Tutored Online CPD

Medical Emergencies (Jul 2025)

£255.00 Ex VAT


Start: 
28th July 2025
CPD:    15 hours (UK), 15 points (AUS, NZ) over 6 / 8 weeks
Level:  Intermediate

 

Description

This course is aimed at nurses working in general practice

 

Week 1

Transfusion Medicine

This week we will look at indications for packed red cell and whole blood transfusions, in both cats and dogs, in the acute emergency setting.  The nurse’s role is vital in this field, including preparing the recipient, blood typing, cross matching and monitoring the recipient.  We will cover common reasons for transfusion and patient specific nursing concerns, as well as indications for auto transfusion and xenotransfusion.   Common coagulopathies will also be discussed, along with indications for the use of plasma products in small animal patients.

 

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

 

  • Select the correct blood product for the individual patient
  • Understand the monitoring these patients require and patient specific concerns
  • Explain the different transfusion reactions that can occur and how they are avoided and treated
  • List the indications for auto transfusion and xenotransfusion
  • Describe the main coagulopathies we encounter and the treatment options available

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

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

Week 2

Acute Kidney Injury

Acute kidney injury is a relatively common presentation in emergency and critical care, however, it can occur for a variety of reasons.  This week will look at the conditions that lead to acute kidney injury and how we reach that diagnosis.  We will look at treatment options including reviews of the evidence bases in terms of patients that are anuric. The nursing role in these patients is multi- faceted and it is vital we can monitor and nurse these patients effectively.

 

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

 

  • Understand the different reasons that AKI develops, including post-surgery, toxin related and obstruction of the urinary tract
  • Understand the monitoring and nursing requirements of these patients including fluid therapy, acid-base status and how we recognize when they are deteriorating
  • Explain how we manage anuric patients including evidence reviews of methods to force diuresis
  • Understand the basics of peritoneal and haemodialysis for these patients and the indications

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

  • Pre-recorded tutorial with Kath = 65 minutes
  • Further reading = 60 minutes
  • Written task (clinical case scenario – nursing care plan) = 30 minutes (to be submitted before 5pm Friday week 6)
  • Multiple choice questions quiz = 10 minutes
  • Crossword quiz = 10 minutes

Week 3

Diabetic Ketoacidosis

DKA is a complex disorder that can be life threatening for our patients, and the nursing team play a large role in the management and recovery of these patients. There are multiple considerations in nursing a patient with DKA that go well beyond administering insulin. We will review common reasons for a patient to develop this endocrine disorder as well as acid- base and electrolyte abnormalities we may see.

These patients need intensive monitoring including repeated blood work so we will discuss how to minimize the impact of this on their welfare. There will also be discussion on the different approaches to administration of insulin and ongoing management of these cases when they are discharged home.

 

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

 

  • Recognise the concurrent conditions that may lead to difficulty stabilizing the DKA patient
  • Understand how we reach the diagnosis and the treatment priorities for these patients
  • Understand the different approaches to insulin administration as well as the pros and cons of each method
  • Explain how to prioritise appropriate monitoring for these patients

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

  • Pre-recorded tutorial with Kath = 60 minutes
  • Further reading = 60 minutes
  • Forum discussion topic = 10 minutes
  • Multiple choice questions quiz = 10 minutes

Week 4

Acute Pancreatitis

The pancreatitis patient is a common presentation to any practice. It is an inflammatory condition that can be classed from mild to severe.  We will focus on the nursing care and assessment of the patients requiring hospitalisation for management.  Whilst we often consider these patients as just needing a couple of days of supportive care, there are some serious complications that can occur and contribute to mortality.

 

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

 

  • Understand common aetiologies in dogs and cats
  • Review pain management options including drug types and routes of administration
  • Discuss nutritional support options
  • Identify complications including development of SIRS

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

  • Pre-recorded tutorial with Kath = 65 minutes
  • Further reading = 60 minutes
  • Written task (clinical case scenario – nutrition plan) = 30 minutes (to be submitted before 5pm Friday week 6)
  • Crossword quiz = 10 minutes

Week 5

Acute Respiratory Distress

These patients present many challenges to us in practice and need some special consideration in terms of monitoring and nursing care.  We will look at recognition of the patient in respiratory distress, the potential causes, and our priorities for treatment.  We will review the monitoring tools that may be beneficial and our approach to stabilising these patients.

