Course Description
In this course students will learn and practice advanced veterinary nursing skills. Skills acquired in Veterinary Nursing 1 and 2 will be reviewed and further developed. Advanced drug dosing, fluid administration, constant rate infusion (CRI) and transfusion calculations will be practiced. Students will gain experience in client and workplace communication. Emergency and critical care nursing will be emphasized along with the medical record keeping needed for these disciplines. Ward and hospital management will be discussed from a veterinary technologist's perspective. Palliative care, oncology and toxicology will be reviewed.
Course Content
The major topics in this course include the following:
- In-clinic laboratory:
- skills needed to set up and use an in-clinic laboratory
- use sample handling techniques to achieve optimal diagnostic results
- use and maintain advanced blood analysis equipment
- Advanced nursing care and diagnostic techniques
- diagnostic procedures including thoracocentesis, abdominocentesis and bone marrow collection
- advanced monitoring and procedures such as ECG, jugular catherters, PICC lines, central blood pressure, blood transfusions
- medical record keeping in all aspects of practice
- Emergency Medicine
- management of veterinary emergencies
- CPCR and other emergency techniques
- Critical Care
- the transition of a patient from emergency care to critical care
- the role of the veterinary technologist in the care of the critical patient
- Workplace communications
- build upon the skills learned in administrative procedures courses to improve client communication, problem solving, conflict resolution and interpersonal skills
- Career opportunities for the veterinary technologist
- various career opportunities will be explored through visits to private and publically owned facilities
Learning Activities
This course includes six hours of classroom and laboratory instruction per week with additional practicum placements.
Means of Assessment
The instructor will present a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester. A final minimum cumulative grade of “C” or 60% is required (in both lecture and lab components) in order to pass this course. Evaluation will be based on quizzes and assignments, practical evaluations including a final practical examination, at least one midterm and a final written examination.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
- Perform emergency and critical care nursing techniques for small animals.
- Discuss hospital design, work flow and principals affecting ward hygiene and infection control.
- Review and practice effective workplace communication.
- Maintain veterinary nursing records for small animal general nursing, emergency and critical care.
- Discuss the legal implications of the medical record.
- Design and implement quality control plans and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the veterinary hospital.
- Discuss the variety of potential career opportunities available to the veterinary technologist.
Textbook Materials
A list of required and optional textbooks and materials is provided for students at the beginning of each semester.