Subjects Covered

Diploma of Veterinary Nursing (ECC)

Subject Overview Table

This table is designed to show you how the subjects are related to our qualifications.

Subject ID Code	ACVN Subject	ACVN Cert IV in Vet Nursing	Diploma of VN (Surgical)	Diploma of VN (ECC)	Diploma of VN (GP)
REP-4A	Animal Reproduction
PAM-4A	Pain Management
FLU-4A	Fluid Therapy
AIP-4A	Advanced InPatient & Critical Care
WMA-4A	Wound Management
MNT-5A	Managing your Nursing Team
BIO-5A	Managing Biosecurity in the Vet Clinic
PDE-5A	Professional Development for VNs
SWP-5A	Working Sustainably
ANA-5A	Advanced Anaesthesia & Analgesia
RER-5A	Responding to Emergencies
TRM-5A	Traumatic Emergencies
TOX-5A	Toxicoses
MER-5A	Medical Emergencies
SNR-5A	Emergencies requiring surgical intervention

Subject Descriptions

Animal Reproduction

This subject covers the reproductive system of common domestic animals, their reproductive cycles and whelping/queening. Students will also learn about reproductive emergencies and what advice should be given to the owners when complications occur or are suspected. There is also an emphasis on understanding what is normal to allow the nurse to advice clients on the correct care of their breeding adults and the neonates.

Fluid Therapy

Fluid therapy is an integral part of the modern veterinary clinic. This subject will teach students about the various types of fluids available, their indications and contraindications and how to monitor patients receiving fluid therapy. Students will also learn about osmosis, and how to correctly calculate fluid rates and influencing factors on fluid rates.

Advanced InPatient and Critical Care

This subject follows on from Nursing Patients, and students will learn more advanced nursing skills such as how to map out patient care plans and specific nursing interventions for individual patients. Students also learn about correct urinary catheter care and physiology and anatomy of the urinary system itself. Feeding tube maintenance is also covered along with managing recumbent patients, neonates, blood transfusions, and the provision of oxygen therapy.

Pain Management

Indepth analgesia knowledge and the ability to recognise pain is vital in so many different aspects of veterinary nursing. This subject will teach students about the anatomy and physiology of the nervous system, pain pathways, and the drugs we use to control pain. It will look at recognising pain and pain scoring, and alternative methods of controlling pain in our patients including nursing interventions.

Wound Management

Wound Management is an area that nurses can be actively involved in. This subject starts off with learning about the integument system; it then branches into the physiology of wound healing. Students will learn about different dressings and bandages (both techniques and materials), which to use when, and how to decide on a wound care plan in conjunction with the veterinarian.

Working Sustainably

This short subject covers the process required to analyse the workplace for environmentally sustainable work practices and how to implement improvements and monitor their effectiveness. This subject is included as part of the government requirements and aims to increase awareness of sustainable work practices.

Managing Biosecurity in the Veterinary Clinic

This subject has a pre-requisite of the knowledge and skills contained in ACMINF301A.

Infection control within the veterinary clinic is an extremely important aspect and is often the domain of veterinary nurses. This subject will look at your clinic's existing infection control policies and processes for isolation, ward hygiene and sterilization processes. We will explore the gold-standard sterilisation techniques that correspond with existing Australian Standards, workplace health and safety implications, how to improve current practices in your clinic, and how to measure the effectiveness of utilised practices. Advanced instrumentation and endoscopes are also discussed including the maintenance and reprocessing for use.

Managing Your Nursing Team

All senior nurses are required to have some input into the management of the nursing team within their clinic. This subject looks at the essential areas of managing a nursing team including encouraging team cohesiveness, dealing with 'clinic politics', nursing care as a customer service product, and hospital rounds as an effective communication tool. We also look at improving on and developing practical gold-standard nursing care protocols, and how to implement these successfully within your clinic and team.

Professional Development for Veterinary Nurses

Veterinary Nursing is a profession that requires constant and ongoing learning to keep your skills and knowledge up to date. This subject looks at the various available options you can access to advance your own skills and knowledge as well as that of your nursing team. As part of this subject we will discuss how you can become actively involved in the veterinary nursing profession and deliver continuing education, whether in house  to your team or externally to your clinic. Different career options and qualifications are also reviewed, letting you plan out your career and assist with the career development of your team member's too.

Advanced Anaesthesia & Analgesia

Having an indepth working knowledge of advanced anaesthesia, analgesia techniques and modalities is essential for any nurse working at the expected level of a Diploma nurse. This subject involves more advanced anaesthetic monitoring equipment such as capnography, ECG, and blood pressure in depth, as well as mechanical ventilation of the patient. Students will learn about the varied effects of drugs on the body, and utilising analgesia as part of their anaesthetic plan. As part of this subject you will develop indepth anaesthesia preparation protocols for your clinic as well as creating staff induction training plans for new staff to ensure they meet your clinic's high standards of care.

Responding to Emergencies

This subject will teach students about the triage process (both phone and in clinic), primary and secondary surveys, and initial patient stabilisation. Students will also learn about the risks and benefits of telephone advice and when to, or when to not, give it. Cardiopulmonary Cerebral Resuscitation and crash carts are covered in detail, as is the pathophysiology and treatment of shock and post resuscitation care. As part of this subject you will be required to look at your own clinics existing protocols and implement improvements which will include training for the entire veterinary team.

Traumatic Emergencies

Patients suffering injuries from a traumatic event often have multiple injuries on top of the shock they are also in. Knowing how to prioritise what is in front of you is essential, and being able to keep owners calm to get appropriate information and give transport advice is important. Students will learn about the various trauma's they will encounter in the emergency facility from hit by car, fight wounds, fractures and how to deal with these specific cases. Initial stabilisation, treatment options, and nursing these patients is the focus. 

Toxicoses

This subject covers toxicoses like snail bait ingestion, chocolate toxicity, snake bites, rodenticides and more. Once again the focus is on the role of the nurse. Learning about how to triage these cases, what to have ready for their arrival, how to assist the vet,  treatment options, post treatment monitoring and discharge advice, nurses will finish this subject with a good working knowledge of many of the common toxicoses they will encounter.

Medical Emergencies & Critical Care

Diabetic ketoacidosis, cardiac tamponade, seizures, addisonian crisis, haematological diseases, renal failure, hypoglycaemia, haemorrhagic diarrhoea, respiratory disease and cardiac failure are just some of the diseases covered in this subject. Similar in structure to previous subjects, the focus is on the role of the nurse and how they can monitor the patient and assist the vet for the best outcome.

Emergencies Requiring Surgical Intervention

This subject looks at emergencies that require immediate or close to immediate surgical intervention such as GDV and urinary obstructions. Whilst not strictly surgical, disease process like pneumothorax, pericardiocentesis, pyothorax are also covered in this subject as surgery may be an option depending on the underlying cause, or treatment options including the placement of drains.