On Demand CPD - Flexi Modular Courses

Nursing Brachycephalics – Flexi CPD

£225.00 Ex VAT

Type:  Flexi CPD (converted from a tutored course)
Start:  On-demand / Unlimited Lifetime Access
CPD:    15 hours (UK), 15 points (approved in AUS, NZ and ZA)
Level:  Intermediate

 

Description

SAVC and AVNAT Approved Course
This flexi CPD course is aimed at vet nurses and vet technicians in general practice and is available on-demand with unlimited lifetime access.  Each module consists of a tutorial, quiz and further reading articles

 

Brachycephalic breeds have seen a huge surge in popularity in recent years, and we are now nursing these patients on a daily basis.  These patients come with a whole host of breed specific problems, directly related to their anatomy, and this course aims to comprehensively cover all aspect of nursing brachycephalics in general practice, including anaesthesia, medicine, surgery, critical care and our vitally important role in client education.

 

Module 1

An Introduction to Brachycephalics
  • Brachycephalic anatomy basics
  • Breeds commonly affected
  • Recent increase in popularity and the effects on the breed
  • Co-morbidities commonly seen in brachycephalics
  • Communication with owners

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

 

  • Recognise and discuss the anatomy of a brachycephalic patient
  • Understand the causes that can be attributed to clinical signs often displayed by patients suffering with BOAS
  • Identify co-morbidities often diagnosed in brachycephalic patients
  • Understand when and why communication with owners about brachycephalic pet ownership is vital
  • Understand the Cambridge BOAS assessment

Module 2

Brachy Breathing – Crisis and Management
  • Triage
  • Respiratory sounds
  • Blood gas analysis
  • Aspiration pneumonia
  • Oxygen therapy

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

 

  • Understand how to triage the brachycephalic patient
  • Recognise the difference between the various respiratory sounds
  • Identify the uses of blood gas analysis in respiratory conditions
  • Understand available treatments for aspiration pneumonia
  • Explain the different methods of providing oxygen therapy

Module 3

It’s a Hot Topic – Heatstroke Management
  • Heatstroke identification
  • Treatment options
  • Recovery process
  • Risks and complications

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

 

  • Identify a patient at risk of heatstroke
  • Explain how to care for the hot brachycephalic
  • Understand the risks associated with heatstroke
  • List the clinical signs to look out for in a recovering heatstroke patient
  • Describe treatments for the recovering heatstroke patient with a secondary condition

Module 4

Brachycephalic Anaesthesia
  • Balanced anaesthesia plans
  • Anaesthetic equipment
  • Anaesthetic monitoring

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

 

  • Understand how to perform a pre-anaesthetic evaluation
  • Design a patient specific anaesthesia plan, to include – premedication, induction, maintenance, and other medications to support the brachycephalic patient in the peri-anaesthesia period
  • Understand the approach to monitoring the brachycephalic patient under anaesthesia

Module 5

Managing a Difficult Airway
  • Pre-anaesthetic airway compromise and signs of potential difficult airways
  • Intubations, including tips and equipment aids
  • Ways to assist patient recovery from anaesthesia

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

 

  • Evaluate a patient prior to anaesthesia to determine severity of airway compromise
  • Identify the clinical signs to alert the anaesthetist to a potential difficult airway prior to induction
  • List the different intubation aids and how to maximise successful intubations, to maintain oxygenation and minimise hypoxia.
  • Understand how we can assist recoveries in the brachycephalic patient to achieve extubation and reduce incidence of post anaesthesia respiratory obstruction

Module 6

Head and Neck Surgery
  • Preparing the patient for surgery
  • Surgical techniques to correct common conditions – stenotic nares, elongated soft palate, everted laryngeal saccules, everted palatine tonsils, skin fold resection and tracheotomy/tracheostomy
  • Surgical techniques for conditions affecting the eyes – canthoplasty, grafting for ulceration, entropion etc.
  • Instrumentation

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

 

  • Prepare the patient for a range of procedures, including preparation of skin, eyes and mucous membranes
  • Correctly position patients for a range of surgical procedures involving the head and neck
  • Understand the most common surgical procedures, and explain these to owners
  • Tailor a post-operative care plan for each individual patient

Module 7

All the Other Problems Not in the Head and Neck!
  • Preparing the patient for surgery
  • Surgical techniques for a range of common conditions including caesarean sections, fracture repairs (humeral condyle), hiatus hernia, screw tail, hemilaminectomy and pulmonic stenosis
  • Instrumentation

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

 

  • Prepare theatre and the patient for a range of surgical procedures
  • Understand the most common surgical procedures, and explain these to owners
  • Tailor a post-operative care plan for each individual patient
  • Identify common surgical instruments and understand their use

Module 8

Ophthalmology
  • Corneal ulceration, exposure keratopathy and corneal pigmentation
  • Corneal sequestrums in cats
  • Entropion and Ectropion
  • Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS)
  • Tear overflow and staining
  • Proptosis

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

 

