Curriculum Information

The content of this module explores all aspects of anaesthesia and analgesia in small animal nursing and includes:

Demonstration of the safe and effective use of anaesthetic equipment to include airway management, circuits, anaesthetic machines and scavenging systems.

Analysis of the concepts of the physiology and pharmacology of anaesthesia and application of these concepts to the safe and effective monitoring of the anaesthetised patient to include:

Physiology: Dead space (equipment and physiological); Tidal volume and minute volume; Physiology of sedation and general anaesthesia, “triad of anaesthesia”, balanced anaesthesia; Exchange of gases in the lung and principles of tissue respiration; Effect of anaesthetic agents on the autonomic nervous system especially renal and hepatic perfusion and function; Fresh gas flow rate calculation formulae, significance of circuit factors; Pharmacology: Types of anaesthesia/analgesia: General; Epidural; Regional; Local; Topical -Advantages and disadvantages; Onset and duration of action of commonly used local anaesthetic solutions; Local anaesthetic techniques, to include peri-neural and intra-articular anaesthesia; Sedative drugs/drug combinations available to facilitate the performance of radiography, standing surgical procedures; Use of continuous infusion sedation in equine practice; Groups of anaesthetic drugs: Intravenous and gaseous anaesthetics, Intramuscular anaesthetics, Sedatives, Analgesics, Muscle relaxants; Premedication (ACP, alpha 2 agonists, opioids, benzodiazepines); Principles of analgesia and the advantages of pre-emptive analgesia (Non-steroidal Anti- inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), opioids & local anaesthetic techniques) Induction and agents/combinations of agents commonly used, including side effects; Intravenous, inhalation and chamber induction; Maintenance of anaesthesia and methods and agents used for maintaining anaesthesia including their side effects (carrier gases, volatile agents, total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA)) and “top-up” doses; Use of reversal agents; Muscle relaxants in small animal practice; Preparation and induction to include safe use of equipment: Ventilators; Assessing risk, pre-anaesthetic testing; intubation and extubation; patient restraint and positioning, raising veins, cannulation, urinary catheterisation; Monitoring and anaesthetic emergencies: Frequency of observations: Eye position, muscle tone, reflexes; Pulse oximetry; Electrocardiogram; Blood pressure monitoring; Capnography; Blood gas monitoring; Reporting of significant changes; Maintaining anaesthetic record; Observations to be made of equipment; Correlation of equipment read-outs with condition of patient; Routine servicing and calibration of equipment; Positioning and monitoring of a patient during anaesthetic; Laryngeal spasm; Effects of patient positioning on respiratory and cardiovascular function; Use of positioning aids to avoid complications; Recognise respiratory and cardiac arrest; Identify clinical signs associated with: Respiratory obstruction, Respiratory arrest, Cardiac arrest; Management of resuscitation; Contents of and use of the anaesthetic emergency box to include drugs, consumables and equipment; Drugs in resuscitation; Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.

Discussion of Clinical Governance to include Quality Improvement and the Clinical Audit and sustainability in anaesthesia and analgesia.

The pass mark is set using a modified Angoff Method. Pass marks will vary.

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, 4-9, 12-15, 17, 19, 27-28, 32-34.

The content of this module will cover the following RCVS Day One Skills for Veterinary Nurses: 1.1-1.2, 2.1-2.4, 2.9-2.11, 3.1-3.5, 4.5, 4.10-4.11, 4.13, 7.1-7.3, 8.3-8.4, 10.1-10.6.