 

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

 

  • Prioritise stabilisation techniques based on patient presentation
  • Determine which method of oxygen supplementation is most appropriate for specific patients
  • Appreciate the management of patients in brachycephalic crisis
  • Understand the different approaches to diagnostics and monitoring for these very fragile patients

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

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

Week 6

Addisonian Crisis

Known as the “great pretender”, Addison’s disease leads to a potentially life-threatening situation when the patient goes into crisis.  Whilst electrolyte abnormalities are present in a typical Addisonian we can see no electrolyte changes in atypical cases.  The patient with an Addison’s crisis has multiple abnormalities which we need to monitor and correct.  Consideration of management options for these patients as well as resolving the crisis will all be discussed.

 

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

 

  • Understand the aetiology, common clinical signs, and effects of this complex disorder
  • Identify and differentiate a patient that has Addison’s disease, with a patient in an Addisonian crisis
  • Understand the nursing considerations for these patients in the hospital environment, and appreciate the impact stress hormones have
  • Identify priorities for treatment and ongoing management

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

  • Pre-recorded tutorial with Kath = 50 minutes
  • Further reading = 60 minutes
  • Forum discussion topic = 10 minutes
  • Crossword quiz = 10 minutes

 

This course will be fully tutored by Kath Howie 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

28 reviews for Medical Emergencies (Jul 2025)

  1. Sarah C

    I really enjoyed this course. I signed up in order to revise the ECC content I had previously learnt for a certificate in ECC. I wanted to do this course because I have previously taken webinars by Kath Howie and found her to be extremely engaging. Although some of the content was advanced, Kath explains it in a way that is accessible and easy to understand. I feel that the course was the right level for me, a lot of the course was revision, but I also learnt a lot of new theory and new methods to implement in practice to improve our patient care.

    Rated: Intermediate level
    (Qualified RVN in general practice >5 years – UK)

  2. Holly R

    Hard but learnt a lot

    Rated: Advanced level
    (Newly qualified (<2 years) - UK)

  3. Nicole M

    interesting, learned a lot of new facts I’ll be sure to use in practice

    Rated: Intermediate level
    (Newly qualified <2 years – UK)

  4. Kelly B

    I enjoyed this course and have learned a lot. I have to say Kath Howie was great, easy to understand and to the point.

    Rated: Intermediate level
    (Qualified RVN in general practice >5 years – UK)

  5. Carol M

    Good quality information, a good revision of basic knowledge as well as lots of extra hints and tips that will make certain nursing tasks that bit easier. There are a few talking points I would like to bring to my practice as a result of this course that I think could help improve our nursing care of these patients too.

    Rated: Intermediate level
    (Newly qualified <2 years -UK)

  6. Pui Y

    Detailed tutorial and additional reading source

    Rated: Intermediate level
    (Newly qualified (<2 years) - HK)

  7. Jessica H

    Very informative and covers lots of areas

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

  8. Ellie F

    Very in detailed course with an amazing tutor who is very knowledgable!

    Rated: Intermediate level
    (Newly qualified <2 years - UK)

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Speaker

Kath Howie  VTS (ECC), RVN
Principal Nurse Manager, VetsNow

 

Kath worked in a primary care practice through her training and qualified in January 2000. After a few years in practice as a registered nurse she decided to take the step into referral nursing in 2003. After a couple of years gaining experience of nursing intensive care patients and those with complex needs, she moved into emergency practice in 2005. In 2009 she achieved the Veterinary Technician Speciality in Emergency and Critical Care and re- certified in 2014.

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’

Levels

This course has been listed as ‘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 (£25.50 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:

Please note the following:

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