BI1S74 - Principles of Veterinary Nursing 1 01 Sep 2023 - 18 Aug 2027 | Version 6

Associated Module Information

Module Code: BI1S74
Module Title: Principles of Veterinary Nursing 1
Faculty: Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science
Faculty Group: Biological and Forensic Sciences
Faculty Sub Group: Biological Science
Module Leader: Katie Davies
Module Team: Rachel Perry, Rhiannon Stundon, Martin Powell, Theona Aristidou, Rhian Jones
First Intended Intake: SEP 2015 Final Year of Intake: 2026
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 4
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100532 - veterinary nursing
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 6
Valid From 01 Sep 2023
Valid To 18 Aug 2027

Module Aims

This module aims to provide the student veterinary nurse with a comprehensive insight into the professional and clinical requirements for managing patients in the hospital environment.

The paramount importance of Animal Welfare and the Health & Safety of staff are firmly embedded throughout the module.

The student will also develop the practical skills necessary to confidently carry out subjective and objective assessments and to plan and evaluate nursing interventions using the Nursing Process and Nursing Models.

Content Summary

The content of this foundational module will be applied across all aspects of veterinary nursing for canine, feline and exotic species and includes:

Extensive knowledge of veterinary terminology and the ability to use it appropriately.

Recognition of abnormal vital parameters and clinical signs, pain and mentation, abnormal behaviours and abnormal secretions, and the ability to record and report these effectively.

Recognition of nursing theory, differentiating between medical model and nursing model, evaluating different nursing models and the reflective nursing process.

Interpretation of veterinary and client information to write, follow and evaluate holistic nursing care plans for medical and surgical cases.

Development of a fundamental knowledge of species-specific nursing to include the maintenance of patient hygiene, providing fluids and nutrition, providing the opportunity for the patient to express normal behaviour and maintain mobility.

Ability to perform nursing interventions to include wound management, assisted feeding, fluid therapy, medication administration, care of indwelling cannulas, drains and urinary catheters, physical therapies , including basic physiotherapy.

Introduction to the disciplines of One Health, Clinical Governance, Quality Improvement and the Clinical Audit in relation to nursing the hospitalised patient.

Explore sustainability and its relevance, not only to reducing environmental impact, but also to the interplay between professionalism, as set of by the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct for veterinary Nurses, and staff retention.

The RCVS Day One Competences and Day One Skills for Veterinary Nurses are the minimum essential requirements that all student veterinary nurses are expected to have met in order to join the RCVS Register of Veterinary Nurses. Further information can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk

The content of this module will cover the following RCVS Day One Competences: 1, 4-19, 24, 27-28, 34-35.

The content of this module will cover the following RCVS Day One Skills for Veterinary Nurses: 1.1-1.2, 2.1-2.2, 2.9-2.10, 3.1-3.5, 4.1-4.14, 8.1, 8.4.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 50
Seminar 10
Demonstration 10
Independent Study 100
Practical classes and workshops 30
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Relate existing nursing theory to practice and describe specific nursing care provision for in-patients using veterinary terminology throughout.
LO2 Describe the nursing process and nursing models and their role in maintaining the health of the patient.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Synchronous Onsite Assessment Classroom Test - Time Constrained (Onsite) 2 Nursing care provision for in-patients 2: 40 MCQ and 4 SAQ questions (Fluid therapy, urinary tract nursing, gastrointestinal nursing; medication adminstration; wound management; cardiovascular nursing) 60 N/A 35 No 0
Synchronous Onsite Assessment Classroom Test - Time Constrained (Onsite) 1 Nursing care provision for in-patients 1: 40 MCQ and 4 SAQ questions. (Hospital environment; patient assessment; Nursing theory; nursing the recumbent patient; physiotherapy) 60 N/A 35 No 0
Asynchronous Assessment Care Plan 1 Devise a care plan for a specific case providing rationale and embedding reflective nursing theory throughout 0 1000 30 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Classroom Test - Time Constrained (Onsite) 2
Classroom Test - Time Constrained (Onsite) 1
Care Plan 1

Reading List

Boden, E. & Andrews, A., 2017. Black's Student Veterinary Dictionary. 22nd ed. London: Bloomsbury.

