Events

Week 1

Patient Assessment and Triage

The concept of triage

Preparedness

Primary survey

Secondary Survey

Emergency history

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Understand the triage process and how it can be utilised to prioritise emergency care

Describe how to make their team and environment prepared for when the emergency patient arrives

List how to carry out a primary survey during the initial assessment of the patient

Explain how to carry out a secondary survey assessment in order to list their concerns with the patient

Discuss how to communicate with the client including telephone advice, informed consent and emergency history

Week 2

Shock

Classify shock

Emergency database

Blood pressure

Oxygen therapy

The use of multiparameter monitors

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Identify a patient with shock and classify which type of shock they have

Explain which parameters may be tested during an emergency database and how these can help to identify shock in the emergency room

Understand the physiology of perfusion and ways in which blood pressure can be monitored in the emergency patient

List the different ways that oxygen therapy can be delivered to the emergency patient

Understand the uses and limitations of multiparameter monitors and their role in monitoring perfusion trends

Week 3

Fluid Therapy

Patient assessment

Identifying a fluid deficit or change in volume

What fluids are available

Managing a change in content

Identifying a change in fluid distribution

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Explain how to assess the patient’s fluid status using clinical exam and blood work

Discuss how to create a fluid plan to treat a fluid deficit such as hypovolaemia or dehydration

List what fluid options are available and which fluid might be preferred in which situation

Understand how fluid selection or the fluid plan can be altered to account for an electrolyte abnormality

Describe how to manage the patient with fluid overload or peripheral oedema

Week 4

Neurological Emergencies

Neurological assessment

Coma scoring

Raised intracranial pressure

Seizures

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Describe how to perform a neurological assessment of an emergency patient

Describe how to perform a coma score and understand how these may be used in neurological patients

Understand methods of identifying raised intracranial pressure and the physiology behind this

Recognise a seizuring patient and understand their management, from initial presentation and stabilisation of mild seizures through to the management of a patient in status epilepticus

Week 5

Approach to the Trauma Patient

Assessment of wounds

Wound management

Management of fractures

Other injuries associated with trauma

Analgesia

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Identify different wounds based on the patient history and appearance of the wound

Understand the principles of wound management and common techniques used to flush and debride wounds

Describe how to identify and manage fractures in the trauma patient

List other common injuries associated with trauma and how these should be managed

Implement an analgesia plan for the trauma patient based on pain assessment

Week 6

Common Toxicities

Common toxins seen in emergency practice

Renal toxins

Hepatotoxins

Anticoagulants

Neurotoxins

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Describe the different ways toxins can enter the body

List the most common renal toxins and understand the treatment of these patients

List the most common hepatotoxins and understand the different treatments for each of these

Understand the physiological effects of anticoagulant ingestion and the treatment of these patients

Identify the most common neurotoxins seen in practice and understand the treatment of these patients

Course Summary

Haemostasis is the process that the body uses to stop bleeding. If we know what is involved in this process it can help us to understand why things can go wrong and help us give our patients better care. In this 30 minute eCPD tutorial we will discuss the three main steps of haemostasis, tests used to assess haemostasis, disorders that affect haemostasis and some treatments that are given to animals with haemostatic conditions.

Course Tutor

Maddie Enderby ISFMDipFN CertVNECC FdSc RVN
ICU Nurse, Paragon Veterinary Referrals

Course Length

The course is worth 30 minutes of CPD for UK delegates and 0.5 AVNAT points  for Australian and New Zealand delegates

The course is provided with unlimited lifetime access for on-demand learning

Course Notes

Unfortunately, course notes are not available with this tutorial

Week 1

Setting Up and Running Nurse Clinics

Which clinics to run?

