary Supplies
• Range of materials Necessary to Support a Veterinary Practice
• Handling & Storage of Vaccines, Sterile Supplies, Controlled Drugs and Pet Food
• Damaged Stock & Discrepancies
• Stock Storage
• Safe Disposal of Surplus, Outdated & Waste Supplies

Module 5 – Supporting the Veterinary Surgeon in Clinical Procedures & Investigations
Preparation for Clinical Procedures
Assisting with Euthanasia
Venepuncture (Preparation of Commonly Used Veins)
Blood Sampling Tubes
The Difference Between Plasma & Serum
Handling Pathological Samples
Media for Collection of Microbiological Samples
Histology Samples and the Safe Handling of Formol Saline
Packing Samples for Submission to an External Laboratory
Documentation to Accompany Samples