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OPEN FOR ENROLLMENT
TO
VETERINARY SUPPORT STAFF

    
VSPN CE Course TECH140-0415: Advanced Nursing-Critical Care Module 1
Audio: The Real Time Session lecture will be predominantly audio.

  

Instructor(s): Andrea Steele, RVT, VTS (ECC), MSc
Course Open: April 29, 2015-June 7, 2015
Real Time Sessions (RTS): Wednesdays, May 6, 13, 20 and 27, 2015; 9:00-11:00pm ET (USA)
Course RTS Times in Your Area: World Clock Converter

Practice Sessions: In order to prepare you for a successful experience in your CE course, we request you attend a Practice Session prior to the first Real Time Session. Please arrive promptly at the start time; each Practice Session is up to 1 hour in length. For more information, please visit the CE Practice Area.

*The instructors for this course will be using audio which will require you to have a headset or speakers to listen. If you have any concerns regarding your computer's audio capabilities, please be sure to attend one of the Practice Sessions.

Level and Prerequisites: This advanced course is focused toward the experienced technician who routinely deals with emergent or critical cases, or has an interest in specializing in Emergency and Critical Care. Module 1 is a required prerequisite for Module 2; this is to help insure a complete understanding of advanced nursing techniques of critical care.
VSPN CE Course: This course has been RACE approved for veterinary technicians only. Veterinary Information Network�s RACE provider number is #22

Course Description:
This is Module 1 of a two part course in Advanced Nursing Skills for emergent and critically ill patients. Advanced Nursing Modules 1 and 2 will emphasize the role of the technician in emergency and critical care. Throughout the series, technicians will be encouraged to critically think, problem solve, and develop new skills. These courses will be presented in a systems approach, beginning with nursing techniques that may be universal to any emergency situation or critical illness, followed by techniques that focus on the various body systems.

This course consists of four (4) Real Time Sessions of one hundred and twenty (120) minutes each, supplemental library materials, interactive message board discussions, a mandatory end-of-course test, and may include online multiple choice quizzes (after each Real Time Session). Successful completion (scoring 80% or better) on the end-of-course test is required to earn a certificate of completion for the course.

*The lecture portion of this course combine both text and audio presentation, please be prepared to listen.

*To learn more about the requirements for earning a CE certificate, please refer to Receiving Your CE Credit and Course Completion Certificate.

Upon completion of this course, the participant should be able to discuss and interpret Course Materials: Course materials will be available in the course library prior to each Real Time Session.

Required Textbook(s): There is no required textbook for this course.

About the Instructors:
Andrea Steele is an experienced lecturer on the topic of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care at numerous international Veterinary Conferences, private continuing education events and in-clinic. Andrea has been an ICU technician for over 16 years, is a Veterinary Technician Specialist in Emergency and Critical Care, and is the Immediate Past-President of the Academy of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Technicians (AVECCT).

Course Outline:
Week 1 (Real Time Session May 6): Critical Care Basics-Assessing and Stabilizing
Content: The emergent arrival, a step by step approach to stabilization including; assessing and triage, primary survey, collecting the minimum database, emergency fluid therapy, vascular access techniques, oxygen supplementation methods and the secondary survey.

Week 2 (Real Time Session May 13): Critical Care Basics-Continued Care
Content: Once the emergent period is over, the patient becomes critical or intensive. We will discuss instrumentation of the patient including: blood pressure monitoring (direct and indirect), ECG monitoring techniques, and pulse oximetry. With each technique we will discuss the proper use of each device, as well as pitfalls. Next, techniques for obtaining blood gases (arterial and venous), and the advantages and disadvantages of each method will be discussed. Finally, calculations of constant rate infusions and techniques in pain management will round out this session.

Week 3 (Real Time Session May 20): Nursing Care of the Respiratory Patient
Content: Emergent patients can arrive in respiratory distress, or a critical patient under your care can suddenly go into respiratory distress. This session will focus on how to recognize and deal with respiratory distress, recognizing respiratory fatigue, and methods of assessing ventilation and oxygenation. Students will gain an understanding of respiratory changes that can occur in critical patients. Finally, we will explore long term oxygen supplementation and the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve, as well as criteria for mechanical ventilation.

Week 4 (Real Time Session May 27): Nursing Care of the Cardiac Patient
Content: ECG interpretation is a must for any technician, and we will focus on common arrhythmias we see in emergency and critical care. The cardiac patient, including common diseases and brief pathophysiology will be discussed. Finally, we will discuss the ongoing nursing care of these patients, and the rationale for some of the treatments that may be chosen.

CE Credits: 8

Tuition: $160 ($144 early bird special if enrolled by April 15, 2015)
**Enroll in both modules by May 6, 2015 and receive a 15% discount off the original course price.
* Students currently enrolled in and taking at least 2 classes or 5 units at an AVMA accredited or CAAHT approved Veterinary Technician Program may be eligible to receive a 50% discount off the regular rate for this course (upon verification of student status).
*To ensure participants are ready and prepared for classes, enrollment will close at 5 PM ET Wednesday, May 6, 2015, or when the maximum number of participants is reached.
*For more information on how online CE works, see the Participant Resource Center.

To Enroll:
  
  1. Enrollment qualifications: VIN CE courses are open to VIN member and non-member veterinarians. Veterinarians enrolling in a VSPN CE course must be a VIN member. Veterinary support staff must be a VSPN member to enroll in a VSPN CE or a VIN CE course open to VSPN member enrollment.
  2. Each enrollee must be able to receive emails from @vspn.org and @vin.com addresses. Email is our major form of communication with participants; personal emails are highly recommended rather than clinic/hospital email addresses.
  3. Each person is individually responsible for his/her own registration. To ensure that all information received is secure and correct, please do not enroll for a course on behalf of another individual.
  4. For further assistance call 800-846-0028 ext. 792 or email VSPNCE@vspn.org. Please include the course title, your full name, and contact information in your correspondence.
*Note: "This course is approved for 8 continuing education credits in jurisdictions which recognize AAVSB RACE approval; however participants should be aware that some boards have limitations on the number of hours accepted in certain categories and/or restrictions on certain methods of delivery of continuing education." Call VSPN CE at 800-846-0028 ext. 792 for further information. (Attendees are encouraged to check with their licensing jurisdiction(s) for information regarding recognition by their board).

Course withdrawal and refund policy: A complete refund of the paid course price will be issued when your withdrawal request is received prior to the listed start date of the course. If you wish to withdraw after the start date please contact the VSPN office 800-846-0028 ext. 792 to discuss eligibility for a pro-rated refund.
* Note: To ensure rapid handling of your request for withdrawal, we recommend that you call the VSPN office at 800-846-0028 ext. 792.

*For more information on VSPN's upcoming CE courses, check the VSPN Course Catalog.

Charlotte Waack, RVT, CVT
VSPN Director/VSPN CE Interim Director

VSPN CE Services: VSPNCE@vspn.org
800-846-0028 or 530-756-4881; ext. 792
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from the United Kingdom: 01452 226154
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from Australia: 02 6145 2357


800.700.4636  |  CEonVIN@vin.com  |  530.756.4881  |  Fax: 530.756.6035
777 West Covell Blvd, Davis, CA 95616

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