Charging for clinics

Standardisation of the clinics

Client compliance

How to increase client numbers

Making recommendations

Marketing and publicity

Building confidence

Reflective practice

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Understand the consulting nurse’s pivotal role in practice

Appreciate the varying types of clinics nurses can offer

Learn how to increase numbers coming into clinics, and increase recommendations to the clinics

Understand how to increase client compliance in clinics

Know various ways to market and advertise the clinics on offer

Week 2

Consulting Skills

Communication in clinics

Consultation skills

Content of your clinic

Keeping to time

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Understand the process of consulting

Understand the importance of communication, the customer journey and improving outcomes

Understand the importance of protocols for clinic content and the running of these clinics

Week 3

Lifestage Clinics

Puppy and kitten clinics

Senior clinics

Other lifestage clinics

What to include

Timings of clinics

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Timings of clinics and how these will improve client education and binding to the practice

Understand the content for these clinics and what to discuss with clients at this time

Understand the elements of preventative healthcare

Understand the importance of nutritional assessments in all of the nurse clinics

Week 4

Obesity and Mobility Clinics

Content of mobility and obesity clinics

Nutritional requirements for obesity

Client motivation

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Understand the content to include for each of these clinics

Calculate feeding amounts, what treats (if any) we can feed and exercise regimes

Understand how environmental adaptations can improve QOL for our pets with mobility issues

Understand the role of supplements in these cases

Discuss methods of how to motivate clients

Week 1

Pre-anaesthetic Assessment and Patient Preparation for Anaesthesia

Patient preparation

ASA status and patient assessment

Use of checklists

Breathing systems and checks

What are the aims of anaesthetic premedication

Practical considerations

What agents are available

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Correctly identify an appropriate breathing system and safe fresh gas flow rates for individual patients

Confidently check an anaesthesia machine and breathing system to ensure they are safe to use

Have an understanding of the ASA grading system and be able to designate and apply which status is appropriate for their individual patients

Identify the benefits of using a peri-anaesthetic checklist and decide whether this can be advocated for their working environment

List the reasons for patient premedication and be able to identify practical aspects and factors within the clinic which may affect the efficacy of premedication

Identify the most common pharmacological agents used for sedation and anaesthesia

Week 2

Anaesthetic Monitoring – Neurological and Respiratory System

Basic, hands on monitoring (neurological system)

Respiratory monitoring

Other

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Recognise what are normal physiological parameters with regards to the neurological and respiratory systems for individual patients undergoing anaesthesia

Name the most common pieces of monitoring equipment for the respiratory system and be able to recognise what is a normal value/trace for each of these pieces

Start to develop the skills to apply this knowledge to individual cases within the clinic with use of the available equipment

Week 3

Anaesthetic Monitoring – Cardiovascular System

Cardiovascular monitoring

Basic, hands on

Blood pressure

Pulse oximetry

ECG

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Recognise what are normal physiological parameters with regards to the cardiovascular system for individual patients undergoing anaesthesia

Name the most common pieces of monitoring equipment for the cardiovascular system and be able to recognise what is a normal value/trace for each of these pieces

Start to develop the skills to apply this knowledge to individual cases within the clinic with use of the available equipment

Week 4

Principles of Perioperative Care including Anaesthetic Recovery

Anaesthetic risk

Airway management including tracheal intubation

Patient positioning

Eye care

Temperature

Fluid therapy

Patient recovery

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Identify important factors which require attention and care during a patient’s anaesthetic in order to optimise the patient’s peri-anaesthetic experience

Accurately calculate fluid rates for individual patients and apply this to their clinical setting, whether this be with use of fluid pumps/syringe drivers or via gravity (calculating a drop rate)

List available methods for patient warming, with recognition of the need to counteract patient hypothermia and the potential risks associated with warming device use

Recognise the critical importance of patient monitoring during anaesthetic recovery.

Describe the potential difficulties that may be encountered during the anaesthetic recovery period

Week 5

Pain Assessment

Importance of pain assessment and management

Challenges of pain assessment in veterinary species

Pain assessment tools

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Recognise the potential difficulties in performing pain assessment in veterinary species.

