Module 1

The Orthopaedic Trauma Patient

Presentation

Triaging wounds

Initial wound management

Open fracture management

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

Prepare equipment for initial stabilisation of the trauma patient

Select dressings and materials for initial wound management

Understand the grading system for open fractures and how this affects management of these cases

Prepare all necessary items for treatment of open fractures

Module 2

Preparing the Patient for Surgery

Clipping and preparing the patient

Orthopaedic theatre nursing

Theatre set up

Instrumentation

Scrub nurse role

Cleaning and sterilising

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

Create an appropriate surgery schedule

Identify common orthopaedic surgical instruments and their use

Prepare and confidently check the theatre set up for a range of procedures, including equipment

Have a full understanding of orthopaedic equipment and how to care for it correctly

Understand the benefits a scrub nurse provides to the surgeon, the patient and the surgical procedure

Module 3

Orthopaedic Procedures – So Many to Choose From!

Surgery

Arthroscopy

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

Understand the options available for common orthopaedic conditions

Create a case study for a patient they have been involved in the nursing care of

Identify common surgical equipment, its use and how to prepare for surgery

Module 4

Fracture Repair – Internal Fixation

Fracture classification

Implants and consumables

Surgical instruments and equipment

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

Identify common surgical implants used in fracture repair

Understand how the method of repair used will impact on the care required for the patient post-operatively

Module 5

Fracture Repair – External Fixation

Implants and consumables

Surgical instruments and equipment

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

Identify common surgical implants used for external fracture repair

Understand the instructions required by owners for the ongoing care and management of patients with external fixators

Module 6

Recovery and the Post-Operative Period

Recovery from anaesthesia

Immediate therapy

Ongoing nursing care plans

Surgical complications

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

Create nursing care plans for post-operative surgical patients

Develop the team role for nurses in the rehabilitation of orthopaedic patients

Understand the key responsibilities for client communication and post-operative care

Identify common complications and how to ensure owners understand the potential consequences

Week 1

Recumbency Nursing

Common causes for recumbency

Nursing the recumbent patient

Common complications associated with recumbency

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

List some of the common causes for recumbency and how these conditions may be treated

Discuss the nursing considerations for the recumbent patient and how these can be implemented to help support the patient during their recovery whilst hospitalised

Describe the common complications associated with recumbency and how these can be prevented whilst the patient is hospitalised

Week 2

Nutrition in the Hospitalised Patient

Why is nutrition important?

Who needs nutrition?

When should nutrition be started?

Creating a nutrition plan

Assisted feeding options

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

Understand why nutrition is important for the recovery of hospitalised patients

Identify patients in needs of nutrition

Discuss when is the appropriate time to start nutrition in their hospitalised patient

Describe how to create a feeding plan including patient assessment, calculation of RER and implementation of the nutritional plan

List the common assisted feeding techniques and understand the indications and contraindications of each

Week 3

Sepsis

What is SIRS / sepsis?

How to recognise sepsis in dogs

How to recognise sepsis in cats

Sepsis bundles

Recent sepsis research in human medicine

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

Know the definitions of SIRS / sepsis and the difference between them

List the patient observations used to help us be able to recognise sepsis in the dog

List the patient observations used to help us be able to recognise sepsis in the cat

Understand what a sepsis bundle is, and when they can be used in practice

Understand the recent research into sepsis in human medicine and how this impacts us in veterinary practice

Week 4

Acid Base / Electrolytes

What is acid / base?

What are electrolytes?

Electrolytes – Sodium

Electrolytes – Potassium

Electrolytes – Calcium

Glucose

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

Explain acid / base status

Understand which electrolytes we can measure in veterinary practice and why

Identify when a patient may become hypo or hypernatraemic, and describe the treatments that may benefit them

Identify when a patient may become hypo or hyperkalaemic, and describe the treatments that may benefit them

Identify why a patient may be hypo or hypercalcaemic, and describe the treatments that may benefit them

Identify why a patient may be hypo or hyper glycaemic, and describe the treatments that may benefit them

Week 5

Infection Control

How to create an infection control plan for the clinic

Assigning an infection control champion

Identify and develop protocols

Make an assessment

Staff education and training plans

Surveillance and compliance

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

Identify an infection control champion in practice and understand their role in the infection control plan

Discuss the common infection control protocols required in practice to minimise the spread of pathogens

Understand how to make an assessment of the protocols already in place and identify their strengths and weaknesses

Explain the importance of staff education and training when implementing infection control protocols

List the common surveillance techniques to ensure compliance to the infection control plan

Week 6

End of Life Care and Clinical Governance

Euthanasia

Palliative care

Mental health awareness

Clinical governance in practice

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

Understand the reasons vets and clients consider euthanasia, and learn ways to ensure the experience can be made as peaceful and calm as possible in practice for all involved

Understand the reasons that clients may choose to consider palliative care, and how we can help ensure the patients are comfortable within our role as veterinary nurses

Understand the impact of euthanasia and how the death of a pet can affect both the family of the patient and the veterinary staff involved

Understand the mental health implications of veterinary medicine on the team, and ways in which we can help our team and ourselves to cope

Describe what clinical governance is, what is discussed and why it may be beneficial to start holding these meetings in your practice

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

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

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

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

Monitoring with Blood Work and Troubleshooting Equipment

Blood gas and acid-base

Glucose monitoring and other tests

Monitor-related artefacts and technical problems

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

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

Week 1

From Conception to Weaning

Parent health prior to conception and how this may affect pregnancy, parturition, and offspring

Nutritional requirements during pregnancy

Nutritional adaptations required during lactation

Neonate nutritional requirements, including how to hand feed effectively

Weaning

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

Discuss how nutrition affects reproduction and key adaptations that are required

Have a clear understanding of how to promote health through nutrition during lactation

Identify the essential nutritional requirements for neonates

Understand how to hand feed neonates correctly

Week 2

Growth

Optimal growth

Effects of neutering

Nutritional considerations for large breed puppies

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

Correctly use growth charts to map growth

Identify when growth is not ideal and the necessary changes that are required to maintain a healthy weight to adulthood

Have a good understanding of the nutritional adaptations that will be required at the point of neutering

Week 3

Adult Maintenance

Promoting health in adults

Maintaining a stable weight

Treat management

Recognise key aspects of feeding working dogs

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

Understand nutritional requirements for adults and how these must be adapted for each pet’s circumstance

Identify points of concern and to make appropriate recommendations

Reflect on how nutritional requirement for working dog may differ from pet dogs

Week 4

Golden Oldies – Senior Pets

Defining ‘senior’ age as an individual process

Understanding age related changes and how these require nutritional adaptation

Environmental considerations for pets in their senior years

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

Confidently assess the needs of a senior pet

Identify environmental changes that may be required

Understanding of the dynamic changes to nutrition that are required for seniors to better support the pet and pet owner

Week 5

Diet Choices

Examination of the pet food label

Introduction to alternative diet types and how to have conversations with pet owners

How to manage pets fed an alternative diet within a hospital environment

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

Identify all key information on a pet food label and how this is used to determine a feeding amount

Have a broad understanding of the pros and cons associated with alternative diets that are now commonly fed

Appreciate methods for assessing the suitability of alternative diets and how to improve safety

Confidently talk to the pet owner who wish to feed an alternative diet type

Week 6

Maintaining an Ideal Weight

Assess ideal weight through body condition scoring and muscle condition scoring

Simple steps to ensure obesity does not occur, and what can help if it does

How to calculate a feeding quantity of dry, wet or mixed diet types

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

Confidently be able to body condition score and muscle condition score to identify an ideal weight and good health

Understand how simple food management in the home can prevent obesity occurring

Thoroughly understand calculations for determining a feeding amount to prevent over, or under feeding