Course description
This is a work experience and essential skills evaluation course focused on veterinary surgical nursing. Students are evaluated on the surgical nursing skills taught during VTEC 2112, including patient and equipment preparation, as well as performing a surgical scrub and assisting during a live animal surgery. Common veterinary surgical methods, suturing and suture removal, as well as principles of wound healing and wound management, are also covered. Students are required to work in an approved veterinary hospital for the duration of the semester.
Learning activities
Instruction methods include lecture, online quizzes, group work and assignments. Students will practice and demonstrate clinical competency in the assigned essential skills (e.g., through submission of photos and videos to the instructor), using dogs and cats in a veterinary hospital setting.
Copies of patient medical records, laboratory results and radiographs may be used to evaluate record keeping and radiography skills.
Means of assessment
Assessment will be in accordance with the 51Ç鱨վ Evaluation Policy. The instructor will present a written course outline listing the specific essential skills to be evaluated and the evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester.
In order to achieve a grade of C (or higher) in the course, students must:
- complete a minimum of 120 hours work in an approved veterinary hospital
- demonstrate competency (a performance of 60% or higher) in an evaluation of each of the assigned essential skills in this course, as well as any essential skills deferred from previous clinical placement course(s)
Evaluation will be based on:
Practical evaluations: 50-80% (no single evaluation worth more than 25%)
Assignments: 0-20%
Quizzes: 0-20% (no quiz worth more than 10%)
Final examination: 0-20%
Total: 100%
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- demonstrate dog and cat essential skills as designated by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, using live animals;
- admit animals to the veterinary hospital for procedures;
- administer medications in dogs and/or cats;
- obtain diagnostic radiographs;
- participate in one castration and one spay surgery (dog or cat);
- implant microchips;
- operate and maintain an autoclave;
- prepare, wrap and sterilize surgical instruments, packs, drapes, gowns and other equipment;
- prepare surgical sites using aseptic techniques;
- position surgical patients for common surgical procedures;
- correctly apply scrubbing, gowning and gloving techniques in order to perform as a sterile surgical assistant;
- pass and handle surgical instruments and other sterile equipment when acting as a sterile or a non-sterile surgical assistant;
- assist with care of exposed tissues and organs;
- evaluate wounds for healing, place sutures on a skin model and remove sutures and staples;
- discuss the variety of needle and suture types used in small and large animal surgeries;
- perform operating room sanitation;
- perform post-surgical clean-up of equipment, surgical room and instruments;
- safely dispose of hazardous medical waste according to local health regulations;
- perform post-surgical patient care;
- provide routine record keeping, care and observation of hospitalised patients;
- prepare discharge instructions;
- discharge patients and educate clients regarding procedure aftercare;
- accurately complete medical records and logs;
- discuss the surgical equipment needs, surgical method and patient care for a variety of small and large animal surgical procedures.
Textbook materials
Consult the 51Ç鱨վ Bookstore for the latest required textbooks and materials. Example textbooks and materials may include:
- JM Bassert, AD Beal, OM Samples. (Current Edition). McCurnin's Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians. Elsevier.