Unit information: Advanced Surgical Nursing in 2015/16

Unit name	Advanced Surgical Nursing
Unit code	VETS30014
Credit points	20
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director	Dr. Parsons
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	Level I units: Diagnostics and Treatment, Anaesthesia and Fluid Therapy, Surgical Nursing and Theatre Practice, Application of Veterinary Nursing Care
Co-requisites	Welfare and Ethics, two other optional units and the dissertation
School/department	Bristol Veterinary School
Faculty	Faculty of Health Sciences

Description including Unit Aims

This unit is a part of the new BSc Honours Programme 'Veterinary Nursing and Bioveterinary Science'. It expands upon the underpinning knowledge gained within the Diagnostics and Treatments and Surgical Nursing and Theatre Practice units in year 2 of the programme and will enable students to investigate in more depth key areas of advanced surgical nursing. They will reflect upon the clinical nursing they have carried out within years 3 & 4 of the programme, evaluate its effectiveness and formulate care plan strategies based upon clinical practice and theory taught within the unit.

Aims:

To expand on the knowledge and understanding of surgical nursing and patient management acquired in Year 2 and applying that knowledge in order to develop a strategy to meet the needs of patients suffering from the less common surgical conditions of cats and dogs.

To enable the student to understand and assume the responsibility for the provision of the nursing and veterinary requirements of patients under the direction of the supervising veterinary surgeon

Intended Learning Outcomes

• Students will be able to take responsibility for the provision and delivery of the advanced nursing requirements of surgical patients during the perioperative period

• Assess the needs of patients undergoing advanced surgical procedures

• Plan , implement and evaluate the effectiveness of the nursing delivered to a range of patients with common and complex surgical conditions

• Prepare and understand the use of the equipment necessary for specific advanced surgical procedures (to include thoracotomy, spinal surgery and major orthopaedic surgery)

Teaching Information

• Lectures

• Seminars

• Practicals

• Case Studies

Assessment Information

The overall pass mark for this unit is 40%

Students must obtain a minimum of 40% in the written papereach of the following areas:

Assessments:

• 2 hr written paper (80% )3 hour written paper (100%)

Reading and References

• BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Advanced Veterinary Nursing (BSAVA British Small Animal Veterinary Association) by Alasdair Hotston Moore, Suzanne Rudd British Small Animal Veterinary Association; 2nd Edition edition (2008)

• Textbook of Small Animal Surgery, Slatter. Saunders; 3 edition (2003)

• Small Animal Surgery, T. W. Fossum Mosby; 3 edition (2006)

• Small Animal Spinal Disorders: Diagnosis and Surgery by Nicholas J. H. Sharp (Author), Simon J. Wheeler (Author) Mosby; 2 edition (2004)