Certificates in Advanced Veterinary Nursing

Program Overview

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The Certificates in Advanced Veterinary Nursing program at the Royal Veterinary College offers specialized pathways in medical nursing, anesthesia and analgesia, or emergency and critical care. Delivered online, the program combines core modules with elective units, equipping graduates with advanced knowledge, skills, and critical thinking abilities for leadership roles, specialized clinical practice, and research involvement in advanced veterinary nursing.

Program Outline

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Outline:

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Modules:

The Certificates in Advanced Veterinary Nursing program encompasses a combination of core and elective modules, providing a comprehensive and focused learning experience tailored to the specific designation pathway chosen by the student. The program spans over a timeframe of approximately 16 months, with each module typically lasting 8 to 10 weeks.

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Core Modules:

• Contemporary Study Skills (15 credits): This introductory module serves to equip students with essential study skills and strategies required for effective learning in a higher education environment.
Key topics covered include managing learning processes, information literacy, research principles, and academic writing skills.
• Fundamentals in Advanced Veterinary Nursing Practice (15 credits): This module delves deeper into the theoretical and practical aspects of advanced veterinary nursing, focusing on professional practice frameworks, legal and ethical considerations, and evidence-based practice principles.
Students explore their professional roles and responsibilities, critically examine their practice, and develop advanced patient care skills aligned with societal needs.

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Designation Elective Modules (45 credits):

Students choose one of the following three pathways to specialize in a specific area of advanced veterinary nursing practice:

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Medical Nursing:

• Unit 1: Blood Disorders, Therapeutics and Pharmacology:
This unit enhances students' understanding and management of blood disorders affecting canine and feline patients. Students develop advanced knowledge of blood pathologies, diagnostic investigations, and therapeutic interventions while refining their laboratory skills to deliver high-quality patient care.
• Unit 2: Respiratory and Gastrointestinal Diseases: This unit equips students to effectively assess, diagnose, and manage canine and feline patients suffering from respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases.
Students develop expertise in respiratory distress, therapeutic considerations, and supportive nursing care for gastrointestinal diseases, including assessment of nutritional status and dietary interventions.
• Unit 3: Endocrine and Infectious Diseases: Students gain advanced knowledge and nursing skills to manage canine and feline patients with endocrine and infectious diseases.
The unit focuses on integrating theoretical knowledge with practical skills to implement advanced nursing care for these critical conditions, emphasizing infection prevention and control measures.

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Anaesthesia and Analgesia:

• Unit 1: Drugs Used in Anaesthesia:
This unit delves into the use of various anesthetic drugs, promoting critical thinking and problem-solving skills in students for optimal patient care. Students analyze drug interactions, side effects, and individual patient characteristics to enhance anesthetic management and nursing interventions.
• Unit 2: Monitoring the Anaesthetized Patient: This unit emphasizes the theoretical and practical aspects of monitoring patients undergoing anesthesia.
Students develop expertise in utilizing different types of monitoring equipment, interpreting data, and managing complications for safe and effective patient care.
• Unit 3: Analgesia: This unit focuses on pain management strategies and principles.
Students gain advanced knowledge of pain pathways, analgesic medications, and effective nursing interventions to alleviate pain in various clinical scenarios.

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Emergency and Critical Care:

• Unit 1: General Approach to Emergency Medicine:
This unit equips students with advanced knowledge and skills required for the emergency management of trauma and critical patients. Students learn to provide structured and analytical care using theoretical frameworks and practical experience.
• Unit 2: System Based Critical Care Nursing: This unit expands students’ knowledge and skills to critically assess and manage different critical conditions in a hospital setting.
They learn specific techniques for each body system and apply evidence-based nursing principles to diverse critical care situations.
• Unit 3: Critical Care Nursing: This unit delves deeper into the theoretical and practical aspects of specialized critical care nursing.
Students refine their skills and expertise in complex procedures and techniques while critically evaluating their nursing interventions for efficient patient management.

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Assessment:

The program utilizes a diverse range of assessment methods to foster deep learning and enhance understanding of the subject matter. Each module incorporates different assessment methods relevant to the advancements in veterinary nursing practice. These include:

• Written assignments: Throughout and at the end of each module, students complete written assignments focusing on practical aspects of advanced veterinary nursing.
Examples include knowledge summaries, patient care reports, and clinical audit reports.
• Online discussions: Active participation in online discussions provides a platform for students to engage with peers, share their perspectives, and enhance their understanding through collaborative learning.
• Unseen examination: At the program's conclusion, students face a final unseen examination comprising three patient scenarios.

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Teaching:

The program employs a dynamic and interactive approach to teaching, utilizing a combination of traditional and innovative educational methods to cater to diverse student learning styles.

• Online delivery: The program is exclusively delivered online via the RVC’s interactive virtual learning environment (Learn).
This allows students the flexibility to balance their studies with work and personal commitments, regardless of their geographical location.
• Virtual Learning Environment (Learn): This online platform provides students with access to learning materials, interactive activities, and opportunities for engagement with peers and faculty members.
They can access information anytime, anywhere, fostering a conducive learning environment.
• Expert faculty: The program is led and instructed by experienced veterinary nurses and veterinarians recognized for their expertise and contributions to the field.
The team comprises dedicated individuals with over 15 years of experience in delivering online higher education qualifications for veterinary nurses.

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Careers:

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are equipped with advanced knowledge, skills, and critical thinking abilities, opening doors to diverse career opportunities in advanced veterinary nursing practice. They can pursue leadership roles, specialize in specific clinical areas, or contribute to advancing the veterinary nursing profession. Potential career paths may include:

• Specialized veterinary nursing: Graduates can specialize in a chosen area of advanced veterinary nursing, such as medical nursing, anesthesia and analgesia, or emergency and critical care.
This focus allows them to deepen their expertise and contribute significantly within their chosen field.
• Leadership positions: Advanced knowledge and skills gained through the program enable graduates to assume supervisory roles within veterinary practices, guiding and mentoring fellow veterinary nurses and contributing to enhanced team performance.
• Educational roles: Graduates can pursue opportunities in educating future generations of veterinary nurses, sharing their expertise through lectures, workshops, or even by developing online learning materials.
• Research involvement: The program instills a research-oriented mindset in graduates, preparing them to engage in research projects aimed at improving animal health and advancing veterinary nursing practices.
• Public engagement: Graduates can play a crucial role in promoting animal welfare and responsible pet ownership through public outreach, educational initiatives, and community engagement activities.

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Other:

• Graduate Certificate vs. Postgraduate Certificate: The level of program chosen (Graduate Certificate or Postgraduate Certificate) depends on the student's existing qualifications.
Individuals with qualifications below FHEQ level 6 (e.g., RCVS Level 3 Diploma, Foundation Degree, etc.) are eligible for the Graduate Certificate. In contrast, those holding an FHEQ level 6 or higher qualification (BSc VN, RVC Graduate Diploma, etc.) can pursue the Postgraduate Certificate.

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Tuition Fees: Home Tuition Fees including Island Fees (Channel Islands & Isle of Man) International Fees CSS £985 £1,215 FAVNP £985 £1,215 Designation Elective Module £2,955 £3,645 Total Fee £4,925 £6,075