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

 

 

Course Accreditation

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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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