New educational tool aims to boost vet nurses’ skills
A new online resource, aimed at both qualified and student veterinary nurses, has been released by the University of Edinburgh to mark Veterinary Nurses Day.
The resource, titled Veterinary Nursing Skills, covers the principles and practice of nursing companion animals in a clinical setting. It is provided by the Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education at the university’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.
Content included in the module will highlight how focusing on the interactions between nursing care, animal health and patient behaviour can improve patient welfare and clinical outcomes.
The university hopes that veterinary technicians and assistants will also benefit from the new material, which includes downloadable fact sheets, video tutorials and interactive quizzes.
Topics covered include:
- clinical skills
- animal handling and behaviour
- emergency and critical care
- animal welfare
- inpatient care.
Hayley Walters, the Royal (Dick) School’s welfare and anaesthesia nurse, said that the aim of the new resource was to provide support to veterinary nurses across the world who may not have access to the same professional training resources as others.
Ms Walters added: “Knowledge and compassionate veterinary nurses improve patient welfare, so we want to share some of our educational and animal welfare expertise with a global audience, this new resource will help to promote the role of the veterinary nurse as a para-professional who is an essential part of the veterinary team.”
For more information and to register for free, please visit the university’s website.
The Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF) is inviting applications to its 2021 Student Grant Scheme for innovative projects designed to impact animal welfare. The scheme welcomes proposals from undergraduates studying veterinary and animal welfare degrees, but students from other disciplines are also welcome to apply. 
