Cost: £200

Week 1

Common respiratory disease

Lower respiratory tract disease

Pleural disorders

Pulmonary disease

POCUS and sampling

Management

Learning outcomes

Describe lower respiratory tract physiology and the disease processes seen in practice

Understand the different causes of pleural disorders

Understand the different causes of pulmonary disease

Identify the uses of POCUS and understand which patients may benefit from thoracocentesis

Describe how to manage the patient with acute respiratory distress

 

Week 2

BOAS – From Admit to Discharge

Admit considerations

BOAS Plan

Anaesthesia considerations

Dealing with the BOAS crisis

Other nursing considerations

Learning outcomes

List the considerations which should be discussed with the owner when the patient is admitted to the hospital

Discuss safe ways of managing these cases whilst they are hospitalised to minimise complications

Understand how to make BOAS patients anaesthesia plans safer

Explain the concerns associated with a BOAS crisis and how to manage these

Describe other nursing considerations associated with these breeds and how we can factor these into our nursing care plans for hospitalised patients

 

Week 3

Blood gases

Why do we use blood gas analysis?

How to take a sample for a blood gas analysis

What is Acid/Base?

Interpretation of a blood gas report

Compensation

Learning outcomes

Understand why blood gas analysis is important for managing the respiratory patient

Describe how to take a sample for blood gas analysis

Understand Acid/Base status and what this means for the patient

Interpret a blood gas report using a step by step approach so that this can be transferred to your patients in practice

Understand the physiology behind compensatory mechanisms

 

Week 4

Oxygen Therapy 

How to identify a patient in need of oxygen therapy

Non-invasive methods of oxygen therapy

Invasive methods of oxygen therapy

Monitoring a response to therapy

Learning outcomes

Understand which parameters are used to identify patients are in need of oxygen therapy

Describe which methods of non-invasive oxygen therapy are available and which is the most suitable for their patient

Describe which methods of invasive oxygen therapy are available and which is the most suitable for their patient

Discuss whether a patient is responding to oxygen therapy and when a decision may be made to discontinue oxygen support

 

The course will be fully tutored by Elle Haskey and Katie Gray, and will consist of 10 hours of CPD given in various formats, including tutorials, tasks, case studies, forum discussions and quizzes.

 

Click here for further details

Week 1

Infection Control

Aims of infection control

Risk factors

Impact of the environment

Cleaning techniques

Bacterial monitoring within the environment

 

Learning Outcomes
By the end of the week delegates will be able to:

Understand the aims of infection control within theatre

Identify how the layout of the operating theatre and associated rooms may affect infection control

Achieve effective maintenance and cleaning of the environment and instruments

Identify the ideal theatre design and implement this in practice

 

Week 2

Maintenance and Care of Instruments

Instrument cleaning

Instrument maintenance

Sterilisation methods and sterility indicators

 

Learning Outcomes
By the end of the second week, delegates will be able to:

Clean and care for surgical instruments

Understand the different methods of instrument cleaning

Understand the various sterilisation techniques and indicators

Recognise routine protocols for maintenance of the theatre environment and materials

 

 

Week 3

Patient Care and Theatre Organisation

Hypothermia and the effect on surgical site infections

Hand hygiene

Draping techniques

Scrubbing techniques

Theatre attire

 

Learning Outcomes
By the end of the third week, delegates will be able to:

Understand sterility, and how to reduce the incidence of surgical site infections

Prepare patients for surgery using best practice methods

Optimise preparation of the surgical team

Discuss skin preparation techniques

Monitor infection control in the practice

Understand hand hygiene, and its role in reducing the spread of hospital acquired infections

Define techniques to achieve high standards of patient care and organisation within theatre

Appraise the maintenance of high environmental standards within the theatre suite

 

 

Week 4

Staff Development and Organisation

Nursing roles

Methods of organisation

Staff training and development

 

Learning Outcomes
By the end of the fourth week, delegates will be able to:

Understand the importance of setting specific nursing roles

Examine a range of methods to increase efficiency and organisation within the theatre environment.

 

The course will be fully tutored by Louise Dale, and will consist of 10 hours of CPD given in various formats, including tutorials, tasks, case studies, forum discussions and quizzes.

 

Click here for further details

This 4 week tutored course will guide the candidates through the complexities of multiparameter monitoring. After completion of the course, candidates will better understand the effects of anaesthesia on the patient and causes of abnormalities encountered while monitoring anaesthetised patients. They will be able to use hands-on techniques and the multiparameter monitor to detect problems before they become serious, and to differentiate between artefacts and real patient issues to improve the safety of their patients.

