Approach to the Emergency Patient (Aug 2025)

Description

This course is aimed at nurses working in general practice

Week 1

Patient Assessment and Triage

The concept of triage
Preparedness
Primary survey
Secondary Survey
Emergency history

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

Understand the triage process and how it can be utilised to prioritise emergency care
Describe how to make their team and environment prepared for when the emergency patient arrives
List how to carry out a primary survey during the initial assessment of the patient
Explain how to carry out a secondary survey assessment in order to list their concerns with the patient
Discuss how to communicate with the client including telephone advice, informed consent and emergency history

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 = 15 minutes

Week 2

Shock

Classify shock
Emergency database
Blood pressure
Oxygen therapy
The use of multiparameter monitors

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

Identify a patient with shock and classify which type of shock they have
Explain which parameters may be tested during an emergency database and how these can help to identify shock in the emergency room
Understand the physiology of perfusion and ways in which blood pressure can be monitored in the emergency patient
List the different ways that oxygen therapy can be delivered to the emergency patient
Understand the uses and limitations of multiparameter monitors and their role in monitoring perfusion trends

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

Week 3

Fluid Therapy

Patient assessment
Identifying a fluid deficit or change in volume
What fluids are available
Managing a change in content
Identifying a change in fluid distribution

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

Explain how to assess the patient’s fluid status using clinical exam and blood work
Discuss how to create a fluid plan to treat a fluid deficit such as hypovolaemia or dehydration
List what fluid options are available and which fluid might be preferred in which situation
Understand how fluid selection or the fluid plan can be altered to account for an electrolyte abnormality
Describe how to manage the patient with fluid overload or peripheral oedema

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
Written task (nursing care plan) = 30 minutes
Clinical case scenario quizzes = 15 minutes

Week 4

Neurological Emergencies

Neurological assessment
Coma scoring
Raised intracranial pressure
Seizures

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

Describe how to perform a neurological assessment of an emergency patient
Describe how to perform a coma score and understand how these may be used in neurological patients
Understand methods of identifying raised intracranial pressure and the physiology behind this
Recognise a seizuring patient and understand their management, from initial presentation and stabilisation of mild seizures through to the management of a patient in status epilepticus

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
Written task (clinical case) = 30 minutes
Crossword quiz = 10 minutes

Week 5

Approach to the Trauma Patient

Assessment of wounds
Wound management
Management of fractures
Other injuries associated with trauma
Analgesia

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

Identify different wounds based on the patient history and appearance of the wound
Understand the principles of wound management and common techniques used to flush and debride wounds
Describe how to identify and manage fractures in the trauma patient
List other common injuries associated with trauma and how these should be managed
Implement an analgesia plan for the trauma patient based on pain assessment

Learning materials this week:
(released on Monday morning for on demand learning until the course ends – approximate timings)

Pre-recorded tutorial with Elle = 80 minutes
Further reading = 60 minutes
Forum discussion topic = 10 minutes
Multiple choice questions quiz = 15 minutes

Week 6

Common Toxicities

Common toxins seen in emergency practice
Renal toxins
Hepatotoxins
Anticoagulants
Neurotoxins

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

Describe the different ways toxins can enter the body
List the most common renal toxins and understand the treatment of these patients
List the most common hepatotoxins and understand the different treatments for each of these
Understand the physiological effects of anticoagulant ingestion and the treatment of these patients
Identify the most common neurotoxins seen in practice and understand the treatment of these patients

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 = 15 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 studies, 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

14 reviews for Approach to the Emergency Patient (Aug 2025)

Rated 5 out of 5

Jade M – 03/10/2024

I love these courses they give me so much more knowledge and information to take back into practice with me. Also being able to complete them in my own time makes fitting them around work and other commitments so much more easier and less stressful.

Rated: Intermediate level
(Qualified RVN in general practice <5 years - UK)
Rated 5 out of 5

Anonymous – 01/10/2024

Really informative lots of support and resources

Rated: Intermediate level
(Qualified RVN in general practice <5 years – UK)
Rated 5 out of 5

Ellie L – 27/09/2024

I love the excel CPD courses ! always well structured and includes important information.

Rated: Intermediate level
(Referral or specialist RVN – UK)
Rated 5 out of 5

Carmen H – 19/09/2024

I found the course very helpful and I felt that it went into more depth then what I learnt during my degree

Rated: Introduction / Intermediate level
(Qualified RVN in general practice <5 years - UK)

Add a review

Speakers

Eleanor Haskey BSc(hons), VTS(ECC) VPAC A1, RVN
Senior ECC Nurse, Royal Veterinary College

Eleanor graduated in 2008 from the University of Bristol with an honours degree in Veterinary Nursing and Practice Administration. She worked as a branch head nurse in a mixed practice in the Midlands for 2 years before returning to the University of Bristol as senior ICU nurse, where she was responsible for the day to day running of the intensive care unit, triaging and assessing emergencies and providing care for critical patients. In 2014 Eleanor transferred to the emergency and critical care centre at the Royal Veterinary College. Eleanor gained the VTS(ECC) qualification in 2012, and she particularly enjoys trauma, seizures, ventilator cases and haematological disorders

