Veterinary Nursing Assistant Diploma Level 2 (Non Practical-student to find own placement)
Course fees £1,200
Unit # 1
Principles of Animal Health
This unit explores the terminology commonly used in veterinary practice and how this relates to a range of species. Students will learn about the signs of normal and abnormal health in dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, lizards, snakes and tortoises and how to ensure good health and carry out routine health checks.
Unit # 2
Principles of Body Language and Behaviour
Correct handling and restraint techniques during veterinary procedures are essential to reduce stress for domestic mammals and reptiles. Students will learn how to recognise and manage stress and fear when handling a variety of companion animals.
Unit # 3
Principles of Hygiene, Cleaning and Disinfection
High standards of cleaning and hygiene in an animal nursing environment are essential to prevent the spread of disease and infection. Students will learn about infectious diseases commonly seen in domestic mammals and reptiles and the importance of maintaining a clean environment. Learn the difference between disinfection and sterilisation, and understand the safe use of cleaning and disinfection chemicals. Learn how to follow a cleaning protocol with a thorough understanding of areas to be cleaned and their level of infection risk. This unit also contains information about the equipment sterilised in a veterinary practice, waste disposal methods, how to reduce waste in an animal nursing environment.
Unit # 4
Reception and Administrative Duties in a Veterinary Practice
This unit explores the structure of a veterinary practice and students will learn about the roles and their tasks.
Students will learn about:
*The services provided in a veterinary practice including the referral process and the promotion and marketing of veterinary services.
*The professional standards and requirements in a veterinary environment
*The importance of health and safety in the veterinary workplace.
*How to deal with various clients including, different methods of client communication, registering a new client, making appointments, answering phones, taking payments, dealing with difficult or sensitive situations and the importance of client confidentiality.
Unit # 5
The Pharmacy in a Veterinary Practice
This unit explores the workings of the veterinary pharmacy, including stock control, safe and secure storage of medicines, waste disposal and the importance of adherence to protocols.
Students will learn about veterinary medicines and gain an understanding of each stage of the medicines management pathway, including prescribing, dispensing and administration.
Unit # 6
Euthanasia and Bereavement
Students will gain an understanding of the reasons for euthanasia and the circumstances when euthanasia may be required. Students will learn how the euthanasia process is carried out and the options for the disposal of a deceased pet. Students will gain an understanding of the stages of grief and be able to recognise each of the stages.
Unit # 7
Principles of First Aid
This unit explores the principles of first aid and companion animal veterinary emergencies. Students will learn the importance of communication within the veterinary team and how to support a client during the emergency. This unit also includes information about the legislation involved in first aid treatment, how to recognise a veterinary emergency, the information required when dealing with an emergency call and how to treat common injuries.
Unit # 8
Veterinary Instruments
Students will learn how to identify the instruments used for routine surgeries such as castration, spay and tumour removal. This unit also covers the correct care, cleaning and storage of veterinary instruments as well as packaging and sterilisation.
Unit # 9
Care of Wildlife in Veterinary Practice
Veterinary staff frequently deal with various injured or sick wildlife. Students will learn about the most commonly treated British wildlife including garden birds, hedgehogs, rabbits, badgers, foxes and deer.
Gain an understanding of the obligations to treat wildlife and the limitations to this treatment. Students will learn about the options available for further treatment and rehabilitation of wildlife if treatment is beyond the expertise of general practice.
Unit # 10
Practical
The practical placement offered by Animal Courses Direct is available at Cheltenham Animal Shelter or Lanta Animal Welfare (LAW) Thailand. Alternatively, students can find their own practical placement.
minimum student age: 16 years
Further information about Practical Placements
Veterinary Nursing Assistants Diploma level 2
The Level 2 Diploma for Veterinary Nursing Assistants has been developed for students seeking a specialised regulated qualification in animal nursing. The aim of this regulated qualification, is to prepare learners for a career in animal care or Veterinary Nursing, based within a Veterinary Practice.
Gain practical skills for caring for animals as well as customer services and retail which are both necessary when working as a veterinary nurse.
The Level 2 Diploma for Veterinary Nursing Assistants is held in high regard in veterinary practices. It provides an alternative route to GCSE’s and enhances the opportunity to progress to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing.
Veterinary Nursing Assistants Qualification, an entry into Veterinary Nursing
This qualification facilitates student further progression following a career in animal care or Veterinary Nursing, based within a Veterinary Practice. It provides learners with the information required to play a valuable support role to qualified veterinary staff and to assist owners in the correct management of their companion animals. It is a theory and practically-based qualification that has the aim of preparing a student for the rigour and level of demand required for the Veterinary Nursing Diploma.
We are able to include 2 weeks practical placement as part of this course. This enables students to work towards the 4-course units that require practical placement. Course fees must be paid in full prior to attending the practical placement.