Name a number of pain assessment tools

Advocate a pain assessment tool that would be suitable for their working environment

Recognise when patients (cats and dogs) are deemed to be painful

Week 6

Analgesia for Acute Perioperative Pain

A brief overview on the pain pathway with introduction to the concepts of multimodal and pre-emptive analgesia

Analgesic options, including:

 A brief overview of the pharmacological means

Non-pharmacological methods

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Explain why provision of analgesia is important for patient welfare

Describe the concepts of multimodal and pre-emptive analgesia, with emphasis on why these are important for patient analgesia

Explain why provision of analgesia is important

List potential analgesic options and apply this knowledge to consider appropriate therapeutic plans for individual patients

Have an appreciation of the important role that a veterinary nurse can play in providing non-pharmacological methods of analgesia and improving the patient experience

Week 1

An Introduction to Brachycephalics

Brachycephalic anatomy basics

Breeds commonly affected

Recent increase in popularity and the effects on the breed

Co-morbidities commonly seen in brachycephalics

Communication with owners

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Recognise and discuss the anatomy of a brachycephalic patient

Understand the causes that can be attributed to clinical signs often displayed by patients suffering with BOAS

Identify co-morbidities often diagnosed in brachycephalic patients

Understand when and why communication with owners about brachycephalic pet ownership is vital

Understand the Cambridge BOAS assessment

Week 2

Brachy Breathing – Crisis and Management

Triage

Respiratory sounds

Blood gas analysis

Aspiration pneumonia

Oxygen therapy

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Understand how to triage the brachycephalic patient

Recognise the difference between the various respiratory sounds

Identify the uses of blood gas analysis in respiratory conditions

Understand available treatments for aspiration pneumonia

Explain the different methods of providing oxygen therapy

Week 3

It’s a Hot Topic – Heatstroke Management

Heatstroke identification

Treatment options

Recovery process

Risks and complications

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Identify a patient at risk of heatstroke

Explain how to care for the hot brachycephalic

Understand the risks associated with heatstroke

List the clinical signs to look out for in a recovering heatstroke patient

Describe treatments for the recovering heatstroke patient with a secondary condition

Week 4

Brachycephalic Anaesthesia

Balanced anaesthesia plans

Anaesthetic equipment

Anaesthetic monitoring

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Understand how to perform a pre-anaesthetic evaluation

Design a patient specific anaesthesia plan, to include – premedication, induction, maintenance, and other medications to support the brachycephalic patient in the peri-anaesthesia period

Understand the approach to monitoring the brachycephalic patient under anaesthesia

Week 5

Managing a Difficult Airway

Pre-anaesthetic airway compromise and signs of potential difficult airways

Intubations, including tips and equipment aids

Ways to assist patient recovery from anaesthesia

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Evaluate a patient prior to anaesthesia to determine severity of airway compromise

Identify the clinical signs to alert the anaesthetist to a potential difficult airway prior to induction

List the different intubation aids and how to maximise successful intubations, to maintain oxygenation and minimise hypoxia.

Understand how we can assist recoveries in the brachycephalic patient to achieve extubation and reduce incidence of post anaesthesia respiratory obstruction

Week 6

Head and Neck Surgery

Preparing the patient for surgery

Surgical techniques to correct common conditions – stenotic nares, elongated soft palate, everted laryngeal saccules, everted palatine tonsils, skin fold resection and tracheotomy/tracheostomy

Surgical techniques for conditions affecting the eyes – canthoplasty, grafting for ulceration, entropion etc.

Instrumentation

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Prepare the patient for a range of procedures, including preparation of skin, eyes and mucous membranes

Correctly position patients for a range of surgical procedures involving the head and neck

Understand the most common surgical procedures, and explain these to owners

Tailor a post-operative care plan for each individual patient

Week 7

All the Other Problems Not in the Head and Neck!

Preparing the patient for surgery

Surgical techniques for a range of common conditions including caesarean sections, fracture repairs (humeral condyle), hiatus hernia, screw tail, hemilaminectomy and pulmonic stenosis

Instrumentation

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Prepare theatre and the patient for a range of surgical procedures

Understand the most common surgical procedures, and explain these to owners

Tailor a post-operative care plan for each individual patient

Identify common surgical instruments and understand their use

Week 8

Ophthalmology

Corneal ulceration, exposure keratopathy and corneal pigmentation

Corneal sequestrums in cats

Entropion and Ectropion

Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS)

Tear overflow and staining

Proptosis

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Explain the common ocular conditions in the brachycephalic patient

Understand the treatment options for the above conditions

Feel more confident when nursing the ophthalmic patient and what specific considerations to bear in mind

Week 1

Toxicology Introduction

The top 10 commonly encountered toxins in small animal patients will be reviewed along with up-to-date evidence-based guidelines looking at treatment recommendations and options

