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OPEN FOR ENROLLMENT
TO
VETERINARY SUPPORT STAFF

    
VSPN CE Course TECH248-0715: Basic Exotic Small Mammal Nursing
Audio and Text: In some of the course Real Time Sessions the lecture will be predominantly audio
while in others the lecture will be predominantly text.

  

Instructor: Jody Nugent-Deal, RVT, VTS (Anes, CP-Exot)
Course Open: July 3- August 12, 2015
Real Time Sessions (RTS): Sundays July 12, 19, 26, and August 2, 2015, 8:30-10:00pm 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 instructor 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 intermediate course course is focused towards the veterinary technician and veterinary assistant who sees exotic small mammal patients in practice or has an interest in learning about exotic small mammal nursing care.
VSPN CE Course: This course has been RACE approved for veterinary technicians only. The Veterinary Information Network (VIN) is RACE Provider #22.

Course Description:
This new course will teach participants the nursing skills needed to successfully care for exotic small mammals such as rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, chinchillas and other small rodents in a clinical setting. This interactive class will discuss how to properly house and care for these unique species as well as perform a proper physical examination. Participants will also learn a variety of nursing skills such as venipuncture techniques, catheterization sites and fluid therapy routes, radiographic positioning, diagnostic sample collection and syringe/hand feeding techniques. Come join us for a fun, informative and interactive class! This class can be used for CE credit for the AVTCP Exotic Companion Animal VTS application.

This course consists of four (4) Real Time Sessions of ninety (90) 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 will 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 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.

Recommended Textbook(s):

About the Instructor:
Jody Nugent-Deal is a registered veterinary technician and VTS in both Anesthesia and Clinical Practice, Exotic Companion Animal. Jody has worked in veterinary medicine for over 20 years and has worked for the UC Davis William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital since 1999. Jody spent the first 10 years of her career in the Exotic Animal Medicine Department before moving to the Small Animal Anesthesia Department. Jody is very active with the AVTA and the AVTCP. She serves on many committees for both groups and is a Member at Large for the AVTA and the Executive Secretary for the AVTCP. Jody is a well-known lecturer, instructor and has contributed to many publications. Jody has a special interest in emergency and critical care, anesthesia and pain management in canine, feline and exotic animal species.

Course Outline:
Week 1 (Real Time Session July 12): Basic Husbandry and Hospitalization
Content: Is your clinic properly set up to see exotic small mammals? Week one will discuss husbandry requirements and special hospitalization needs for companion exotic small mammals such as rabbits, ferrets and rodents. Dietary requirements and basic anatomy for these species will also be reviewed.

Week 2 (Real Time Session July 19): Physical Examination and Venipuncture Techniques
Content: As technicians, we spend a great deal of time throughout the day providing nursing care to in hospital patients. Due to this, we must be able to recognize changes in patient status. Week two will discuss how to properly recognize these changes by being able to perform a head-to-toe physical examination. Good venipuncture skills are a must for those working with exotic animals. Many different techniques and various sites will be discussed for each species.

Week 3 (Real Time Session July 26): Fluid Therapy, Catheterization and Basic Stabilization Techniques
Content: Week three will discuss basic fluid therapy techniques in exotic small mammals. Participants will learn about the various intravenous and intraosseous catheter sites commonly used as well as the use of subcutaneous and oral fluid therapy. This week will end with a discussion about triage and basic stabilization techniques.

Week 4 (Real Time Session Auguts 2): Radiographic Positioning, Diagnostic Sampling and Nursing Care
Content: Week four will discuss proper radiographic positioning and diagnostic sampling techniques. Sedation and general anesthesia is a must in many cases to obtain these diagnostics and will be discussed in detail. This course will end with a discussion about hand feeding and general nursing care.

CE Credits: 6

Tuition: $120 ($108 early bird special if enrolled by June 19, 2015)

* 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 5PM ET July 10, 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 6 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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