 

Week 1

What are we monitoring and why?

What anaesthesia does to the patient and what we can do about it

Monitoring depth of anaesthesia

Temperature monitoring

Learning outcomes

Understand why good monitoring is essential for safe anaesthesia

Understand the challenges of monitoring depth of anaesthesia

Appreciate the importance of monitoring body temperature and the consequences of hypo- and hyperthermia

 

Week 2

Monitoring the respiratory system

Capnography

Pulse oximetry

Learning outcomes

Understand the physiology involved in the formation of the capnograph trace

Interpret normal and abnormal capnograph traces

Understand the physiology behind pulse oximetry, and its limitations

Confidently troubleshoot abnormal capnography traces and pulse-oximetry readings

 

Week 3

Monitoring the cardiovascular system

Physiology of heart rate and blood pressure control

The electrocardiogram

Blood pressure monitoring

Learning outcomes

Understand the causes of heart rate and blood pressure changes during anaesthesia

Describe how the electrocardiogram is generated

Interpret the electrocardiogram

Understand the different techniques for measuring blood pressure

Interpret blood pressure readings and understand causes of inaccurate readings

 

Week 4

Blood gas monitoring

Glucose monitoring and other tests

Monitor-related artefacts and technical problems

Learning outcomes

Understand when blood gas analysis is useful

Interpret blood gas analyses in the light of the patient’s history and clinical problems

Decide when glucose monitoring and other tests during anaesthesia are important

Troubleshoot monitor-related issues

 

 

The course will be fully tutored by Colette Jolliffe, and will consist of 10 hours of CPD given in various formats, including tutorials, tasks, case studies, forum discussions and quizzes.

 

Click here for further details

Week 1
Broodmares : Dystocia, Caesarean and Post-op Care

Define dystocia and recognise the stages of labour

Maternal causes of dystocia

Surgical and non-surgical interventions

Post-operative care of the mare

Post op complications and preventative measures

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

Know the definition of dystocia and be able to recognise the stages of labour.

Understand the causes that can be attributed to the broodmare regarding disease status and/or anatomy

Understand when emergency treatment is required and what forms of intervention are recommended.

Understand what critical care treatment and monitoring is needed to assist the mare in recovery.

 

Week 2
Neonates :  Post Dystocia Resuscitation and Intensive Care Nursing

Foetal causes of dystocia

Emergency monitoring and treatment of the foetus in utero

Post dystocia neonatal resuscitation

Follow up intensive care nursing

Emerging therapies for the post dystocia neonate

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

Know the foetal causes of dystocia and understand how they occur

Understand how foetal monitoring and treatments can help neonatal survival rates

Describe the resuscitation techniques used to revive foals

Become familiar with neonatal critical care techniques

 

Week 3
Colic: The Nurse’s Role in the Assessment Workup

Diagnostic procedures

Laboratory analysis

Differential diagnosis – surgical or medical treatment?

When colic is not an intestinal condition

Preparing the patient for an exploratory laparotomy

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

Recognise the signs of colic and the reasons they occur

Understand the techniques the nurse can perform to assist in a diagnosis

Understand how to perform laboratory tests for colic patients

Understand what tasks are carried out to prepare the patient for surgery

 

Week 4
Colic: Emergency Surgery and Post-op Care

Preparation of the patient in theatre

Anaesthetic risks in the seriously ill colic patient

Common surgical conditions of the small and large intestine

The immediate recovery period following colic surgery

Post op critical care nursing

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

Recognise how to prepare a colic patient in the theatre

List the common intestinal conditions that require surgical correction

Understand the steps required to safely recover a patient from colic surgery

Recognise how nurses provide intensive care to the post op colic patient

 

The course will be fully tutored by Bonny Millar and will consist of 10 hours of CPD given in various formats, including tutorials, tasks, case studies, forum discussions and quizzes.

 

 

Click here for further details

This 4 week course will cover all aspects of anaesthesia from induction to recovery, and will be specifically aimed at nurses in general practice.