We will review the reported antidotes as well as the use of intra-lipid emulsion and other supportive measures we may implement in patients suffering from intoxication

Common complications of the various intoxications we can encounter will be reviewed as well as discussion of how we may pre-empt and manage these

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Recognise the main toxins we see in practice

Develop a systematic approach to the intoxicated patient

Discuss the evidence bases looking at use of activated charcoal, intra-lipids and other antidotes, along with supportive measures for the intoxicated patient

Appreciate the main complications we may encounter with an intoxicated patient Understand how to address and nurse intoxicated patients into recovery

Week 2

Central Nervous System Toxins

Detailed discussion of the toxins that commonly affect the central nervous system including recreational drugs, human medications, organic toxins, household, and environmental concerns

We will look at decontamination of these patients as well effective nursing care and monitoring for the patient with severe CNS depression associated with intoxication

Discuss when an antidote may be indicated and the systemic effects, we can see associated with CNS intoxications

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Understand the effects of the main toxins affecting the CNS

Consider how to provide emergency treatment for these patients and also develop a plan for longer term care

Discuss whether decontamination is appropriate for patients when the CNS is depressed

Understand the complications and challenges we may encounter

Week 3

Renal System Toxins

Discuss toxins that affect the patient’s renal system including ethylene glycol, NSAID ingestion, Baclofen, raisins/grapes amongst others.

Consider how we can identify a patient with an acute kidney injury due to a toxin and the treatment options available, including peritoneal dialysis and haemodialysis amongst others

Nursing care for these patients is intensive and a focus on fluid balance and electrolyte status is vital, so this will be covered in detail

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Understand the different toxins that affect the renal system and how we can approach nursing and monitoring these patients

Consider approaches to acid-base stabilisation and electrolyte abnormality management

Understand why volume overload occurs, and how we monitor, prevent and manage this condition

Week 4

Hepatic, Cardiac and Respiratory System Toxins

Round up of other common toxins including those affecting the hepatic system, cardiovascular and respiratory systems and other miscellaneous agents. We will look at identifying these patients as well as common sources of intoxication and approaches to management

Review of the process of gastric lavage and contraindications associated with this method of contamination

Specific concerns associated with other toxins, including xylitol, baclofen, beta blockers, paracetamol, garlic and onions

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Discuss appropriate treatment options and interventions for the mentioned toxins

Confidently provide nursing care and monitoring for these patients

Discuss gastric lavage and when it may not be appropriate

Appreciate the long term effects these toxins may or may not have on our patients

Week 1

Diabetes Mellitus

In this first week, we will be looking at diabetic cats and dogs and how nutrition plays a very large role in stabilisation of blood glucose. In dogs, we will look at how manipulation of different types of fibre can influence it. Cats are completely different when it comes to diabetes, not just in what to feed them. We will look at low carbohydrate, higher fat and protein diets, and how these can be used for obesity control and aid with the diabetes

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Understand how diets for dogs and cats differ for diabetic patients

Explain how specific nutrients affect metabolism and insulin requirements

Establish safe weight loss in the diabetic cat

Week 2

Cardiac Disease

In the second week, we will look at the ACVIM consensus statement and how we can build this into nutrition for dogs. We will look at the recent evidence for cardiac diets and how the heart cells have been shown to respond to different energy sources. We will also look at the evidence surrounding those dogs that are developing DCM on grain free diets

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Understand the nutritional requirements for the cardiac patient

Describe how to prevent cardiac cachexia

Understand the issues with fad diets and DCM

Week 3

Hepatic Disease

Hepatic disease in cats and dogs can be very complex depending on the cause. We will look at the feeding of puppies with portosystemic shunts and why we use diets with specific nutrients.  We will then discuss those animals with raised liver parameters and how we can help them, using diets and supplements

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Understand how certain nutrients can exacerbate the clinical signs of portosystemic shunts

Explain how supplements can be used in animals with liver disease

Describe the nutrient requirements of cats and dogs with liver disease

Week 4

Dermatological Diets

In this last week, we will look at all the different diets that are available for dogs and cats that have dermatological issues.  We will investigate nutrigenomic diets, novel protein diets and hydrolysed diets and discuss when to use each one

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Understand the difference between diets aimed at animals with dermatological issues