  • Explain the common ocular conditions in the brachycephalic patient
  • Understand the treatment options for the above conditions
  • Feel more confident when nursing the ophthalmic patient and what specific considerations to bear in mind

 

Please note:  In modules 6 and 7 you will not be taught how to personally conduct any of the surgical techniques, as this is outside the remit of veterinary nursing in general practice

 

The course will be available immediately following purchase, with unlimited lifetime access and will provide a total of:
15 hours of CPD (UK)
15 points (Australia and New Zealand)
15 points (South Africa – SAVC Accreditation Number AC/2778/25)

Release date: Sept 2025

16 reviews for Nursing Brachycephalics – Flexi CPD

  1. Lucy D –

    This is my second excel course- I have found it to be incredibly informative and have come away with lots ideas to implement in my nursing. I find these course really flexible to fit in around a busy work and home life.

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

  2. Michaela W –

    Good content, good ways of testing knowledge.

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

  3. Morgan J –

    I really enjoyed this course, the course leaders were very helpful too. Would definitely recommend! The course was very in-depth and very interesting, I found myself excited each week for more work to be released.

    Rated: Introduction / Intermediate / Advanced level
    (Referral or specialist RVN – UK)

  4. Sarah S –

    This isn’t a topic I am highly engaged with however I found the course content good with some helpful tips

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

  5. Isabelle A –

    Very informative and useful course. Enjoyed the style of tutorials, forums and quizes for different learning types.

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

  6. Alix R –

    very good material, lectures where easy to follow and had lots of information

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

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Speakers

Lydia Christie Woodend Smith RVN
Soft Tissue Surgery Specialist Nurse, University of Cambridge

 

Lydia qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2014, having trained in a busy, independent, first opinion practice. She subsequently took a position working in the theatre team of a specialist referral hospital, where she gained further experience in the management of surgical patients. Lydia later returned to general practice as a head nurse – during this time she developed a keen interest in the welfare of companion animals, specifically of brachycephalic breeds, and the importance of client education to promote this. In 2019 Lydia became the Soft Tissue Specialist nurse and BOAS assessor for the Queen’s Veterinary School Hospital, Cambridge. Through this role Lydia assesses brachycephalic patients for BOAS, co-ordinates the clinical research performed and runs the Cambridge BOAS Research Group social media pages which have been specifically created to educate vets, nurses, owners and breeders about brachycephaly and BOAS. Lydia also works very closely with the specialist surgeons, nursing teams, veterinary students and owners to ensure every patient undergoing BOAS treatment has the smoothest possible transition between admission and discharge from the hospital.

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.

Speakers

Lisa Angell VTS (anaesthesia and analgesia), PgCert Vet Ed, FHEA, RVN
Head Anaesthesia Nurse, Royal Veterinary College

 

Lisa qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2007 and joined the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals at the Royal Veterinary College as a dedicated anaesthesia nurse in January 2010 following 7 years in general practice.  Lisa became head anaesthesia nurse in 2013.  In 2012, Lisa became board certified as a Veterinary Technician Specialist in anaesthesia and analgesia, and in 2020, Lisa graduated with a post graduate certificate in Veterinary Education. Lisa enjoys all aspects of anaesthesia but has a particular interest in locoregional analgesia techniques.

Speakers

Alison Young DipAVN (Surgical), VTS (Surgery) RVN
Head Surgery Nurse, Royal Veterinary College

 

Alison qualified as a veterinary nurse whilst working at a small practice in Hertfordshire. She joined the Queen Mother Hospital in 2001 as a general surgery nurse and worked rotating through all areas of the hospital. In 2003 she joined the theatre nursing team and studied for the Diploma in Advanced Veterinary Nursing (Surgical) where she gained the highest marks for that year. Alison gained the VTS (Surgery) in 2015 and is Head Theatre Nurse at the Royal Veterinary College

Speakers

Sian Woodham-Davies  RVN
Ophthalmology Nurse, Royal Veterinary College

 

Sian qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2012 and after having spent some time in small practices she joined the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals in 2014. Sian is working in the Ophthalmology department and has a passion for nursing these cases. Sian is currently working towards her VTS in Ophthalmology and enjoys sharing her knowledge with fellow veterinary nurses as she feels it is a subject that is not widely covered in the nursing curriculum.

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.

 

SAVC

South Africa

The South African Veterinary Council (SAVC) has allocated 15 CPD points to this continuing education activity. Accreditation Number AC/2778/25)

Information

Upon purchase you will be immediately registered to attend the course, with unlimited lifetime access.  The course will consist of four modules, where each module provides two hours of CPD, in the form of a tutorial, a quiz and also a selection of further reading journals, articles or book chapters.

 

The course is completely flexible, where all the learning resources are provided immediately – it is designed for you to complete one module per week, but it is completely up to you, how and when you decide to complete the course. You have unlimited lifetime access to all the supportive learning materials, and once you have completed the whole course, a certificate will be automatically generated.

 

Looking for some further information? – please have a look at our Flexi Online CPD Courses – PDF Guide

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

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

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