Description
This CPD course is aimed at veterinary nurses working in general practice
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
Learning materials this week:
(released on Monday morning for on demand learning until the course ends – approximate timings)
- Pre-recorded tutorial with Elle = 60 minutes
- Further reading = 60 minutes
- Forum discussion topic = 10 minutes
- Multiple choice questions quiz = 10 minutes
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
Learning materials this week:
(released on Monday morning for on demand learning until the course ends – approximate timings)
- Pre-recorded tutorial with Elle = 60 minutes
- Further reading = 60 minutes
- Forum discussion topic = 10 minutes
- Three case scenario nutrition calculation quizzes = 15 minutes
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
Learning materials this week:
(released on Monday morning for on demand learning until the course ends – approximate timings)
- Pre-recorded tutorial with Katie = 50 minutes
- Further reading = 60 minutes
- Forum discussion topic = 10 minutes
- Crossword quiz = 10 minutes
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
Learning materials this week:
(released on Monday morning for on demand learning until the course ends – approximate timings)
- Pre-recorded tutorial with Katie = 45 minutes
- Further reading = 60 minutes
- Forum discussion topic = 10 minutes
- Multiple choice questions quiz = 10 minutes
- Written assignment – patient care plans = 60 minutes (to be submitted before 5pm Friday of week 6)
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
Learning materials this week:
(released on Monday morning for on demand learning until the course ends – approximate timings)
- Pre-recorded tutorial with Elle = 60 minutes
- Further reading = 60 minutes
- Forum discussion topic = 10 minutes
- Fill in the blanks quiz = 10 minutes
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
Learning materials this week:
(released on Monday morning for on demand learning until the course ends – approximate timings)
- Pre-recorded tutorial with Katie = 40 minutes
- Further reading = 60 minutes
- Forum discussion topic = 10 minutes
- Multiple choice questions quiz = 10 minutes
The course will be fully tutored by Elle Haskey and Katie Gray, and will consist of 15 hours of CPD given in various formats, including tutorials, tasks, case scenarios, forum discussions and quizzes. This course is tutored for 6 weeks, followed by a two week extension of untutored ‘catch up’ time, before the course officially ends.
All delegates will then have unlimited lifetime access to the learning material for future reference
Jodie P –
I really have enjoyed the course and feel that I have had both a refresh and learned new things on many subjects. I feel like it will really help me in my OOHs role at the practice I work at.
Rated: Introduction level
(Qualified RVN in general practice <5 years - UK)
Charlotte C –
a detailed course into Approach to Critical Care Nursing. Containing good modules for nurses
Rated: Introduction level
(Newly qualified (<2 years) - UK)
Kate A –
Course layout was easy to follow, webinars well presented and interesting
Rated: Intermediate level
(Referral or specialist RVN – UK)
Joanne R –
I feel this was a good introduction to critical care nursing. I feel it has given more confidence to provide better care for my patients with complex needs, while also providing insight into how best to care for myself, my colleagues, and the owners too.
Rated: Introduction level
(Newly qualified (<2 years) - UK)
Holly W –
I really enjoyed the tutorials each week. They were really informative and any questions I had were met with great feedback that I can take and continue to use, the extra reading were also really interesting and I took some ideas back to my clinic to hopefully put into our daily routines.
Rated: Introduction / Intermediate level
(Newly qualified (<2 years) – UK)
Beverley B –
Very informative and well structured
Rated: Intermediate level
(Referral or specialist RVN – UK)
Maria B –
I found the course really helpful and engaging, and the tutors were both incredibly knowledgeable in their field.
Rated: Introduction level