Veterinary Nurse Training
Study Plan Example

The following is an example of the daily study plan which we advise for the student nurse. The length of each lecture is based on experience gained from many years of teaching student nurses and may vary a great deal, depending on the subject.

For example, handling of dogs is something which many students will already know something about and may be able to relate to their own pets and to previous work in a veterinary surgery. Because of this, a lecture may cover five pages of the notes, because we know that the average student nurse will be able to take in this amount of information in the time allowed for the lecture.

However, if you are learning about a difficult calculation, for example, or some of the combinations of genes in the Genetics section, the daily lecture may only cover two pages, because we know that if you try to go faster, the student will simply not be able to take it all in. It is very important that you do not go on to a new section of work until you know the previous section thoroughly. In fact, the training nurse may even decide to repeat a particular lecture if she thinks that the students have not understood the subject properly.

Each day’s lecture is accompanied by a practical task for the day, based on the lecture. If the lecture is about a theoretical subject, however, there may be no practical task for that day. The practical task does not have to be done on the same day as the lecture; in fact, it is probably better if it is done several days later when the student has had time to revise the lecture and knows it thoroughly.

Part 1, Volume 1

DAILY LECTURE, PRACTICAL AND EXAMINATION SEQUENCE

1) Start at beginning of 'Handling and restraint of animals'
End at end of 'Transporting anaesthetised animals'
Practical: Practice the handling and restraint techniques in this section.

2) Start at beginning of 'Management and feeding of exotics'
End at end of '8) Ferrets'
Practical: Practice handling small mammals.

3) Start at beginning of '9) Cage birds'
End at end of '15) Invertebrates'
Practical: Practice handling reptiles and chelonians.

4) Start at beginning of 'Dog training'
End at end of 'H) Maternal aggression'
Practical: Advise a client on basic toilet training of puppies and kittens. Put a choke chain on a dog correctly. Select the appropriate size and type of lead/collar for a dog. Advise a client about basic obedience training.

5) Start at beginning of 'Methods of tackling inappropriate behaviour'
End at end of '4) Pheromone treatment'
Practical: Advise an owner how to stop dominance behaviour in a six-month old puppy. Explain how to prevent/reduce separation anxiety. Advise an owner why a previously clean cat may start spraying in the house.

6) Start at beginning of 'Kennels and catteries'
End at end of 'Using runs in a hospital kennels'
Practical: Organise the use of runs in an appropriate order for the cases in your practice.

7) Start at beginning of 'Heating'
End at end of 'Cleaning food bowls'
Practical: None

8) Start at beginning of 'Advantages of hospitalisation'
End at end of 'Clipping beaks'
Practical: Learn to recognise the different pieces of grooming equipment. Groom hospitalised patients. Bathe an animal correctly. Clip claws. Clip a bird's beak.

9) Start at beginning of 'Disposal of waste'
End at end of 'D) Carbohydrate'
Practical: Learn to recognise appropriate containers for the disposal of each type of waste.

10) Start at beginning of 'E) Vitamins'
End at end of 'Other minerals'
Practical: None

11) Start at beginning of 'Types of pet food'
End at end of '2) Feeding growing puppies or kittens'
Practical: Advise clients on the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of food. Learn which commercial pet foods fit into each category. Advise clients feeding weaned puppies/kittens up to to 1 year of age.

12) Start at beginning of '3) Pregnant bitches'
End at end of 'Storage of food'
Practical: Advise the owners of a pregnant bitch on feeding during pregnancy and while feeding the pups. Advise a client on weaning. Assemble equipment for the care and feeding of orphaned pups/kittens. Advise the owner of an active dog how to avoid weight loss.

MULTIPLE CHOICE TEST - HANDLING, FEEDING, HOUSING & TRAINING