Unit information: Primary Nursing Care and Communication in 2013/14

Unit name	Primary Nursing Care and Communication
Unit code	VETS10004
Credit points	10
Level of study	C/4
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director	Mrs. Hotston Moore
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	All other 1st year units
School/department	Bristol Veterinary School
Faculty	Faculty of Health Sciences

Description including Unit Aims

The 1st part of this unit is to provide basic level teaching in the areas of First Aid, including bandaging techniques. The 2nd introduces students to two major concepts:

1. Communication - developing personal communication skills and learning to communicate well with clients
2. Organise specifically the organisation of a veterinary practice as a business.

The communication sessions look at ways in which veterinary nurses contribute effectively to the provision of good customer care through the skilful use of specific skills, particularly listening skills. We also consider what clients want from their veterinary practice and explore the techniques practices can use to obtain client feedback on the services they provide.

The organisation sessions consider the internal organisation of a veterinary practice in the context of staffing, job descriptions, organisational hierarchies, administrative systems and the importance of different staff roles within an organisation.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Statement of Learning Outcomes: Primary Nursing

• Outline the legal and professional regulatory frameworks the govern veterinary nurse practice

• Identify and deal with common ethical issues in veterinary practice

• Demonstrate an understanding of the application of veterinary and human first aid and its limitations

• Understand the basic principles of wound care and management including the application of dressings and bandages

• Outline the safe administration of therapeutic agents

Statement of Learning Outcomes: Communication and Organisation

• Use a range of communication methods effectively, particularly listening skills

• Deal with clients courteously, efficiently, with tact and sensitivity in a variety of situations.

• Explain the importance of good client communication in a service-centred business

• Explain the administrative systems within a small business and the role of veterinary practice managers

• Demonstrate the ability to apply communication concepts learned to a reflective case study

• Understand the application of management principles to human resource management, the development of administrative systems and procedures and financial management

Teaching Information

Lectures and tutorial sessions

Demonstrations and practical bandaging sessions

Video demonstrations

Assessment Information

The overall pass mark for this unit is 40%

Students must obtain a minimum of 40% in each of the four assessments listed below:

Primary nursing:

1. 1 hour written paper consisting of short answer questions covering all aspects of this element.

2. 20 minute practical examination during which students will be required to demonstrate appropriate levels of competency in bandaging, first aid and use of therapeutic agents.

Overall weighting for this assessment element – 60%.

Communication and Organisation:

3. Communication case study – 1,000 word analysis of a communication incident as per RCVS guidelines. To be submitted on the thursday of the first week of the summer term.

4. 30-minute summative MCQ on aspects of practice management Overall weighting for this assessment element – 40% Students must obtain a pass in each element in order to pass the Unit. Failure to obtain a pass in each element will require the student to re-take and/or re-submit the assessment(s), which have been failed in order to achieve the pass mark.

NB Students are expected to wear uniform for the practical examination . Resits: A failure of any or all of the above assessments will result in the student being required to re-sit an exam and/or to re-submit the communication case study at a date and time to be advised by the Examination Board (usually September).

Reading and References

• Clients, Pets and Vets, Carl Gorman

• The Veterinary Receptionist, Corsan and Mackay

• The Veterinary Support Team, Maggie Shilcock

• Veterinary Practice Management, 2008 Maggie Shilcock and Georgina Stutchfield

• BSAVA Textbook of Veterinary Nursing 4th ed. Edited by Lane, Cooper & Turner.

• BSAVA Manual of Canine & Feline Emergency & Critical Care 2nd ed. Edited by L. King & A. Boag