Level 3 Veterinary Nursing: Equine Extension Programme
Enrolments now open for September 2023
This course is designed for qualified small animal (SA) veterinary nurses, i.e. RVNs who wish to work in equine practice. Its aim is to build upon work undertaken during SA VN training, providing the additional knowledge and nursing skills needed when working in an equine clinical setting.
Enrolments are taken all year round and students study at their own pace. Study day timetables are provided so materials are studied in the correct order but students choose when to study.
Pre-course reading: Starts upon enrolment
Study block dates:
22 – 23 May 2024
04 – 05 September 2024
Programme Structure
Unit | Unit Title | GLH | Total hours |
1 | Equine Welfare, Health and Husbandry for Veterinary Nurses | 35 | 100 |
2 | Veterinary Nursing Support of Diagnostic Imaging: Equine Patients | 20 | 50 |
3 | Veterinary Nursing Support for Equine Patients | 75 | 160 |
4 | Peri-Operative Veterinary Nursing Support for Horses | 40 | 80 |
5 | Equine Veterinary Nursing Emergency and Critical Care | 40 | 100 |
6 | Equine Reproduction and Neonatal Care | 33 | 100 |
Academic Level: |
Further Education Level 3 |
Number of Units: |
6 |
Course Duration: |
Approximately 12 months |
Total Hours: |
640 (inc 50 hours work experience) |
Guided Learning Hours (GLH) |
250 hours delivered over 42 study days (includes 2 x 2-day attended study blocks) |
Self-Directed Study Hours |
340 hours completed over 12 months |
College Attendance Requirements: |
2 x 2-day study blocks (Compulsory) |
Work Experience Hours |
Minimum of 50 hours in equine practice completed over 11 months |
Remote online study
250 hours of pre-recorded webinars. These are planned as a series of 42 study days, to be undertaken in chronological order on dates to suit you; the pre-recorded webinars and online study activities can be undertaken on a flexible time frame to fit within work commitments.
Self-directed study
To complete the course in 12 months learners must undertake an average of six-seven hours self-directed study per week using study materials provided. This is in addition to attendance at study blocks.
Formative assessments
Test-your-knowledge quizzes.
Formative multiple-choice questions (MCQs).
Formative workbooks.
Summative assessments
Multiple choice questions (MCQs) undertaken online at the end of each unit.
Written closed book examination undertaken at study block 2.
Equine nursing skills. Undertaken on the final day of study block 3. Learners are assessed practically on a range of equine nursing skills including horse handling, lunging, simple physical therapy techniques, IV fluid administration, bandaging, radiographic positioning and anaesthetic machine set up.
Equine nursing skills record
During the 50 hours of work experience the Equine Nursing Skills Record (ENSR) must be completed and signed off by your clinical support mentor (CSM). The CSM must be either an RVN or MRCVS with significant equine experience.
- Aged 18 or above
- Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (Small Animal Pathway)
or
- Comparable qualification to the above. e.g. ACOVENE Accredited veterinary nursing qualification
And
- Undertake a minimum of 50 hours work experience or employment within an equine practice over the duration of the course.
The placement within an equine practice is required for completion of the Equine Nursing Skills Record (ENSR).
If in a small animal TP or if you are not currently working in practice, you may enrol onto the equine extension programme provided you are able to complete the Equine Nursing Skills Record requirements within an equine practice, e.g. as part of work experience.
Applications for students outside of the UK are welcome.
Equine practice requirements
Practices do not need to be approved by the RCVS as a Training Practice (TP). If the caseload does not support the achievement of skills from the ENSR, the learner must secure work experience in another equine practice where these can be achieved.
The practice must provide a clinical support mentor (CSM) to work through the ENSR with the student. The CSM must be either an RVN or MRCVS with significant equine experience. Guidance is provided by TOCES.
Course Accreditation
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Module/Unit Details
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Module 1 Equine Welfare, Health and Husbandry for Veterinary Nurses
Equine legislation and identification
Legislation and codes of practice in place to protect equine interests
Methods of identifying equine patients
Passports and record-keeping in relation to animal movements and medicine use
Maintaining equine health
Key factors in horse health management
The equine digestive tract
Roles of essential nutrients, minerals, vitamins and supplements
Differing nutritional requirements of equids
Feeding requirements for hospitalised equine patients
Health checks used to assess equine patients
How to monitor and record vital signs
Equine parasites
Common equine endoparasites and their effects
Prevention and treatment of equine endoparasites
Common equine ectoparasites and their effects
Prevention and treatment of equine ectoparasites
Administering medicines to equine patients
Techniques for administering medicines to equine patients
Safe disposal of used equipment and surplus medication
Accommodation for equine patients
Requirements of hospital accommodation
Safety considerations in relation to the use of accommodation and associated equipment
Isolation nursing and accommodation
Handling and transporting equine patients
Techniques for approaching, restraining and leading an equine patient for veterinary inspection
Lunging a horse for veterinary inspection
Recognising and responding to signs of stress and aggressive behaviour
Transporting equine patients safely
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Module 2 Veterinary Nursing Support of Diagnostic Imaging: Equine Patients
Anatomical and physiological terminology relevant to equine veterinary nursing practice
Directional terms, prefixes and suffixes, commonly used in veterinary practice
Modes of joint movement
Anatomical landmarks in horses relevant to veterinary nursing practice
Equine anatomical landmarks
Anatomical boundaries of the body cavities
Radiography and scintigraphy as diagnostic imaging techniques for equine patients
Methods of patient restraint for radiographic examination
Protective and radiographic equipment to obtain a radiograph
Positioning of the machine, horse and handler
Precautions needed for the use of radioactive isotopes in gamma scintigraphy
Ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and endoscopy as diagnostic imaging techniques for equine patients
