Course modules
Year 1
Critical Care Veterinary Nursing
The aims of this module are to enable the student to develop the nursing skills and understanding to competently evaluate, analyse and manage the nursing care of critically ill patients.? The module also will facilitate the appreciation of advanced nursing procedures under the direction of a veterinary surgeon.
Integrative Project
This module will enable the student to demonstrate their ability to work independently and produce a critical review of literature on an area of special clinical interest which has been negotiated with the module tutor. Note: Students who hold a RCVS Dip AVN qualification will be able to apply for Accreditation of Prior Learning for the module.
Professional Practitioner Research Proposal
The module will foster research awareness, the development of transferrable skills, including the capacity for self-management and the concept of life-long learning. It will also enable students to develop the skills to locate and critically appraise research and present this information to an acceptable academic standard, and cultivate the student’s knowledge of a topic from their professional discipline as a basis for future action. Experimental and exploratory designs will be taught so that data and observations can be assessed for accuracy and reliability. The appropriateness of the investigational or exploratory methods will be explored together with suitable data analytical techniques. Methods of reporting the results of scientific investigations and explorations will be appraised.
Year 2
Dissertation (Double module)
This module will enable the student to demonstrate their ability to work independently and nominate a topic of their choice that is of special personal interest and to investigate in depth this area of veterinary nursing practice. It will facilitate the development of research skills rather than the quest for new knowledge.
Veterinary Nursing of Life Limiting Conditions (Double module)
This module will develop an appreciation of the ageing process and common conditions affecting geriatric animals and how these considerations affect the selection of appropriate nursing protocols for these patients. It will also address the palliative nursing care of animals suffering from life limiting illness. In addition the provision of client support will be investigated in preparing and helping the owner deal with bereavement, grief and loss.
Entry requirements & additional information
- Entry requirements
- Learning and assessment
- Progression
- Careers
- Professional accreditations
- Special requirements
Entry requirements
All students must be qualified registered veterinary nurses, listed on the RCVS register and hold the Diploma HE Clinical Veterinary Nursing or an equivalent qualification. During studies the student is required to be employed in, or have agreed access to placement in a suitable veterinary clinical environment for a minimum of 12 weeks annually.
Applicants for whom English is a second language must be able to demonstrate proof of International English Language Testing System (IELTS) at level 7.0 or equivalent. The applicant must forward evidence of eligibility to the College prior to acceptance on the course.
All offers may be subject to successful interview
Learning and assessment
Learning Environment
Learning activities on the course are diverse, including weekly lesson delivery on Canvas for each module the student is studying, and lectures, seminars, tutorials and workshops will also be delivered in the purpose-built veterinary nursing facility during the study weekends. Students will be expected to undertake extensive independent study and research to support lectures, seminars and assessments. Group work and collaboration will form an important part of the course and the student’s personal and professional development. Students will also have access to specialist IT hardware and software where necessary to support their studies.
Assessment:
Students will face a variety of assessments including a combination of coursework, unseen examinations, individual presentations and practical assessments. The coursework assessment methods will include essays, reports and dissertation work.
Additional Information:
Study Days
We are mindful of the extra support required by students taking the blended learning route and have included in the course, study provision events at the Myerscough campus.
Study Day Dates
Year 1: during Semester One when the Integrative Project is being studied, by its very nature it is very individualistic and will be supported by individual sessions with your module tutor/supervisor. These sessions will be mutually agreed and may be conducted in College, by telephone, e-mail or Skype. During Semester Two the students will be expected to attend 2 study Saturdays (or Sundays) to support their learning and success in the modules they are studying. These will be in January and March.
Year 2: dissertation workshops will be scheduled and individual tutorials with supervisors available by appointment. During Semester One the students will be expected to attend 2 study Saturdays (or Sundays) to support their learning and success in the modules they are studying. These will be in September and November.
Myerscough has excellent teaching, practical and clinical resources and specialist veterinary guest speakers, experts in their fields, who are a key component of the study weekend programmes. Accommodation on campus cannot be guaranteed but a comprehensive list of local accommodation is available on request.
What work experience can I get?
The nature of the course, which embraces module outcomes from both a theoretical and clinical perspective, necessitates access to practice. Students will therefore be required to be employed in, or have agreed access to, placement in a suitable veterinary clinical environment for at least 12 weeks annually. This must be a general practice, either small animal or equine, which is able to demonstrate a minimum of RCVS Practice Standards Scheme (PSS) tier 2 or Training Practice (TP) standard.
Progression
On completion of the course further academic opportunities are available including, MA, MEd, MSc, MPhil, PhD and related courses.
Careers
The course aims to provide a programme of veterinary nursing education which will enable BSc (Hons) degree holders to analyse key academic themes in the subject area and critically evaluate the wide range of management issues within different sectors of the veterinary industry, which will therefore prepare them for a successful career in the UK or overseas. The course promotes an ethos of self-development and reflection throughout the curriculum in order to foster a greater personal awareness and the confidence necessary to manage others. The course is designed with the intention that its graduates will be able to function effectively at a managerial level within the veterinary industry. Modular content emphasises the importance of career development and planning throughout.
Professional accreditations
To progress onto this course the students must have completed the Diploma of Higher Education Clinical Veterinary Nursing and the RCVS Diploma in Advanced Veterinary Nursing (Equine or Small Animal) (Dip AVN), which is awarded at the discretion of the RCVS.
Special requirements
Additional costs for items that are essential for the course include:
- Accommodation during study periods at Myerscough College - the price for accommodation depends on where the student chooses to stay, the length of their stay, and how far in advance they book.
- Access to broadband internet and a computer.
Additional costs for items that are essential for the course include:
- Books - Approx. £120. Students will be provided with a reading list for each module studied. The decision to purchase any books remains with the student, and no books are considered essential.