What You Will Learn
Students learn a range of skills and develop your knowledge in a variety of different areas. This includes discovering how to manage and maintain accommodation for animals, including how to feed and water animals to ensure that they get the care they need. Learn how to provide basic treatments that animals often need including typical healthcare treatments. Gain practical experience with a range of routine procedures to make sure that you are fully equipped to help animals in your care. It is crucial that those aiming to work in veterinary medicine understand the anatomy and physiology of animals. There is a range of reasons why this information will be necessary. Through the modules, you will learn how to handle and restrain animals the correct way based on their anatomy and physiology. It’s important that animals are restrained without injury. Infection is a major concern whenever an animal is brought into a veterinary practice with an injury. Learn about the principles of infection control and how to manage infections.
Enquire about this Course
Veterinary Nursing Assistants, the next step after qualifying.
The Next Step
Those who have successfully completed the Level 2 Veterinary Nursing Diploma are suited to work in many animal care environments from Veterinary practices to pet shops and animal charity hospitals and rescue homes. These careers can be incredibly fulfilling and rewarding for anyone who wants to work hands-on with animals. You may be able to proceed to the RCVS Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing. In doing so you can take your veterinary nursing career to the next level and gain even more knowledge for a top position. Ultimately this can lead to a full professional position as a Veterinary Nurse.
Opportunities Are Wide Open
This Ofqual regulated qualification is the perfect entry point providing both practical experience and theory for those eager to further their career as a veterinary nurse. If, at the end of the course, the student decides that veterinary nursing is not the career that they wish to progress to, they will still have gained valuable regulated training. This will enable them to work within other areas of veterinary practice such as veterinary kennels/wards and veterinary reception. Their experience will also allow progression in other sectors of the animal industry, such as pet stores, boarding kennels or animal charities.
The Level 2 Veterinary Nursing Assistant Diploma for Veterinary Nursing Assistants is a regulated qualification recognised by Ofqual.
Information about Practical Placements:
If you are thinking of enrolling on this course and would prefer to find your own placement, here is some information to help find a suitable placement –
You will need to find a placement within a registered Veterinary Practice, or an animal establishment that has an element of veterinary care. However, this does not need to be an RCVS Training Practice, it needs to be a place where you will be supervised by a qualified Veterinary Nurse or Vet; this includes private practices, animal charities, zoos and some animal care businesses.
Your supervisor will not be responsible for assessing your practical evidence, this will be completed by your course Tutor via evidence provided (this can be written, photographic or video evidence, or a mixture of all 3 – full instruction will be provided during the course)
You will be responsible for managing your evidence gathering to ensure all practical assessment criteria is covered with your supervisor signing it off to agree your competence.
All practical criteria as outlined in the course must be covered during your practical placement. However, there is no set number of hours that you will need to attend your placement. You may want to complete this as a block placement over a number of weeks, or you may prefer to attend for a set number of hours per week to suit your schedule or to fit in with the placements availability.
Once you have enrolled on the course, please let us know if you would like us to provide you with a letter for use when approaching suitable placements
Cheltenham Animal Shelter in Gloucestershire
This animal rescue shelter rehomes unwanted and abandoned dogs, cats, and small animals. This 1 or 2 week practical placements enables students to gain valuable hands on experience working alongside the animal care team caring for animals in the shelter. Daily tasks include cleaning animal accommodation, preparing food, animal enrichment activities, dog walking, cat encounters, and small animal handling.
Cheltenham Animal Shelter is a charity that has been helping unwanted and abandoned animals since 1926.
Practical placements are available for 1 or 2 weeks, (Monday to Friday 8.30am – 4pm):
Accommodation and food not included.
Next available dates:
6th-10th July 2020
20th-24th July 2020
17th August- 21st August 2020
Lanta Animal Welfare Charity in Thailand
This 1 or 2 month practical placement involves valuable and varied hands-on animal care, cleaning, feeding, training & socialisation of cats and dogs. Students are also able to assist animals with specialist nursing care requirements.
Lanta Animal Welfare (LAW) works to end the suffering of the hundreds of homeless, abused and injured animals on the beautiful island of Koh Lanta, Thailand. To date, Lanta Animal Welfare have sterilised and treated over 15,000 animals and continues to work to prevent and control the overpopulation of dogs and cats on Koh Lanta in a humane way through neutering, by providing care and treatment to sick and injured stray animals and by promoting awareness of animal care and respect.
Koh Lanta is a popular tourist destination, the island is known for its long, sandy beaches and scuba diving. The geography of the island is typically mangroves, coral rimmed beaches and rugged tree covered hills.
Practical placements are available for 1 to 2 months
Minimum age is 20.
Accommodation and 2 meals per day included.
Next available start dates (students stay for 1 or 2 months):
- 1st June 2020
- 6th July 2020
- 3rd August 2020
- 7th September 2020
- 5th October 2020
- 2nd November 2020
- 7th December 2020
Enquire about this Course
Animal Courses Direct accepts no liability or responsibility for practical placements advertised on our website; placements are carried out entirely at the user’s own risk and students are required to sign our waiver form and obtain their own travel insurance. Where a deposit is requested, this is non refundable. Students are required to pay course fees in full prior to attending the practical placement. Practical placement dates may change and are subject to availability, please see our T&Cs.
