Course Description
This course will give students practice in advanced veterinary nursing skills. Specialized procedures for a variety of species (large animal, small animal, & exotics) will be covered building upon skills acquired in AHTT 1103, 1203, & 2107. Students will gain experience in data gathering, procedures, & nursing care, in addition to relevant animal behavior and handling practice. This course will include kennel and/or relevant volunteer duty. Professional ethics and workplace issues will be discussed.
Enrollment is limited to students in the Animal Health Technology Program.
Course Content
Clinical pathology
- bacteriology, hematology, urinalysis, cytology review
- advanced sampling techniques
- sampling from a variety of species safely; maintenance of samples and processing for the laboratory; utilizing a variety of laboratory equipment in a clinical setting
- postmortem techniques
- tour of provincial veterinary and private veterinary laboratories
Advanced Nursing Care and Diagnostic Techniques
- diagnostic procedures including thoracocentesis and abdominocentesis
- usage and maintenance of advanced blood analysis equipment
- review and practice of advanced monitoring and procedures such as ECG, jugular catheters, blood transfusions, etc…
Emergency Medicine
- visits to specialty practices and from Veterinary specialists with emphasis on gaining technical skills commonly used in emergency situations (CPR, radiology, clinical sample collection, transfusions, and treatment modalities)
- decision making and grief counseling in emergency situations
- post emergency nursing (with concentration on early stabilization phase)
- hit by car, “big dog little dog”, FLUTD, toxin ingestion and other common emergencies – review of protocols and practice in needed skills as possible
- Ambu-dog and practice resuscitation
Large Animal Care
- large animal anesthesia and surgical assistance
- provision of adequate analgesia/anesthesia and humane treatment to ensure patient comfort
- recognition of injection sites, administration of injectables, and venipuncture
- aspects of aseptic technique, preparation of surgery, personnel and patient pre-operatively
- practical wound healing and management, bandaging techniques and patient care post-operatively
Exotic & Lab Animal
- practice in restraint, handling and treatment, and advanced procedures
Workplace communications:
- observation and interpretation of interactions between veterinary team members as well as clients, building upon the skills learned in CMNS 1111
- workplace safety and a review of WHMIS.
Learning Activities
This course includes 3-7 hours of classroom instruction per week. It also includes 2-8 hour visits to various animal and veterinary related facilities around the Metro Vancouver/Fraser Valley area as part of a 6 week rotation of Workplace Laboratory Instruction, as well as group field trips during the semester for a total average instructional time of 7 hours per week. (note: students will require their own transportation to these WLI locations)
Means of Assessment
Quizzes 15-25%
Practical Skill Demonstrations/Clinical Reports 20-25%
Assignments 10-20%
Professionalism & Rotation Evaluation 10-20%
Final Exam 20-30%
100%
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the course students will be able to:
- utilize advanced techniques used by the AHT in both small animal, large animal, and exotic practice. These include advanced procedures in clinical pathology, emergency medicine, anesthesia, and nursing care.
- demonstrate record keeping, ward hygiene and infection control.
- understand ethical and workplace issues facing the AHT
- demonstrate the basic skills of veterinary nursing.
Textbook Materials
- McCurnin, D. & Bassert, J.M. Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians. Elsevier. Current ed. (required)
- Crowe, S.E. Manual of Clinical Procedures in the Dog, Cat & Rabbit. Blackwell Publishing. Current ed. (required)
- Sirois, M. 2004 Principles and Practice of Veterinary Technology. Mosby Inc. (recommended)
- Hanie, A.H., Large Animal Clinical Procedures for Veterinary Technicians. Elsevier, 1st ed. (recommended)
- Rockett, J. & Bosted, S. 2007 Veterinary Clinical Procedures. Thomson Delmar (recommended)
- Steel toed rubber boots and coveralls or appropriate farm wear will be required for all farm and large animal visits. Clinic shoes and scrubs/lab coat will be required for in clinic instruction.