Speakers

Katy Gray PGCert VE, DipAVN, RVN, FHEA, MNCS
The Ralph Veterinary Referral Hospital

After registering as an RVN in 2012, Katie worked as both a surgery nurse and then an emergency and critical care nurse at the Royal Veterinary College referral hospital, where she spent 6 years as a senior ECC nurse. During her time there, she completed the Advanced Nursing Diploma, a Post Graduate Certificate in Veterinary Education, and the Blue Cross Bereavement Certificate. Katie regularly lectures for VNs, both in the UK and internationally; and has written a few articles, including her own research into sepsis recognition. Since 2019, Katie has been working towards the Advanced Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling, and in Spring 2022 started working in a supportive role at The Ralph Veterinary Referral Hospital. Outside of work Katie volunteers for StreetVet, and she is on the Veterinary Critical Care Nurse Committee which is part of the British Association of Critical Care Nurses.

CPD Hours

This online course is worth 15 hours of CPD.

A certificate will be available from the ‘My Courses’ section, for you to download and print, once you have completed the course. A permanent record of your total CPD hours will also be recorded in your account section.

AVNAT

Australia and New Zealand

The Australian Veterinary Nurse and Technician (AVNAT) Regulatory Council has allocated 15 AVNAT CPD points to this continuing education activity.

This course is also recognised by the New Zealand Veterinary Nursing Association (NZVNA) as providing 15 CPD points.

Information

Upon purchase you will be registered to attend the course, for 6 weeks from the start date. The course will consist of various interactive tasks and lessons, including quizzes, case studies, forum discussions and further reading material.

The course is fully tutored, with new material will be provided each Monday morning, but the onus will be on the individual delegate to ensure that all tasks are fully complete. The certificate will only be issued at the end of the course when all tasks have been accomplished. Fewer CPD hours will be awarded at the the end of the course if there are unfinished tasks or there has been no contribution to the discussion forum, for example

The course is fully flexible, and there are no weekly ‘deadlines’ – the lessons and tasks may be completed whenever is convenient for each delegate, and any live lessons with be recorded and made available later that same day. Furthermore, all the course material will be available for a further 2 weeks, to allow delegates the opportunity to catch up on missed lessons and tasks, or to take the opportunity to delve further into the suggested reading texts. Please note however, that the course will not be tutored by the speaker during these final two weeks, but the time spent will count towards your CPD hours

After 8 weeks, the course will be complete and there will be no further opportunity to gain the certificate or CPD hours, however, you will have unlimited lifetime access to the tutorials, further reading and quizzes for future reference. If you make any personal notes during the course using the ‘take notes’ app, these will be saved, along with your certificate and CPD record for permanent access in ‘My CPD’

For some further information about our Online Tutored CPD courses – please read our PDF guide to Online Tutored CPD

Levels

This course has been listed as ‘Introduction / Intermediate’ level

All of our courses are aimed at veterinary nurses in general practice, but everyone who works in the veterinary profession is very welcome to attend, whether you are a clinical receptionist, veterinary surgeon, student nurse or have been a qualified nurse for over 20 years!

The courses are not formally assessed for skill level, so the following CPD levels are just a rough guide to help you decide if a course may be more or less suitable:

Introduction
– maybe most suitable for qualified nurses in general practice approaching a new topic or looking for a refresher course

Intermediate
– maybe most suitable for qualified nurses in general practice along with referral / specialist nurses looking for a refresher course

Advanced
– maybe most suitable for referral / specialist nurses and highly experienced qualified nurses in general practice

Pawprints

You will earn 255 Pawprint Points (£25 website credit) when you purchase this course

Our loyalty scheme rewards you with 10% in website credit to spend on future courses. Choose pay with Pawprint Points during checkout.

Invoice My Practice

Invoice

Debit or credit card is the preferred payment method

Please ask your practice manager or accounts department to visit the website, register an account in their own name, and during checkout, complete the ‘delegate name’ and ‘delegate email’ sections with your personal details. We will then register you a personal account on your behalf, and transfer the course booking over to your new personal account. We will of course email you all the information you need to access this new account and your CPD course.

If you need an invoice and no other payment method is available to you, then please email [email protected] with all the following information:

Full name of delegate
Email address for delegate
Course(s) booking
Any discounts / promotions being redeemed
Practice name and address
Invoice name and address (if different)
Corporate group name (Linnaeus, IVC, Medivet, VetPartners etc) (if applicable)
Practice code (eg Vet4Pets practices)
Booking / invoice reference (if required)
Email address to send the invoice (practice manager, accounts department or head office – not your own email address please)

Please note the following:

Invoices must be requested a minimum of 4-6 weeks prior to a course starting, to allow time for the payment to be received
Delegates will not be allowed access to any course without prior payment
An invoice will be emailed to the contact provided and the course booking will be reserved for 7 days, whilst payment via debit / credit card or BACS is arranged
There will be an administration fee of £2.50 +VAT per invoice generated. You may book multiple delegates / multiple courses on a single invoice to the same practice

Tutored Online CPD