Conduct feeding trials for dermatological cases

Explain how supplements can be used to improve skin conditions

Week 1

Triage Assessment and Stabilisation 

Carrying out an effective triage assessment and the RVN’s role

Major body system assessment

Approach to dysfunction of the cardiovascular, respiratory and neurological systems

Practical considerations for managing the emergency patient stabilisation

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Correctly identify a patient with dysfunction of a major body system

Confidently triage and assess an emergency patient

Recognise the approach to dysfunction of different major body systems and stabilisation techniques utilised for emergency patients

Appreciate specific nursing considerations for the emergency presentation

Week 2

Urethral Obstruction

Identification of the patient with urethral obstruction

Stabilisation techniques

Evidence-based discussion on emergency management, fluid types and analgesia options

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Participate in case based discussions

Identify the patient’s condition and the pathophysiology alongside potential complicating factors such as co-morbidities

Understand how to correct fluid deficits and identifying the difference between hypovolemia and dehydration

Participate in acid-base and electrolyte discussions, including how to address hypo and hyperkalemia

Appreciate the specific nursing considerations for patients with urethral obstruction

Week 3

Diabetic Ketoacidosis

Presentation and initial emergency management

Acid base balance and electrolyte abnormalities

Pathophysiology of diabetic ketoacidosis and complicating factors

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Participate in case based discussions

Identify the patient’s condition and the pathophysiology alongside potential complicating factors such as co-morbidities

Understand how to correct fluid deficits and identifying the difference between hypovolemia and dehydration

Participate in acid-base and electrolyte discussions, including how to address hypo and hyperkalaemia

Appreciate the specific nursing considerations for patients with DKA

Week 4

The Acute Abdomen – Surgical Cases

Pre-anaesthesia stabilisation and assessment

Analgesia choices in the critically ill patient

Peri-operative and recovery periods

Nursing specific concerns post operatively

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Develop a pre-anesthetic plan and discuss suitable stabilisation as well as attribute an ASA score

Complete with confidence a surgical checklist and identify areas of concern

Understand analgesia choices, the options we have including CRIS, local and regional techniques

Engage in cased based presentations, including abdominal foreign bodies and gastric dilatation and volvulus

Week 5

The Acute Abdomen – Medical Cases

Analgesia and pain scoring

Non-surgical versus surgical patients

SIRS and DIC

Nutritional support

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Understand pain scoring and the importance of using validated methods

Understand analgesia choices, the options we have including CRIS, local and regional techniques

Decide if a patient is surgical or non-surgical, especially in the case of traumatic haemoabdomen

Understand the pathophysiology behind systemic inflammatory response syndromes and disseminated intravascular coagulation and how to identify the early indications of development of these syndromes

Week 6

Acute Gastrointestinal Disease

Haemorrhagic gastroenteritis including parvovirus

Fluid therapy

Antibiosis

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Identify appropriate approaches to fluid replacement including discussion of the use of crystalloids and colloids in the patient with AHDS

Appreciate the importance of nutrition in the patient with acute gastro-intestinal disease and how we can provide that

Describe potential complications that may occur, including sepsis

Discuss the rational use of antibiotics, using evidence bases

Week 1

Making Rabbit Anaesthesia Safer

Pre-op advice for clients

ASA grading – what increases the risk?

Monitoring under general anaesthesia

Post-operative care

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Recap rabbit anaesthesia and how you can help build up your confidence, including pre op, intra op and post op care

Identify signs to be monitoring under anaesthesia – including CO₂, SPO₂, reflexes, HR, RR and BP readings

Use the ASA grading system, to look at why rabbits may be at a higher risk, compared with dogs and cats when placed under GA

Understand the options for intubation and maintaining an airway

Week 2

Analgesia – Taking the Pain Away

The signs of pain

Causes of pain

Knock on effects of uncontrolled pain

Analgesia options

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Identify the signs that rabbits show when in pain – these can be easily missed!