 

Week 1

Pre-Anaesthetic Considerations

Equipment selection

Pre-anaesthetic checks

Premedications

Pain assessment and analgesia

 

Learning Outcomes
By the end of the week delegates will be able to:

Will be able to confidently select an appropriate breathing system and calculate fresh gas flow rates

Confidently check an anaesthetic machine and leak test the breathing system

Understand the ASA grading system

Understand the benefits of a pre-surgical checklist

Understand the principles of preparing for an anaesthetic

Understand the principles of auscultation of the thorax

Identify the benefits of premedication

Will be able to select and understand the most common pharmacological agents used for premedication and their physiological effects

Recognise the importance of pain assessment and management

Understand the pain pathway and its significance

Identify common analgesia agents and their pharmacological and physiological effects

 

 

Week 2

Anaesthetic Induction and Maintenance

Induction agents

Monitoring during induction

Anaesthetic agents

 

Learning Outcomes
By the end of the second week, delegates will be able to:

Understand how to safely prepare for an induction of anaesthesia

Identify common induction agents and the pharmacological effects

Select appropriate monitoring equipment to identify any potential concerns during induction

Identify the various anaesthetic agents available and their pharmacological effects

Recognise normal physiological parameters in relation to the cardiovascular system for individual patients

Will start to develop the skills to apply this knowledge to individual cases

 

 

Week 3

Monitoring Anaesthesia

Common monitoring equipment

Capnography

Troubleshooting problems

 

Learning Outcomes
By the end of the third week, delegates will be able to:

Will be able to name and use the most common monitoring equipment for the cardiovascular system and recognise what is a normal value / trace

Recognise abnormal / false / concerning parameters and understand what action may be required to correct them

 

 

Week 4

Patient Considerations

Individual patient assessments

Patient specific care plans

Warming devices

Case studies

 

Learning Outcomes
By the end of the fourth week, delegates will be able to:

Will start to develop the skills to apply individual patient assessment to develop an appropriate anaesthetic care plan for specific cases, including various ASA grades of patients.

Develop skills to apply this knowledge to individual cases within the clinic and use of available equipment in order to optimise the patient’s anaesthetic and reduce any associated risks.

Identify warming devices, their importance and advantages and disadvantages

Will be able to discuss anaesthetic plans for specific patients, detailing considerations from the pre-anaesthetic check to recovery

 

 

The course will be fully tutored by Louise Dale, and will consist of 10 hours of CPD given in various formats, including tutorials, tasks, case studies, forum discussions and quizzes.

 

Click here for further details

This 4 week tutored course will guide the candidates through the complexities of multiparameter monitoring. After completion of the course, candidates will better understand the effects of anaesthesia on the patient and causes of abnormalities encountered while monitoring anaesthetised patients. They will be able to use hands-on techniques and the multiparameter monitor to detect problems before they become serious, and to differentiate between artefacts and real patient issues to improve the safety of their patients.

 

Week 1

What are we monitoring and why?

What anaesthesia does to the patient and what we can do about it

Monitoring depth of anaesthesia

Temperature monitoring

Learning outcomes

Understand why good monitoring is essential for safe anaesthesia

Understand the challenges of monitoring depth of anaesthesia

Appreciate the importance of monitoring body temperature and the consequences of hypo- and hyperthermia

 

Week 2

Monitoring the respiratory system

Capnography

Pulse oximetry

Learning outcomes

Understand the physiology involved in the formation of the capnograph trace

Interpret normal and abnormal capnograph traces

Understand the physiology behind pulse oximetry, and its limitations

Confidently troubleshoot abnormal capnography traces and pulse-oximetry readings

 

Week 3

Monitoring the cardiovascular system

Physiology of heart rate and blood pressure control

The electrocardiogram

Blood pressure monitoring

Learning outcomes

Understand the causes of heart rate and blood pressure changes during anaesthesia

Describe how the electrocardiogram is generated

Interpret the electrocardiogram

Understand the different techniques for measuring blood pressure

Interpret blood pressure readings and understand causes of inaccurate readings

 

Week 4

Blood gas monitoring

Glucose monitoring and other tests

Monitor-related artefacts and technical problems

Learning outcomes

Understand when blood gas analysis is useful

Interpret blood gas analyses in the light of the patient’s history and clinical problems

Decide when glucose monitoring and other tests during anaesthesia are important

Troubleshoot monitor-related issues

 

 

The course will be fully tutored by Colette Jolliffe, and will consist of 10 hours of CPD given in various formats, including tutorials, tasks, case studies, forum discussions and quizzes.

 

Click here for further details

Week 1
Broodmares : Dystocia, Caesarean and Post-op Care

Define dystocia and recognise the stages of labour

Maternal causes of dystocia

Surgical and non-surgical interventions

Post-operative care of the mare

Post op complications and preventative measures

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

Know the definition of dystocia and be able to recognise the stages of labour.

Understand the causes that can be attributed to the broodmare regarding disease status and/or anatomy

Understand when emergency treatment is required and what forms of intervention are recommended.