Bexfield, N. & Lee, K., 2014. BSAVA guide to procedures in small animal practice. 2nd ed. Gloucester: BSAVA.

Banes, S., Lipscomb, V. & Hutchinson, T., 2012. BSAVA manual of canine and feline surgical principles. Gloucester: BSAVA.

Ballantyne, H., 2018. Veterinary nursing care plans: theory and practice. Boca Raton: Taylor & Francis.

Aspinall, V., 2019. Clinical procedures in veterinary nursing. 4th ed. Oxford: Elsevier.

Girling, S. J., 2013. Veterinary Nursing of Exotic Pets. 2nd ed. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.

Ackerman, N., 2016. Aspinall's complete textbook of veterinary nursing. 3rd ed. Oxford: Elsevier.

Ackerman, N., 2012. The consulting veterinary nurse. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.

Bradbury, G., 2018. Behavioural problems in rabbits. Sheffield: 5M.

Christenson , D. E., 2020. Veterinary Medical Terminology. 3rd ed. St. Louis: Elsevier.

Dean, R., Roberts, M. & Stavisky, J., 2018. BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Shelter Medicine: Principles of Health and Welfare in a Multi–animal Environment. Gloucester : BSAVA.

Gerrard, E., 2021. BSAVA pocketbook for veterinary nurses. 2nd ed. Gloucester: BSAVA.

Harvey, A. & Tasker, S., 2013. BSAVA manual of feline practice: a foundation manual. Gloucester : BSAVA.

Horwitz, D. F. & Mills, D. S., 2010. BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Behavioural Medicine. 2nd ed. Gloucester: BSAVA.

Hotson Moore, P. & Hughes, A., 2007. BSAVA manual of practical animal care. Gloucester: BSAVA.

Hutchinson, T. & Robinson, K., 2015. BSAVA Manual of Canine Practice: A Foundation Manual. Gloucester: BSAVA.

Jones, M. & Mullineaux, E., 2007. BSAVA Manual of Practical Veterinary Nursing. Gloucester : BSAVA.

Lindley, S. & Watson, P., 2010. BSAVA Manual of canine and feline rehabilitation, supportive and palliative care. Gloucester : BSAVA.

Meredith, A. & Delaney, C. J., 2010. BSAVA manual of exotic pet and wildlife nursing: a foundation manual. Gloucester : BSAVA.

Mullineaux, E. & Keeble, E., 2016. BSAVA Manual of Wildlife Casualties. Gloucester : BSAVA.

Mullineaux, E., Turner, L. & Cooper, B., 2020. The BSAVA textbook of veterinary nursing. 6th ed. Gloucester: BSAVA.

Orpet, H. & Welsh, P., 2011. Handbook of veterinary nursing. Chichester: Blackwell.

Self, I., 2019. BSAVA guide to pain management in small animal practice. Gloucester : BSAVA.

Sirios, M., 2019. Laboratory Procedures for Veterinary Technicians. 7th ed. Oxford: Elsevier.

Studdert, V. P., Gay, C. C. & Hinchcliff, K. W., 2020. Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary. 5th ed. Oxford: Elsevier.

Taibo, A., 2019. Veterinary Medical Terminology Guide and Workbook. 2nd ed. Hoboken: Wiley.

Tear, M., 2017. Small animal surgical nursing. 3rd ed. St. Louis: Elsevier.

Tighe, M. M. & Brown, M., 2019. Mosby's Comprehensive Review for Veterinary Technicians. 5th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier.

Varga, M., Lumbis, R. & Gott, L., 2012. BSAVA Manual of Exotic Pet and Wildlife Nursing. Gloucester : BSAVA.

Wortinger, A. & Burns, K., 2012. Nutrition and disease management for veterinary technicians and nurses. 2nd ed. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.

Relevant peer-reviewed journal articles will be provided as part of your expected learning in this module.