Cost: £200

Week 1

Approach to the Cesarean Patient

Brief overview of parturition

Complications of parturition

Cesarean section

Learning outcomes

Explain complications that might occur in parturition

Explain the reasons for intervening in these cases in order to perform a C section

Understand nursing of the caesarean patient

Week 2

The GDV Patient

Physiology of GDV

Diagnosis

Stabilisation of the GDV

Anaesthesia considerations

Post-operative nursing

Learning outcomes

Understand the physiology of a GDV and list some of the common risk factors associated with this condition

Describe how a GDV is diagnosed and which tests can help us to identify this condition in the emergency patient

List the common stabilisation techniques in the emergency patient including management of shock and commonly used gastric decompression techniques

Discuss anaesthesia considerations and how to make the patient a safe candidate for surgery

Describe the nursing considerations for the post-operative GDV case and the factors which need to be included in the care plan of the hospitalised patient

Week 3

Nursing the Septic Abdomen

What is SIRS/Sepsis

Recognising sepsis

The use of diagnostic tools in the veterinary practice to help recognise a septic abdomen

Nursing management of a septic abdomen

Learning outcomes

Describe SIRS and Sepsis and the difference between them

Understand how to recognise sepsis in veterinary patients

List the different tests we have available in practice that can be used to help identify a septic abdomen

Explain how patients with a septic abdomen can best be nursed in practice, pre-, peri and post operatively

Week 4

Haemoabdomen

Physiology of haemoabdomen

Diagnosis

Stabilisation of the haemoabdomen

Anaesthesia considerations

Post-operative nursing

Learning outcomes

Understand the physiology of a the haemoabdomen and list some of the common causes associated with this condition

Describe how a haemoabdomen is diagnosed and which tests can help us to identify this condition in the emergency patient

List the common stabilisation techniques in the emergency patient including management of shock

Discuss anaesthesia considerations and how to make the patient a safe candidate for surgery

Describe the nursing considerations for the post-operative haemoabdomen case and the factors which need to be included in the care plan of the hospitalised patient

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
Preparation, Priorities and Checklists

Patient safety

The anaesthesia plan and patient priorities

Preparation and checklists

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

Understand how preparation and use of checklists improve patient safety

Be able to prepare individual anaesthesia plans for sick patients and/or complex procedures

Understand how to prioritise important considerations

Understand how to prepare the patient and equipment to minimise harmful delays and mistakes

Be able to construct and use relevant patient safety checklists.

Week 2
Ventilation, Capnography and Neuromuscular Blockade

Physiology of spontaneous and controlled ventilation

Ventilators

Capnography

Neuromuscular blockade

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

Understand in which situations it is appropriate to use controlled ventilation

Understand how to set up a ventilator and what all the buttons do!

Understand the physiology and technology of capnography

Understand how to interpret different capnograph traces

Understand how to use and monitor neuromuscular blocking drugs

Week 3
Advanced Monitoring and Cardiovascular Support

Physiology of heart rate and blood pressure

The electrocardiogram

Measuring blood pressure

Treating hypotension and arrhythmias

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

Have a better understanding of ECG interpretation and when to worry

Understand how to interpret blood pressure measurements

Understand when and how to treat common arrhythmias

Understand different ways of treating hypotension

Week 4
Perioperative Analgesia

Analgesic drugs in the peri-anaesthetic period

Multimodal analgesia

Analgesic infusions

Using local anaesthetic techniques

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

Have an understanding of the pharmacology of analgesic drugs

Understand which drugs are useful in which situations

Be able to select and prepare analgesic drugs for intravenous infusions

Understand and select appropriate local anaesthetic techniques for different procedures

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
Preparation, Priorities and Checklists

Patient safety

The anaesthesia plan and patient priorities

Preparation and checklists

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

Understand how preparation and use of checklists improve patient safety

Be able to prepare individual anaesthesia plans for sick patients and/or complex procedures

Understand how to prioritise important considerations

Understand how to prepare the patient and equipment to minimise harmful delays and mistakes

Be able to construct and use relevant patient safety checklists.

Week 2
Ventilation, Capnography and Neuromuscular Blockade

Physiology of spontaneous and controlled ventilation

Ventilators

Capnography

Neuromuscular blockade

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

Understand in which situations it is appropriate to use controlled ventilation

Understand how to set up a ventilator and what all the buttons do!