Understand what critical care treatment and monitoring is needed to assist the mare in recovery.

 

Week 2
Neonates :  Post Dystocia Resuscitation and Intensive Care Nursing

Foetal causes of dystocia

Emergency monitoring and treatment of the foetus in utero

Post dystocia neonatal resuscitation

Follow up intensive care nursing

Emerging therapies for the post dystocia neonate

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

Know the foetal causes of dystocia and understand how they occur

Understand how foetal monitoring and treatments can help neonatal survival rates

Describe the resuscitation techniques used to revive foals

Become familiar with neonatal critical care techniques

 

Week 3
Colic: The Nurse’s Role in the Assessment Workup

Diagnostic procedures

Laboratory analysis

Differential diagnosis – surgical or medical treatment?

When colic is not an intestinal condition

Preparing the patient for an exploratory laparotomy

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

Recognise the signs of colic and the reasons they occur

Understand the techniques the nurse can perform to assist in a diagnosis

Understand how to perform laboratory tests for colic patients

Understand what tasks are carried out to prepare the patient for surgery

 

Week 4
Colic: Emergency Surgery and Post-op Care

Preparation of the patient in theatre

Anaesthetic risks in the seriously ill colic patient

Common surgical conditions of the small and large intestine

The immediate recovery period following colic surgery

Post op critical care nursing

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

Recognise how to prepare a colic patient in the theatre

List the common intestinal conditions that require surgical correction

Understand the steps required to safely recover a patient from colic surgery

Recognise how nurses provide intensive care to the post op colic patient

 

The course will be fully tutored by Bonny Millar and will consist of 10 hours of CPD given in various formats, including tutorials, tasks, case studies, forum discussions and quizzes.

 

 

Click here for further details

This 4 week course will cover all aspects of anaesthesia from induction to recovery, and will be specifically aimed at nurses in general practice.

 

Week 1

Pre-Anaesthetic Considerations

Equipment selection

Pre-anaesthetic checks

Premedications

Pain assessment and analgesia

 

Learning Outcomes
By the end of the week delegates will be able to:

Will be able to confidently select an appropriate breathing system and calculate fresh gas flow rates

Confidently check an anaesthetic machine and leak test the breathing system

Understand the ASA grading system

Understand the benefits of a pre-surgical checklist

Understand the principles of preparing for an anaesthetic

Understand the principles of auscultation of the thorax

Identify the benefits of premedication

Will be able to select and understand the most common pharmacological agents used for premedication and their physiological effects

Recognise the importance of pain assessment and management

Understand the pain pathway and its significance

Identify common analgesia agents and their pharmacological and physiological effects

 

 

Week 2

Anaesthetic Induction and Maintenance

Induction agents

Monitoring during induction

Anaesthetic agents

 

Learning Outcomes
By the end of the second week, delegates will be able to:

Understand how to safely prepare for an induction of anaesthesia

Identify common induction agents and the pharmacological effects

Select appropriate monitoring equipment to identify any potential concerns during induction

Identify the various anaesthetic agents available and their pharmacological effects

Recognise normal physiological parameters in relation to the cardiovascular system for individual patients

Will start to develop the skills to apply this knowledge to individual cases

 

 

Week 3

Monitoring Anaesthesia

Common monitoring equipment

Capnography

Troubleshooting problems

 

Learning Outcomes
By the end of the third week, delegates will be able to:

Will be able to name and use the most common monitoring equipment for the cardiovascular system and recognise what is a normal value / trace

Recognise abnormal / false / concerning parameters and understand what action may be required to correct them

 

 

Week 4

Patient Considerations

Individual patient assessments

Patient specific care plans

Warming devices

Case studies

 

Learning Outcomes
By the end of the fourth week, delegates will be able to:

Will start to develop the skills to apply individual patient assessment to develop an appropriate anaesthetic care plan for specific cases, including various ASA grades of patients.

Develop skills to apply this knowledge to individual cases within the clinic and use of available equipment in order to optimise the patient’s anaesthetic and reduce any associated risks.

Identify warming devices, their importance and advantages and disadvantages

Will be able to discuss anaesthetic plans for specific patients, detailing considerations from the pre-anaesthetic check to recovery

 

 

The course will be fully tutored by Louise Dale, and will consist of 10 hours of CPD given in various formats, including tutorials, tasks, case studies, forum discussions and quizzes.

 

Click here for further details

It is estimated that one in three companion animals will die of cancer, which makes understanding the disease and caring for these animals and their families common within our role. Despite this demand, there is limited space in the veterinary nurse curriculum dedicated to cancer and so here we explore the subject in more practical detail.

