VET-30003 - Module Specification
Harper and Keele Veterinary School
Faculty of Natural Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

VET-10001 Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology
VET-10005 Animal Management for Health and Production
VET-20001 Comparative Anatomy and Physiology
VET-20003 Animal Health Sciences

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

Understanding how to diagnose and treat a patient is a core skill for any Veterinary Surgeon. Building on the understanding of the physiological and pathological processes underlying disease taught throughout the course, this module aims to develop technical and clinical reasoning skills essential for understanding how to approach common clinical presentations in veterinary medicine. By evolving these key skills, this module prepares students for the transition to the clinical modules in year 4 and readies students for clinical practice.
This module addresses the following RCVS competencies:
3. Demonstrate the ability to critically review and evaluate evidence, in support of practising evidence based veterinary medicine.
7. Prescribe and dispense medicines correctly and responsibly in accordance with legislation and latest guidance including published sheets
13 Demonstrate ability to manage in situations where information is incomplete, deal with contingencies, and adapt to change.
16. Promote health and safety of patients, clients and colleagues in the veterinary setting, including applying the principles of risk management to practice
17. Communicate effectively with clients, the public, professional colleagues and responsible authorities, using language appropriate to the audience concerned.
20. Prepare accurate professional records and case reports, in a form appropriate to relevant audiences.
22. Obtain an accurate and relevant history of the individual animal or animal group, and its/their husbandry and environment.
24 Synthesises and prioritises problems to arrive at differential diagnoses.
25. Prioritise situational urgency and allocate resources.
26. Act professionally in complex situations.
27. Handle and restrain animal patients safely and humanely, and instruct others in helping the veterinary surgeon perform these techniques.
28 Perform simple, elective surgeries in an aseptic fashion.
29 Perform a complete clinical examination relevant to presentation and context
30 Attend all species in an emergency and perform first aid.
31. Collect, preserve and transport samples, select appropriate diagnostic tests, interpret and understand the limitations of the test results.
32. Use diagnostic techniques and use basic imaging equipment and carry out an examination effectively as appropriate to the case.
33. Safely perform sedation, and general and regional anaesthesia; implement chemical methods of restraint.
34 Assess and manage pain.
35 Recognise when euthanasia is appropriate and perform it humanely.

The aims of this module are to:
¿ Explore the principles of pharmacology and the application and considerations of pharmacology within veterinary medicine
¿ Prepare the student for clinical practice by providing fundamental training in key areas such as anaesthesia, diagnostics, emergency critical care and basic surgical procedures.
¿ Provide students with the knowledge and skills to investigate common clinical presentations in veterinary species.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Understand and apply the principles of pharmacology to the use of medicines in veterinary practice and the considerations for the prescription of veterinary medicines in the UK.: 2,3
Understand and apply the principles of veterinary anaesthesia, analgesia and critical care to general practice and demonstrate the requisite core skills in these disciplines: 2,3
Understand and apply the principles of veterinary surgery to general practice and demonstrate the core skills required for undertaking basic surgical procedures.: 2,3
Understand and apply the principles of commonly used diagnostic imaging modalities to illustrate best practice in the context of imaging selection, acquisition and interpretation in general practice: 2,3
Critically analyse veterinary literature and understand the role of evidence based veterinary medicine in clinical decision making.: 1
Demonstrate the skills to effectively communicate with a range of different stakeholders in different professional contexts: 1,3
Develop a holistic approach to the investigation of common clinical presentations in a range of veterinary species: 2,3

Study hours

Lectures - 120 hours
tutorials - 36 hours
Practical classes inclusive of external visits - 96 hours
Supervised Online Learning - 36 hours
Independent Learning - 162 hours

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment