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