This course discusses how cancer manifests in the companion animal, how a cancer diagnosis is made and how chemotherapy treatments are administered. Throughout the weekly sessions there are activities and opportunities to test your learning and evaluate how you could introduce some of the practical elements into your practice.

After completing this 4 week online course, the participants will have a greater knowledge and understanding of the basic principles of veterinary oncology and be able to apply this to their own working practices.

Week 1

What is cancer

Pathophysiology of neoplasia

Common causes of cancer in animals

Classifications of cancer types

The difference between benign and malignant disease

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

Understand the alterations in the cell cycle that results in neoplastic disease

List the different types of cancer based on tissue origin

Describe the different causes of cancer in small animals

Explain how benign disease is different to malignant disease and the risks associated with both conditions.

Identify higher risk categories of patients and analyse the research available in line with evidence-based-medicine

 

Week 2 

Diagnosis and prognosis

Fine needle aspirates

Cancer cytology

Cancer staging

Specialist tests for cancer

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

List fine needle aspirate methods to optimise cytological yield

Evaluate a cytology sample in-house to ensure sample is of diagnostic quality

Understand the commonly preferred methods for staging patients with neoplasia

Describe the types of specialist tests required to further categorise cancer

Analyse personal skill set and determine if any modifications to current practice would be beneficial

 

Week 3 

Common chemotherapy agents

Overview of common chemotherapy drugs

Administering chemotherapy

Chemotherapy safety

Adverse effects with administering chemotherapy

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

Understand how chemotherapy agents work

Explain how to correctly administer chemotherapy agents

List what safety factors should be observed when administering chemotherapy in practice

Describe how to manage an extravasation injury and reduce risk of chemotherapy associated nausea and vomiting

Evaluate practice protocols to standardise and promote best practice in line with most current information

 

Week 4

Client and patient support

Introduction to oncology clinics

Nadir checks

Managing adverse-effects following chemotherapy administration

The Cancer Journey

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

Describe how and why a nadir check is performed

Identify common adverse effects associated with chemotherapy

Understand preventive and interventional treatment protocols for chemotherapy associated adverse effects

Explain the causes for likely outcome of treatment failure and the physiology behind this

Reflect over professional skill-set and evaluate how you can further enhance your personal development to support clients of patients with cancer

The course will be fully tutored by Nicola Read, and will consist of 10 hours of CPD given in various formats, including tutorials, tasks, case studies, forum discussions and quizzes.

Click here for further details

Week 1

Overview of the bleeding patient

What is coagulation

What is anaemia

What impacts coagulation ability in our patients

Learning outcomes:

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

Describe the physiology of coagulation

Understand regenerative and non-regenerative anaemia

Explain what might impact a patient to be able to coagulate normally (these will then
be expanded upon in weeks 3 and 4)

 

Week 2

Blood transfusions

When to transfuse a patient

Different blood products available

Blood typing

Blood donations

Administration of blood products

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

Describe how we identify patients in need of a blood transfusion

List the different blood products available on the veterinary market and which is the most suitable for the patient

Explain the process of blood typing and why this is necessary in cats and dogs

Describe how a blood donation is collected in a canine and feline donor – including donor selection, the donation procedure and processing of blood products

Discuss how to administer a blood transfusion and the common signs associated with a transfusion reaction

 

Week 3

Primary Coagulation Disorders

Platelet disorders (IMTP/DIC)

Diagnosis of primary coagulation disorders

Thrombosis

Management of these patients

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

Describe the physiology behind the most common primary platelet disorders seen in veterinary patients

Describe how diagnosis of coagulation disorders can be made in practice

Explain thrombosis and why this might occur in veterinary patients

Understand the different treatments available to patients with each of these disorders

Describe how to best nurse these patients whilst they are being cared for in the
hospital

 

Week 4

Secondary Coagulation Disorders

Congenital coagulation disorders

Acquired coagulation disorders

Treatment of coagulation disorders

Nursing considerations

Plasma transfusions

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

List some of the congenital coagulation disorders and understand the physiology of each

List some of the common acquired coagulation disorders and understand the
physiology of each

Describe the treatment options for these conditions

Discuss the common nursing considerations and interventions which can be implemented in the nursing care of these hospitalised patients

Describe when and how to administer a fresh frozen plasma to support a patient with a coagulopathy

 

The course will be fully tutored by Elle Haskey and Katie Gray, and will consist of 10 hours of CPD given in various formats, including tutorials, tasks, case studies, forum discussions and quizzes.

 

Click here for further details