Author Archives: Alison German

Owners warned to keep their dogs away from Chocolate treats this Easter

New figures from a British Veterinary Association (BVA) survey show that two in three vets treated at least one case of chocolate poisoning in dogs last Easter.

The survey, which polled over 1,600 UK vets, shows a marked increase in the number of vets seeing at least one dog with chocolate poisoning compared to the same period in 2015.

Chocolate can be highly poisonous to pets as it contains theobromine, a naturally occurring chemical found in cocoa beans, which, while fine for humans, is harmful to dogs and other animals.

BVA President, Gudrun Ravetz, said: “Easter is great fun for the whole family, but unfortunately dogs like to join in too. With their keen sense of smell, they will easily win Easter egg hunts so wherever chocolate is being stored – inside or outside – make sure it is pet proof and out of reach of inquisitive noses to avoid an emergency trip to the vet. Also remind any visitors over the Easter holidays to keep their chocolate out of the dog’s reach too. Over the bank holiday weekend veterinary practice opening hours may vary, so make sure you know how to contact your local vet during Easter”

The effects of chocolate poisoning in dogs usually appear within 12 hours and can last up to three days. First signs can include excessive thirst, vomiting, diarrhoea and restlessness. These symptoms can then develop into hyperactivity, tremors, abnormal heart rate, hyperthermia and rapid breathing. In severe cases, dogs can experience fits and heartbeat irregularities and some cases can result in coma or death. If you suspect your dog has eaten chocolate, please contact your local vet immediately.

New NPL guidance documents for clinical coaches

A quick reminder to all CAW clinical coaches… please make sure you familiarise yourself with the two Nursing Progress Log (NPL) guidance documents which were uploaded to the clinical coach area of the VLE a few weeks ago.

The ‘Guide to NPL Completion’ gives guidance on completion of the revised NPL skills and also makes reference to the City & Guilds syllabus and OSCEs.

A new ‘Professional Discussion Template’ is also available for use.

Both documents can be found under the NPL Document menu.

Head Nurse Congress: Just two weeks left to get early bird rates!

Early bird rates for head nurse congress expire 31 March 2017

There’s just two weeks left to take advantage of the early bird booking rate for Head Nurse Congress – if you book before 31 March, you can attend both days of Congress for the reduced price of just £215+VAT!

Back by popular demand, Head Nurse Congress, sponsored by the Veterinary Practice Management Association (VPMA) and VN Times, is a two day event set to cover some of the biggest issues facing veterinary practices today.

Experienced speakers will help you to make your team shine and work together to achieve more, show you how to deal with challenging colleagues and support people in times of need, provide tips on how to communicate effectively with your boss, give you ideas on how to run effective meetings – and lots more!

Not only will Head Nurse Congress increase your confidence in your everyday leadership and management skills, it will provide 12 hours of evidenced Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

Book before 31 March to get the early bird rate!

Early bird rates won’t last forever – don’t miss out! Further information, including a full event programme and details about how to book, can be found at www.caw.ac.uk/hnc

NPL Guidance for Level 3 Diploma Students

Two new documents have been uploaded to the clinical coach section of The College of Animal Welfare VLE for all clinical coaches supporting Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing students.

The ‘Guide to NPL Completion’ gives guidance on completion of the revised Nursing Progress Log (NPL) skills and also makes reference to the City & Guilds syllabus and OSCEs.

A new ‘Professional Discussion Template’ is also available for use.

Both documents can be found under the NPL Document menu.

The College Of Animal Welfare National Apprenticeship Week Awards (6-10 March 2017)

Do you know an apprentice that has gone beyond the call of duty or is excelling in their position? Perhaps you are an apprentice and think your employer or tutor deserves some recognition for the support and opportunities they are giving you. Why not nominate them for an award as part of The College of Animal Welfare’s National Apprenticeship Week celebrations?

A £50 award will be given to the winners of the following five categories. Each day during National Apprenticeship Week (6-10 March 2017) a winner will be announced!

The categories are:

Veterinary Apprentice of the Year
(Veterinary Nursing and Veterinary Care Apprentices)

Business Apprentice of the Year
(Business Administration, Customer Service, AAT Accounting and Medical Administration Apprentices)

Animal Care Apprentice of the Year
(Animal Care and Horse Care Apprentices)

Apprentice Employer of the Year
(Organisation who has an employee studying an apprenticeship with The College of Animal Welfare)

Apprentice Tutor of the Year
(Tutor or Work-Based Assessor from The College of Animal Welfare)

Nominations close on Wednesday 1 March 2017, cast your nomination online at www.caw.ac.uk/naw

Exhibitor opportunities at TP Congress and Head Nurse Congress!

We still have a few available exhibitor opportunities at our forthcoming congresses – TP Congress on the 20-21 March and Head Nurse Congress on 20-21 May. Our limited exhibitor numbers and cost effective packages make it easier for you to get your products and services in front of key influencers in veterinary practices around the UK!

TP Congress: 20 – 21 March 2017
TP Congress is a unique congress aimed at clinical coaches working in veterinary practice wishing to develop the key role they play in the professional development of their student veterinary nurses. The congress has continuously developed year on year and, as such, has developed into the largest event of its kind.

