BSc Honours Veterinary Nursing Top-Up Degree (Middlesex University)

Year One

Evidence Based Veterinary Nursing

This module will provide you with the theoretical underpinning knowledge of evidence-based veterinary nursing skills. You will utilise these skills to search for, and effectively engage with, evidential literature by evaluating the quality of its evidence. You will study:

• Professional body expectations
• Literature searching, literature critique and use of frameworks and checklists
• Analysis and interpretation of evidence to inform practice
• Clinical audits and governance
• Reflection and reflective models
• Academic writing, referencing and journal clubs

You will be assessed by undertaking coursework activities and a literature review.

Surgical Veterinary Nursing

As part of this module, you will analyse the veterinary nursing care provided to patients with surgical disorders. You will consider how theatre design, maintenance and hygiene impacts on veterinary patient care. Module content includes:

• Infection control and the role of veterinary nurse in theatre
• Surgical instruments and equipment
• Patient assessment and clinical examination
• Admission, discharge and informed consent
• Veterinary nursing clinics
• Perioperative care of surgical patients undergoing a range of surgical procedures
• Surgical site infections and preventative measures
• Surgical safety checklists
• Tissues closure, surgical wound healing and management
• Risks and complications of surgical procedures
• Physiotherapy
• Pain management and scoring
• Veterinary nursing care plans
• Schedule 3 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act, 1966 – minor surgical procedures and the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Nurses
• Fundamental principles of anaesthesia
• Clinical audits and governance

You will be assessed by undertaking a pre-recorded poster presentation and a written assignment.

Medical Veterinary Nursing

This module will enable you to analyse the veterinary nursing care provided to patients with medical disorders. Syllabus content includes:

• Infection control
• Patient assessment and clinical examination
• Admission, discharge and informed consent
• Veterinary nursing clinics
• Pharmacological management of veterinary patients with medical disorders
• Veterinary nursing care of patients with a range of medical disorders
• Supporting patients during medical procedures and diagnostic tests and understanding how results impact on patient care
• Risks and complications of medical procedures
• Pain management and scoring
• Veterinary nursing care plans
• Schedule 3 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act, 1966 and the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Nurses
• Clinical audits and governance

Assessment is via a pre-recorded poster presentation and a written assignment.

Veterinary Nursing Futures

During this module you will foster curiosity and collaborate with others to explore contemporary veterinary nursing issues. You will investigate current issues relevant to veterinary nurses and explore possible futures for the veterinary nursing profession. You will cover:

• Current issues and topics relevant to veterinary nurses
• RCVS VN futures, RVN careers and career progression
• Scope of the RVN role
• One Health
• Sustainability
• Entrepreneurship
• Coaching, mentoring and leadership
• Professional development
• Reflection
• Veterinary legislation and the RCVS codes of conduct

Assessment is via a pre-recorded presentation and an individual reflective journal.

Year Two

Applied Emergency and Critical Care for Veterinary Nursing

Throughout this module you will develop knowledge and skills to enable you to deliver safe and effective veterinary nursing care to a range of species with a range of emergency and critical care disorders. You will look at:

• Triage, first aid, and CPR
• Common poisons and toxicity
• Advanced fluid therapy and transfusion medicine
• Management of shock
• Management of traumatic injuries
• Common small animal, exotic and wildlife emergencies
• Monitoring equipment and techniques
• Veterinary nursing of emergency conditions to include cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, acute abdominal, endocrine and ophthalmic emergencies

You will be assessed by undertaking a video blog.

Anaesthesia for Veterinary Nursing Practice

This module will enable you to critically evaluate the veterinary nursing care provided to patients undergoing anaesthesia. You will study:

• Physiology of anaesthesia
• Local anaesthetic techniques
• Anaesthetic drugs
• Principles of balanced anaesthesia
• Safe and effective use of anaesthetic equipment
• Patient preparation and induction of anaesthesia
• Maintenance of anaesthesia including anaesthetic monitoring
• Anaesthetic emergencies and how to manage them
• Anaesthetic recovery and immediate post-operative care
• Pain management
• Nursing care plans
• Admission, discharge and informed consent
• Schedule 3 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act, 1966 and the RCVS Code of Conduct for Veterinary Nurses

You will be assessed by completing a pre-recorded poster presentation and a written report.

Quality Improvement Proposal

During this module you will produce a quality improvement project plan with the aim of improving care of veterinary patients.

You will be assessed by producing a presentation outlining the quality improvement proposal, and by completing a written quality improvement project proposal.

Quality Improvement Project

This module will enable you to consolidate the skills and knowledge gained throughout the programme and apply them to plan and conduct a quality improvement project with the aim of improving care of veterinary patients.

You will have the opportunity to practice evidence-based veterinary nursing and reflect on your learning to improve veterinary patient care and personal professional development. As part of this project you will study:

• Quality improvement in veterinary care
• Review of RCVS Knowledge
• Clinical audit
• Review of evidence-based veterinary nursing processes
• Project planning
• Ethics in research
• The RVN role in quality improvement
• Interprofessional relationships and communication
• Fostering a learning culture
• Reflection

You will be assessed by producing a written quality improvement project.

Assessment

Assessment consists of a variety of methods including coursework and assignments.

Applicants must hold a Level 3 qualification or Foundation degree in Veterinary Nursing and be registered with the RCVS as a Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN) or hold internationally equivalent qualifications and registration. Applicants are required to complete the recognition of prior learning (RPL) process for the programme.

Please note: As our courses include online learning components, students are required to have access to a PC or laptop with a reliable internet connection.

Fees can be found on the Middlesex University website.

Topping up your veterinary nurse qualification to degree level opens up many new opportunities. For instance, you could consider pursuing post graduate training in a specialist area such as physiotherapy or behaviour – or study veterinary nursing at a post graduate level. Alternatively, you could consider finding employment in teaching, research or practice management.