VNUR20360 Veterinary Medical Nursing

Academic Year 2020/2021

The purpose of this module is to prepare students for their involvement in the medical nursing care of equine and small animal patients (including selected exotic species). This includes information gathering, diagnostics, in-patient care and home care. Topics such as infectious disease prevention and control, fluid therapy and clinical nutrition will be emphasised. The teaching approach will involve a combination of lectures, tutorials, practical classes and self-directed learning. Assessment will involve short answer question assignments and a practical assessment.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module, students will be able to perform the following for companion animals & exotic pets:

1. Source and apply relevant information from reliable sources to inform veterinary medical nursing practice.
2. Perform physical (clinical) examinations correctly.
3. Compare clinical parameters/findings to the normal ranges for the species and explain any nursing interventions needed.
4. Identify methods of infectious disease transmission. Explain how to implement disease prevention/control measures and their limitations.
5. Recognise and/or describe the clinical signs/indicators and significance of common medical diseases.
6. Identify the diagnostic tests required by medical patients. Identify the sample types, equipment, and/or testing protocols required with reference to appropriate resources (e.g. diagnostic laboratory manuals or data sheets).
7. Develop your procedural knowledge, competency, and self-assessment skills in veterinary medical nursing practical/clinical skills.
8. Accurately calculate fluid requirements and infusion rates with reference to appropriate information. Identify changes in hydration status and explain any nursing interventions that may be required as a result.
9. Briefly explain the inpatient nursing care required by medical patients (e.g. fluids, nutrition/feeding, medications, monitoring, comfort/physical care) with reference to contemporary literature.
10. Briefly explain the home care required by medical patients (e.g. dietary changes, medication considerations, environmental/lifestyle modifications, monitoring) with reference to contemporary literature.


Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Practical

15

Specified Learning Activities

7

Autonomous Student Learning

148

Online Learning

60

Total

230

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures
Active/task based learning
Tutorials
Practical classes
Peer learning
Independent study 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

Prior learning requirements include general veterinary nursing principles, practical animal husbandry, and anatomy and physiology for veterinary nurses.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Required:
VET10040 - Practical Animal Husbandry, VNUR10160 - Anatomy & Physiology for VN I, VNUR10280 - Principles of Vet Nursing, VNUR20190 - Anatomy & Physiology for VN II

Co-requisite:
VNUR20280 - Laboratory Work for Vet.Nurses

Equivalents:
Small Animal Nursing (VNUR20310)


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Continuous Assessment: Students are required to upload videos of themselves performing two of their weakest practical skills from the module (parasitology excluded) plus two corresponding short self assessments/reflections. Unspecified n/a Pass/Fail Grade Scale No

5

Assignment: Open-book questions covering the full scope of the module. Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded No

65

Assignment: Open-book questions covering the first six weeks of teaching (inclusive). Week 6 n/a Graded No

30


Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Online automated feedback
• Peer review activities
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Individual feedback will be provided for both SAQ assessments. An online self-assessment quiz with automated feedback will be made available to practice selecting fluid types and calculating infusion rates ahead of the final SAQ exam. feedback will be provided on films of practical tasks. A rubric will also be provided for self-assessment of competency level (Novice, Advanced beginner, Competent, Proficient, Expert). "Advanced beginner" level is expected for all tasks. COVID-19 has added significantly to the workload of Stage 2 BSc Veterinary nursing coordination and VNUR20360 Veterinary Medical Nursing (10 credit module in trimester 1). The stage timetable had to be adapted for trimester 2. New methods had to be devised for communicating with the external examiner. New assessments and teaching sessions had to be created for VNUR20360.Its practicals needed to be adapted to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. In addition, lectures needed to be adapted for online delivery. As a result, I will need to able to return student feedback on their first open book assignment within the 20 working day window. I aim to return it before the end of term so the students can make use of their feedback in completing their second open book assignment.

• Ackerman, N. and Aspinall, V. (2016) Aspinall’s complete textbook of veterinary nursing. 3rd Ed. Elsevier: Edinburgh
• Aspinall, V. (2014) Clinical Procedures in Veterinary Nursing. 3rd Ed. Butterworth- Heinemann: Edinburgh
• Bassert, J.M., Beal, A.D., Samples, O.M. & McCurnin, D.M. (2018) McCurnin's clinical textbook for veterinary technicians. 9th Ed. Elsevier: St. Louis, Missouri.
• Bowden, C. and Masters, J. (2003) Textbook of Veterinary Medical Nursing. Butterworth-Heinemann: Edinburgh
• Coumbe, K. & British Equine Veterinary Association (2001) The equine veterinary nursing manual. Blackwell Science: Oxford.
• Girling, S.J. (2003) Veterinary nursing of exotic pets. Blackwell: Oxford
• Holtgrew-Bohling, K. 2016, Large animal clinical procedures for veterinary technicians. 3rd Ed. Elsevier: St. Louis, Missouri.
• Merrill, L. (ed.) (2012) Small Animal Internal Medicine for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses. John Wiley and Sons, Inc.: Iowa
• Turner, L., Cooper, B. and Mullineaux, E. and British Small Animal Veterinary Association (2011) BSAVA Textbook of Veterinary Nursing. 5th Ed. British Small Animal Veterinary Association: Quedgeley, Gloucester
Name Role
Dr Sandra Aungier Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Marijke Beltman Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Sinead Devine Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Vivienne Duggan Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Robin Farrell Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Rodney Gale Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Terence Dudley Grimes Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Mr Mark Mc Corry Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Bairbre O'Malley Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Nicola Walshe Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Annetta Zintl Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Ann Marie Byrne Tutor
Ms Hannah Callaghan Tutor
Mrs Georgina Murphy Tutor
Ms Andrea Regan Tutor