Head Nurse Congress: 20 – 21 May 2017
Head Nurse Congress is set to cover some of the biggest issues facing veterinary practices today. Aimed at head nurses and practice managers, this event has gone from strength to strength and allows the opportunity to meet those working in veterinary practice who order drugs and other consumables and influence service provision.

Why exhibit with us?

Limited exhibitor numbers – Unlike larger congresses where hundreds of exhibitors often mean that visitors will not remember everyone, exhibition space for these events is strictly limited. As such you will get the opportunity to engage with all of the delegates attending our congresses personally.
Make meaningful business connections – Network with those that influence decision making in veterinary practice face-to-face and make relevant industry contacts.
Cost effective – with exhibitor packages starting from just £250+VAT, our prices offer value for money and fall considerably below that of larger events within the industry.

There’s still time to book exhibition space! To book stand space please download a booking form below or call Tracey Croucher, Short Course and Events Manager, on 01480 422060.

TP Congress 2017 Exhibitor Booking Form

Head Nurse Congress 2017 Exhibitor Booking Form

NPL Professional Behaviour Evaluation – September 2016 / January 2017 Start VN Students

The professional behaviour evaluation is completed on the Nursing Progress Log (NPL) when a student reaches 10% NPL completion, 40% NPL completion and 80% NPL completion. The student will complete a self-evaluation first, then nominate a peer to complete (e.g. RVN or MRCVS in practice) and then their clinical coach completes an evaluation. Each stage must be completed within two weeks of each other.

Once these three stages are complete, students must email their course tutor so that a final evaluation can take place.

If you have a questions or concerns about this please contact your course tutor or QAS in the first instance.

E&D Competition of the Month: LGBT History Month

This month’s prize competition topic is ‘LGBT History Month’ – enter and be in with a chance of winning a £20 amazon voucher!

LGBT History Month is a month long celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history; including the history of the gay rights and related civil rights movements. LGBT History Month is also about raising awareness and advancing education on matters affecting the LGBT community. In the UK LGBT History Month is observed throughout the month of February.

In order to be in with a chance of winning a £20 amazon voucher, you simply need to submit an effort you have made to engage with and/or raise awareness of the topic LGBT History Month to marketing@caw.ac.uk by Friday 24 February 2017.

What you choose to submit is open to your interpretation, meaning you can enter anything you feel is relevant. This could be anything from artwork and videos, to personal stories, blogs, fundraising efforts or poems. If you’re struggling to think of ideas, you could send us…

Artwork – Art has the power to create positive social change. The ‘Get Over It!’ campaign, run by Stonewall since 2007, has gone a long way towards tackling homophobic, bi-phobic and transphobic bullying in the classroom through its popular slogans and effective use of posters across the UK. Perhaps you could create a poster of your own to raise awareness on a matter affecting the LGBT community?
Personal stories – Do you have a story to tell about the impact that sexuality or gender has had in your life? Are there any misconceptions you think people might have about sexuality and gender? Sharing a personal story is an excellent way to break down stigma and open up discussion about a subject that is important to you.
Blogs – Blogging is one of the most accessible ways to share your ideas with others, and there are endless possibilities when it comes to what you can write about. You could write about gender identity, coming out, discrimination, self-acceptance – and much more!

These are just a few ideas. Remember – we will consider whatever you choose to submit, provided it fits the theme!

Good luck!

This competition is open to all students and staff at The College of Animal Welfare. Entries should be sent to marketing@caw.ac.uk, or handed in to College, by Friday 24 February 2017.

World Religion Day Competition Winner Announced

Congratulations to student veterinary nurse, Hayley Witson, for winning The College of Animal Welfare’s first Equality & Diversity competition with her wonderful series of images entitled ‘Faith – A house with many rooms’.

During January, the College invited students and staff to submit entries around the theme ‘World Religion Day’. Hayley’s series of images were taken to show that no matter what religion you may be, we are all the same. Hayley created this feeling by making each individual image the same height, size, pose and lighting, as well as making each individual look unique and powerful in their own right.

On choosing Hayley’s entry as the winner of the World Religion Day competition, College Principal, Barbara Cooper, said “Hayley’s entry has set the bar very high. Her images are incredibly powerful and convey an important message to us all”. She continued “I would like to thank everyone who took the time to submit an entry and am very much looking forward to seeing what the forthcoming monthly competitions bring”.

All images copyrighted to Hayley Witson

This month’s competition theme is ‘LGBT History Month’. To be in with a chance of winning a £20 amazon voucher, you simply need to submit an effort you have made to engage with, or raise awareness of, the topic to marketing@caw.ac.uk (or hand in to a College centre) by Friday 24 February 2017. Ideas for entries include poems, videos, artwork, personal stories etc. and all students and staff of The College of Animal Welfare are welcome to enter. Good luck!

Important information for CAW clinical coaches!

From time to time The College of Animal Welfare (CAW) may ask you to supply information to us in regards to your clinical coach training, standardisation or other relevant documentation. It is really important that this information is provided promptly as delays may result in, for example, your student being unable to start work on their Nursing Progress Log (NPL), putting them behind their study schedule and under avoidable additional stress.

If you have been asked to provide information and are unable to do so for some reason please speak to us as soon as possible so that we can work together to ensure students are not disadvantaged in any way.