VETERINARY NURSING

CONSULTATION

2014

Central Qualifications (CQ) examination board and awarding organisation is conducting a consultationon all aspects of veterinary nurse training, qualifications and employment.

The consultation is necessary to ensure that the Diploma in Veterinary Nursing continues to meet theneeds of all stakeholders as well as national and international standards.

Our objectives are:

To ensure that the Diploma in Veterinary Nursing meets the needs of all stakeholders

To ensure that the qualification complies with current legislation

To ensure that all CQ qualified veterinary nurses have the knowledge and all the practical

competencies and day one skills required by employers

This document is made up of a series of questions grouped together under various topics. It is notnecessary to answer all the questions; you can just answer those that are relevant to you.Please note it is not necessary to use this form and you can provide information in a way that you prefer.

This consultation will be open until 30 November 2014.

Privacy statement

Please note if requested, the identity of respondents will not disclosed.

Indicate here if you would like your reply to remain anonymous:

We are very aware of the time it takes to respond to questionnaires and any time you can commit to thisprocess will be welcomed.

Please return your response by post to:

VN Consultation

Central Qualifications

Elmtree Business Park

Elmswell

Bury St Edmunds

Suffolk IP30 9HR

or Email to:

If you wish to discuss the survey in more detailplease contact:

Denise Burke, Quality Assurance Manager

Email:

Telephone: 01359 245316

Section 1. About you

Name:

Where do you work?(Delete any that do not apply)

Small Animal Practice

Equine Practice

Mixed Practice

College

University

Private Training Provider

Industry

Other (please specify):

Your position/role:(Delete any that do not apply)

Practice principal/partner

Vet in practice

Vet in industry

Qualified nurse

Student nurse

Animal care position

Head nurse

Practice manager

Other (please specify):

Professional qualifications:

Can we contact you for further information?(Delete any that do not apply)

Yes

No

Not at this time

If Yes,

How would you like us to contact you?

Post

Telephone

Email

Address:

Post code:

Telephone no.:

Email address:

Section 1.1Routes of entry to Veterinary Nursing

Have you any comments to make on the recommended entry requirements (currently five GCSE’s atgrade C or above including Maths, a Science and English or equivalent):

Please type your comments below:

Section 2.Vocational and Degree routes to qualifying

Background information:

There are broadly speaking two routes to graduating as a veterinary nurse in the UK.

1. Vocational training leading to a Diploma in Veterinary Nursing

2. University or College degree

Have you experience of working with:(Delete any that do not apply)

Vocationally trained nurses only

Degree trained nurses only

Both

Neither

In your opinion are there any differences between graduates of either vocational or degree routes?

If so please type your comments below:

Section 3. Learning hours required to achieve the Diploma in Veterinary Nursing

Currently the qualification consists of 19 units with an estimated total of 1900 hours learning time.

Would you say this is:

About right

Too little

Too much

Don’t know

Please type your comments below:

Section 4. Employability

How prepared for work are newly qualified veterinary nurses?

On a scale of 1 to 10 with 1=Unprepared and 10=Very well prepared

Please type your answer below:

Would you have any reservations in trusting any aspect of nursing care of a pet to a newly qualifiedveterinary nurse who had completed the Diploma in Veterinary Nursing?

Yes

No

If yes, please comment

Please type your comments below:

Section 5: Content of the Diploma in Veterinary Nursing

Unit Number / Small animal qualification
VN1 / Understanding the operational requirements of a veterinary practice
VN2 / Professional relationships and communication for veterinary nursing practice
VN3 / Comparative functional anatomy for veterinary nursing practice
VN4 / Applied animal welfare, health and husbandry for veterinary nurses
VN5 / Infection control in veterinary practice
VN6 / Understanding the essentials of veterinary nursing care for hospitalised animals
VN7 / Essentials of practical veterinary nursing care for hospitalised animals
VN8 / Supporting the supply of veterinary medicines
VN9 / Veterinary nursing support of diagnostic imaging
VN10 / Veterinary nursing support of laboratory diagnostics
VN11 / Supporting veterinary operating theatre practice
VN12 / Principles of supporting veterinary anaesthesia
SAVN13 / Practical monitoring of small animal veterinary anaesthesia
SAVN14 / Principles of peri-operative veterinary nursing support for small animals
SAVN15 / Practical peri-operative veterinary nursing support for small animals
SAVN16 / Principles of veterinary nursing support for small animal patients
SAVN17 / Practical veterinary nursing support of small animal patients
SAVN18 / Principles of small animal veterinary nursing emergency and critical care
VN19 / Preparing for professional registration
Unit Number / Equine qualification
VN1 / Understanding the operational requirements of a veterinary practice
VN2 / Professional relationships and communication for veterinary nursing practice
VN3 / Comparative functional anatomy for veterinary nursing practice
VN4 / Applied animal welfare, health and husbandry for veterinary nurses
VN5 / Infection control in veterinary practice
VN6 / Understanding the essentials of veterinary nursing care for hospitalised animals
VN7 / Essentials of practical veterinary nursing care for hospitalised animals
VN8 / Supporting the supply of veterinary medicines
VN9 / Veterinary nursing support of diagnostic imaging
VN10 / Veterinary nursing support of laboratory diagnostics
VN11 / Supporting veterinary operating theatre practice
VN12 / Principles of supporting veterinary anaesthesia
EQVN20 / Principles of peri-operative veterinary nursing support for horses
EQVN21 / Practical peri-operative veterinary nursing support for horses
EQVN22 / Principles of veterinary nursing support for equine patients
EQVN23 / Practical veterinary nursing support of equine patients
EQVN24 / Principles of equine veterinary nursing emergency and critical care
EQVN25 / Principles of equine neonatal care
VN19 / Preparing for professional registration

In your opinion are all these subject areas relevant?

Yes

No

If no, please comment

Please type your comments below:

In your opinion are there any subject areas missing (e.g. non-clinical or clinical skills)?

Yes

No

If yes, please comment

Please type your comments below:

In your opinion is there any unit content that needs amending?

Yes

No

If yes, please comment

Please type your comments below:

Section 6. Assessment

To be completed by CQ Centres, CQ qualified veterinary nurses and student veterinary nurses registered with CQ

Knowledge and understanding is assessed by:

Assignments set by Central Qualifications and administered by Centres

Multiple choice examinations set and administered by Central Qualifications

Practical skills are assessed by:

Practical tasks listed on Central Skills Log, set by Central Qualifications and administered byclinical coaches.

Practical examination of essential clinical skills (OSCE - Objective Structured Clinical Examination) setand administered by Central Qualifications

Are there any aspects of these assessment methods that you would like to comment on

Please type your comments below:

Central Qualifications Veterinary Nursing Consultation 2014