How images are produced using ultrasonography
Care and maintenance of ultrasound equipment
Use of magnetic resonance imaging
Principles of endoscopy and the care, maintenance and storage of equipment
Requirements for patient preparation and care for ultrasound, magnetic
Resonance imaging and endoscopy
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Module 3 Veterinary Nursing Support for Equine Patients
Functions and disorders of the equine circulatory system
Structure and function of the equine circulatory system
Pathology of disorders of the equine circulatory system
Plan care for equine patients with a range of commonly encountered circulatory disorders
Functions and disorders of the equine respiratory system
Structure and function of the equine respiratory system
Pathology of disorders of the equine respiratory system
Plan care for equine patients with a range of commonly encountered respiratory disorders
Functions and disorders of the equine musculoskeletal system
Structure and function of the equine musculoskeletal system
Pathology of disorders of the equine musculoskeletal system
Plan care for equine patients with a range of commonly encountered musculoskeletal disorders
Functions and disorders of the equine urinary tract
Structure and function of the equine urinary tract
Pathology of disorders of the equine urinary tract
Plan care for equine patients with a range of commonly encountered urinary tract disorders
Functions and disorders of the equine nervous and sensory systems
Structure and function of the equine nervous and sensory systems
Pathology of disorders of the equine nervous and sensory systems
Plan care for equine patients with a range of commonly encountered nervous and sensory disorders
Functions and disorders of the equine endocrine system
Structure and function of the equine endocrine system
Pathology of disorders of the equine endocrine system
Plan care for equine patients with a range of commonly encountered endocrine disorders
Functions and disorders of the equine alimentary tract
Pathology of disorders of the equine alimentary tract
Plan care for equine patients with a range of commonly encountered alimentary tract disorders
Functions and disorders of the equine skin
Pathology of disorders of the equine skin
Plan care for equine patients with a range of commonly encountered skin disorders
Collect and prepare samples from equine patients
Prepare equine patients for the collection of samples
Effective and safe sampling techniques
Significance of abnormal diagnostic test results
Physical therapy techniques
Benefits and contraindications of physical therapy to equine patients
Apply appropriate physical therapy techniques
Effective home and follow-up care
Requirements for a home care plan and effective discharge handover to an owner
Barriers to client concordance in the home management of an equine patient
Strategies for maintaining and improving client concordance with home care plans
Discharge information and guidance to owners
Equine euthanasia
Nurse’s role in breaking bad news to clients
Methods of euthanising equids
How sensitive equine euthanasia can be accomplished within a busy veterinary practice
Services available to help clients cope with loss
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Module 4 Peri-Operative Veterinary Nursing Support for Horses
Prepare an equine patient for surgery
Information to be obtained from the animal’s owner
Requirements for clipping and skin preparation
Prophylactic medication
Equine anaesthesia
Function, maintenance, and safety checks of key components of an anaesthetic machine
Anaesthetic drugs and pre-medications used in equine anaesthesia
Preparation of an equine patient for general anaesthesia
Observations to be made of an anaesthetised equine and when to report to the veterinary surgeon
Action to be taken during an anaesthetic emergency
Recovery process
Post-operative care of equine patients
Requirements for handover from the operating theatre
Post-operative observations
Effective post-operative pain management
Post-operative nursing requirements for specific surgical procedures
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Module 5 Equine Veterinary Nursing Emergency and Critical Care
Equine first aid
Scope of first aid
Principles of first aid management and treatment
First aid management of equids
First aid treatment techniques
Information to be passed to the veterinary team regarding a treated first aid casualty
Wound healing and management
Process of wound healing
Factors that may impede healing
Principles of management of wounds
Emergency veterinary care
Triage
Preparations for admission of an emergency case
Contents and maintenance of an emergency “crash box” or trolley
How to support the veterinary surgeon during resuscitation and stabilisation procedures
Intravenous catheterisation and intravenous fluid therapy
Principles of intravenous cannulation
Care of an intravenous catheter
How fluid balance is maintained
Intensive nursing care techniques
Intensive nursing requirements of equine patients
Monitoring critically ill patients
Administering blood and blood products
Respiratory therapy
Assisted feeding
Physiology, recognition and management of shock
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Module 6 Equine Reproduction and Neonatal Care
Reproductive cycles and breeding of horses
Reproductive systems of the mare and stallion
The equine breeding cycle and covering methods
Commonly encountered equine reproductive tract disorders
Equine pregnancy diagnosis
Intra-partum care
Stages of foetal development
Process of parturition
Dystocia
How to support owners in preparation for parturition
Normal foal physiology and development
Differences between the major body systems of neonates, foals and adult equids
Development of immunity in equine neonates
Normal adaptive behaviour and reflexes of a newborn foal
Foal nutrition and feeding
Lactation in the mare
Nutritional requirements of foals
Requirements of foal weaning
Routine veterinary care of normal foals
Handling, health checks and foot care
Parasite control in foals
Vaccination protocols for foals
Nursing requirements of orphan foals
Care and handling requirements of orphan foals
Feeding requirements of orphan foals
The fostering process
Nursing requirements of sick foals
Conditions of the equine neonate and their disease processes
Accommodation requirements for nursing foals
Nursing requirements of recumbent foals
Nursing support of foals undergoing investigations and supportive therapies
Enrolment
Full Payment
£2,250
- Please download enrolment form below
- Payment may be made by bank transfer upon submission of enrolment form or paid upon receipt of invoice from TOCES
- Please email enrolment form to: enrolments@equinestudies.co.uk