Learn how to use with the ‘Rabbit Grimace Scale’ in conjunction with clinical signs

Appreciate the secondary problems that pain can lead to, when it is not managed correctly

Know what analgesia options can be used in rabbits

Week 3

Preparing for an Emergency

Preparation at the practice

Triaging rabbits

Obtaining a capsule history

Assessment

Managing owner expectations

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Appreciate that when the phone rings it is important to be prepared for the emergency rabbit case. Know what to do and what equipment to set up to be ready

Understand how to triage rabbits and when continuing to do so may be detrimental

Obtain a quick and useful history from the owner to enable treatment to commence

Conduct a full assessment of the rabbit – from head to toe

Communicate with clients, managing their expectations and keeping them informed

Week 4

Critical Care – Keeping them Alive!

What is and what isn’t an emergency

What to do when faced with a rabbit emergency

Stabilisation and oxygen therapy

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Identify rabbit emergencies – they are not always obvious, and knowing what is and what isn’t an emergency is important

Understand the health conditions which are emergencies in rabbits, including gastrointestinal stasis/blockages, flystrike, liver lobe torsion and respiratory distress

Achieve the important goal of keeping stress to a minimum

Identify the signs of improvement and deterioration

Week 1

Patient History and Assessment

Taking a thorough history

Initial patient assessment

Anatomy

Neurological examination

Localisation

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Successfully take a detailed history from owners and distinguish if the problem is neurological or not

Assess / triage the patient’s overall condition

Understand the neurological examination and describe what the findings may suggest

Discuss neurological lesion localisation and appreciate how this will allow planning of diagnostics tests

Week 2

Diagnostics

What do we need to know and when?

Blood tests

Urine

Imaging

MRI

CT

Radiography

Myelography

Ultrasound

Electrodiagnostics

Muscle and nerve biopsies

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Understand if diagnostic tests are required

Know what tests should be prioritised – especially in emergency / critical cases or money sensitive situations

Understand what genetic tests are routinely carried out in neurology

Have a basic understanding of advanced imaging protocols and which ones should be used

Understand why and when electrodiagnostics are used in practice

Discuss why muscle and nerve biopsies may be taken

Week 3

Spinal Conditions

Intervertebral disc disease and other common spinal conditions

Medical versus surgical treatment

Hemilaminectomy surgery, ventral slot surgery and other surgical approaches

Fenestration and durotomy – what does it mean and why?

Atlanto-axial instability, fractures and other vertebral malformations

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Display knowledge about common spinal conditions seen in practice and understands why surgery is or isn’t performed

Describe how surgery affects the patient’s anatomy. Understanding surgery allows for a more considerate approach to nursing these patients

Show an awareness of any likelihood of recurrence

Week 4

Brain Disease

Seizures

Meningoencephalitis of unknown origin (MUO)

Vestibular disease

Head trauma

Neoplasia

Toxins

Otitis media / interna

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Explain primary and secondary seizures and potential causes, and understand when to start anti-epileptic treatment

Discuss the clinical signs of MUO, how it is diagnosed in practice, along with the treatment options available

Know how to triage the emergency head trauma patient and use the Glasgow Coma Scale

List other causes of disease that may cause patients to present similarly to brain disease patients

Week 5

Neuromuscular Disease

Common neuromuscular diseases seen in the UK

Myasthenia Gravis

Polyradiculoneuritis

Tetanus

Toxoplasmosis

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Show an understanding as to how different neuromuscular diseases affect our patients

Discuss treatment options available to patients for these conditions and know the nursing care required to support them during their recovery

Week 6

Nursing the Neurological Patient

Nursing care required to successfully nurse patients in hospital

Bladder dysfunction and care

Nutritional / hydration needs

Handling techniques

Exercise

Complications

Complementary treatment options

Promoting good overall patient care in practice

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Consolidate knowledge from the whole course to successfully produce nursing care plans for a variety of neurological conditions

Identify which bladder management technique is required for various patients

Understand appropriate handling techniques and when one should be used over another

Help support clients that have pets with ongoing neurological care needs at home

Discuss the long-term care and monitoring these patients may require

Week 1

Principles of Anaesthetising Critical Patients

Anaesthetic risk in the compromised patient

The importance of patient history and physical examination

Diagnostic tests

Patient stabilisation

Anaesthetic protocol, monitoring and recovery

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Understand why critical patients are at an increased anaesthesia and sedation risk

Understand that improving patient safety requires a holistic, overall management process, not simply using “the best drug protocol”.  This will include consideration of:

What pre-anaesthetic tests may be required and the benefit they offer

What pre-anaesthetic stabilisation may be required

Recall an introduction into the type of patient monitoring which is required during the peri-anaesthetic period

Understand general principles for appropriate anaesthetic drug protocols for the critical patient

Week 2

General Approach to Adverse Events and Introduction to Anaesthetic Complications

Near misses and adverse events

Minimising adverse events by preparation

Checklists and non-technical skills

Common anaesthetic complications

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Name the three steps necessary for approaching adverse events and discuss why they are important, including methods in which near misses and adverse events can be minimised in practice

Understand the role of human factors in patient safety and the value of checklist use in anaesthetic practice

Give an overview of what anaesthetist non-technical skills (ANTS) are and be able to begin using them in clinical practice

Know the most common anaesthetic complications encountered in small animal practice

Week 3

Cardiovascular Complications

Alterations in heart rate:

Bradyarrhythmias

Tachyarrhythmias

Alterations in blood pressure:

Hypotension

Hypertension

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Recognise abnormal physiological parameters with regards to the cardiovascular system for individual patients undergoing anaesthesia

Understand the most common underlying causes for alterations in heart rate (bradyarrhythmias and tachyarrhythmias) during general anaesthesia

List some main treatments for the most common arrhythmias which present under general anaesthesia

Understand the most common underlying causes for alterations in blood pressure (hypotension and hypertension) during general anaesthesia

List some main treatments for the most common blood pressure alterations which present under general anaesthesia

Begin to apply this knowledge to individual cases within the clinic with use of the available equipment

Week 4

Respiratory Complications

Alterations in ventilation:

Hypoventilation

Hyperventilation (including tachypnoea)

Apnoea or respiratory arrest

Hypoxaemia

Respiratory obstruction:

Upper respiratory tract

Lower respiratory tract

Restrictive pulmonary disease

Aspiration (and regurgitation)

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Recognise what are abnormal physiological parameters with regards to the respiratory system for individual patients undergoing anaesthesia

Understand the most common underlying causes for alterations in ventilation, including hypo- and hyperventilation, apnoea and respiratory arrest

List the main treatments for the most common changes in ventilation under anaesthesia.

Understand the difference between hypoxaemia and hypoxia, listing the potential causes for these and therefore be able to suggest methods to manage these conditions

Recognise the clinical signs of respiratory obstruction and restrictive pulmonary disease and describe what steps could be taken to alleviate the underlying problem

State why aspiration is a risk under anaesthesia and how to manage a case of gastro-oesophageal reflux in order to minimise patient risk

Begin to apply this knowledge to individual cases within the clinic with use of the available equipment

Week 5

‘Other’ Complications

Central nervous system:

Emergence delirium

Post anaesthetic blindness and deafness

Thermoregulation:

Hypothermia

Hyperthermia

Anaphylactic and anaphylactoid reactions

Embolism

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Outline why cats are at particular risk for post anaesthetic blindness and deafness and describe methods which can minimise this risk

List available methods for patient warming, with recognition of the need to counteract patient hypothermia and the potential risks associated with warming device use

List risk factors associated with peri-operative hyperthermia and discuss steps which can be implemented to manage the hyperthermic patient

Recognise if an anaphylactic or anaphylactoid reaction is occurring and be able to suggest steps to manage the situation

Understand that embolisms are a rare, but potential complication during anaesthesia and be able to list the clinical signs associated with their occurrence

Week 6

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

Detecting cardiopulmonary arrest

Basic life support:

Chest compressions

Tracheal intubation

Ventilation

Advanced life support

Drug therapy

Oxygen supplementation

Intravenous fluid therapy

Correction of electrolyte and metabolic disturbances

Defibrillation

Monitoring during CPR

Post cardiac arrest care

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Explain the purpose of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and describe its two main components

Recognise when cardiopulmonary resuscitation should be instigated

Understand the importance of regular CPR training within the practice team

Describe and demonstrate the method for effective chest compressions, tracheal intubation and ventilation during cardiopulmonary resuscitation

List what steps can be taken to provide advanced life support during cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Know what monitoring tools are recommended for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and be able to interpret the main waveforms that will be seen during a resuscitation event