Understand the physiology and technology of capnography

Understand how to interpret different capnograph traces

Understand how to use and monitor neuromuscular blocking drugs

Week 3
Advanced Monitoring and Cardiovascular Support

Physiology of heart rate and blood pressure

The electrocardiogram

Measuring blood pressure

Treating hypotension and arrhythmias

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

Have a better understanding of ECG interpretation and when to worry

Understand how to interpret blood pressure measurements

Understand when and how to treat common arrhythmias

Understand different ways of treating hypotension

Week 4
Perioperative Analgesia

Analgesic drugs in the peri-anaesthetic period

Multimodal analgesia

Analgesic infusions

Using local anaesthetic techniques

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

Have an understanding of the pharmacology of analgesic drugs

Understand which drugs are useful in which situations

Be able to select and prepare analgesic drugs for intravenous infusions

Understand and select appropriate local anaesthetic techniques for different procedures

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

Of the numerous cancers that affect our canine companions, lymphoma, mast cell tumours, oral melanoma and osteosarcoma are the most frequently diagnosed in the veterinary clinic.

This 4 week course dedicates a week per subject, where we explore the risk factors associated with each of these neoplasms and investigate the methods used to acquire a diagnosis. Treatment options will be discussed with particular detail placed on medical and surgical management techniques that can be applied to general practice and specialist nursing alike.

After completing this online course, participants will have a greater knowledge of these common diseases, enabling understanding of the prognosis and treatment goals; ultimately broadening communication and practical skills in the subject area.

Week 1

Lymphoma

Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphocytes and/or lymphoid tissue, which is present in many locations within the body, hence making the presentation of these cases typical or atypical depending on location. Specialist tests have been developed to categorise this cancer and treatment is determined by these findings.

Manifestation of lymphoma and categories of disease

Diagnosis, staging and specialist tests for lymphoma

Treatment options for lymphoma

Chemotherapy protocols, client expectations and the cancer journey

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

List the common manifestations of canine lymphoma and the patient groups most affected.

Understand the value of specialist tests required to further categorise cancer

Describe the subcategories of lymphoma and the difference in treatment approaches

Explain the rationale of a multimodal chemotherapy protocol and how it may impact on prognosis

Analyse personal skill set and determine how you could support patients with lymphoma using your practice facilities

Week 2 

Osteosarcoma

Canine osteosarcoma of the weight bearing bones often manifests in pain and/or lameness in affected patients.  Once a diagnosis has been determined, the behaviour of this neoplasm is predictable,  yet still individual to the animal.

Osteosarcoma pathophysiology overview

Diagnostic and staging processes

Treatment options, radiation and surgical management

Adjuvant (post-operative) chemotherapy and restaging

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

Describe the diagnostic approach to determining cancer diagnosis and tumour burden

Explain typical neoplastic behaviour of canine osteosarcoma and how it is a model for comparative medicine

List the different treatment options and their impact on survival time

Understand the fundamental reasoning for adjuvant chemotherapy and the options for post-operative care

Week 3 

Melanoma

Oral melanoma is the most common form of cancer of the mouth in dogs; there are various forms and the behaviour of this neoplasm is sometimes unpredictable. On week three we discuss the presentation, investigation and treatment options available for these patients and look at some practices which are novel to veterinary medicine.

Presentation, diagnosis and staging of oral melanoma, including lymph node mapping

Treatment options and impact on prognosis

Surgical interventions, nursing support and rehabilitation

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

Describe the value of different tissue sampling and specialist imaging techniques

List treatment options and prognostic indicators for canine melanoma

Describe the surgical technique, complications and post-operative care required for oral melanoma cases

Understand the mechanism of action behind current research for canine melanoma and apply to evidence-based medicine within nursing practice

Week 4

Mast cell tumours

Mast cell tumours are a form of skin cancer in dogs, which depending on their grade and affected site, can have an impact on neoplastic behaviour and prognosis. Many patients go on to live disease-free lives, others require continuous treatment and monitoring.

Presentation and behaviour of mast cell tumours

Diagnosis, staging and specialised tests

Treatment modalities and monitoring considerations

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

Explain which breeds of dogs are commonly affected by mast cell tumours and how the patient may present

List what investigative procedures may be necessary to secure a diagnosis and what safety factors should be observed when sampling masses

Describe which treatment modalities are most useful for which form of the disease

Understand the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors and “metronomic chemotherapy” as a method for controlling cancer growth

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

Understand the content to include for each of these clinics
Learn how to 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

The course will be fully tutored by Nicola Lakeman, 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