Veterinary Nursing Skills Lab

Curriculum Guideline

Effective Date:
Course
Discontinued
No
Course Code
VTEC 1306
Descriptive
Veterinary Nursing Skills Lab
Department
Veterinary Technology
Faculty
Science & Technology
Credits
1.00
Start Date
End Term
Not Specified
PLAR
No
Semester Length
2 Weeks
Max Class Size
30
Course Designation
None
Industry Designation
None
Contact Hours

Lab: 20 hours/semester

Method(s) Of Instruction
Lab
Learning Activities

Skills will be taught and practiced using canine and feline models (including cadavers). 

Course Description
This is a condensed lab-only course intended for students registered in the part-time VTEC program. Students will practice essential veterinary nursing skills, such as medication administration, venipuncture, intravenous and urinary catheter placement, and bandaging.
Course Content
  • Patient assessment
  • Administration of medications: topical, oral and parenteral injections
  • Blood collection and sample handling
  • Intravenous and urinary catheters and fluid lines
  • Urine collection methods including cystocentesis
  • Bandaging
Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the course, successful students will be able to:

  • perform patient assessment skills which may include blood pressure measurement, ECG, tonometry and fluorescein dye test;
  • administer medication orally, aurally, topically, subcutaneously, intramuscularly and intravenously to a model or live patient;
  • perform venipuncture and prepare a blood sample for shipment to a laboratory;
  • place a cephalic intravenous catheter using a limb model;
  • set up fluid lines and pumps for the administration of intravenous fluids;
  • place a urinary catheter in a male dog model;
  • palpate a bladder and perform cystocentesis on a feline or canine model;
  • place simple limb bandages.
Means of Assessment

Assessment will be in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. The instructor will present a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester.

This course will use a Mastery-based assessment. Students will receive a Mastery (“MAS”) grade based on upon attendance at a minimum of 80% of the scheduled laboratory hours and successful completion of the learning outcomes.

Textbook Materials

Consult the Douglas College Bookstore for the latest required textbooks and materials. Example textbooks may include:

  • Crow and Walshaw. (Current Edition). Manual of Clinical Procedures in Dogs, Cats, Rabbits, and Rodents. J Boyle: Pub Wiley.
Prerequisites

VTEC 1303

Students in the Veterinary Technology program are required to maintain a minimum grade of (C) in all courses, in order to progress in the program.