TECH158-1008 : Nutritional Support for the Hospitalized and Critical Care Canine and Feline Patient

INSTRUCTOR:
Ann Wortinger, LVT, VTS (ECC, SAIM)

DATES:
October 21-November 11, 2008
Real Time Sessions: Saturday evenings, October 25 and November 1, 2008; 8:00pm-9:30pm ET (USA)

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Advancements in veterinary medicine continue to occur; however, sometimes good nutrition is overlooked as to its importance in the well-being of our patients. Nutrition is more than just a source of calories for fuel to run the machine; it is critical for good health and healing. Veterinary Technicians can provide essential input to veterinarians in identifying patients in need, formulating and implementing support, and providing extended follow up care with the patients. This course will provide the tools to accomplish good nutritional support for our hospitalized and critical care patients by looking at the individual needs and abilities of each patient.

Ann Wortinger is a published author and has specialty certification in both Emergency Critical Care and Internal Medicine. Her experience in general, emergency and specialty practices, as well as an educator at Wayne State University's Veterinary Technology Program provides solid experience in understanding nutritional support for patients.

The course will be presented in two (2) 90 minute real time interactive live sessions and will include online handouts, quizzes, and message board discussion interaction with both the instructor and other course participants. The course is geared toward veterinary technicians, especially those working with critical care patients. Participants should already have a strong grasp of basic nutrition and disease processes that may inhibit appropriate nutrient uptake.

Upon completion of this course, the participant will be able to

• distinguish patients most at risk for development of malnutrition.
• list sources of malnutrition and goals of nutritional support.
• recognize adverse effects associated with feeding.
• calculate caloric requirements for enteral and parenteral nutrition.
• use the guidelines for initiation of nutritional support and assessment.
• classify and differentiate feeding options including tube feedings.
• prepare general diet selection and initiate feedings.
• recognize complications of tube feeding due to mechanical, gastrointestinal, metabolic, and infectious disorders.
• implement feeding orders
• compute, discuss, and demonstrate diet transitions for patients.

TEXTBOOK: There is no required text for this course; however, the instructor recommends the following texts.

• Wortinger, A. (2007). Nutrition for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses. Wiley-Blackwell. VIN Store: https://store.vin.com/custom/edit.asp?p=99742
• Hand & Novotny. (2006). Pocket Companion to Small Animal Clinical Nutrition, 4th ed. Mark Morris Institute.

COURSE OUTLINE:

Week 1: Recognizing who needs nutritional support
Content: Recognizing that a problem exists is the first part of addressing the problem. We'll go through who needs nutritional support, how best to provide it. Included will be a discussion on problems that lead to malnutrition, common adverse effects of nutritional support, guidelines for initiation of nutritional support and calculation of caloric requirements.

Week 2: Getting the food in the patient and avoiding complications
Content: Nutrition doesn't do you any good if the patient either doesn't eat the food or isn't receiving adequate amounts of food. We'll discuss tube feeding options and common complications that can occur. Writing feeding orders in the hospital will also be covered. Ultimately, we may want or need to transition the patient to another diet, how are we going to do this and when?

LIBRARY MATERIALS: Library materials will be made available prior to the topic week so participants will have plenty of time to prepare for the real time sessions and discussion.

MESSAGE BOARD DISCUSSIONS: Message board discussions regarding the topic presented will begin on the day the course opens and continue for one week following the last real time session. These discussions will be held in the VSPN CE course area.

CE HOURS: 3

TUITION:
$59 ($53.00 early bird special if registered before October 7, 2008).
*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). You must include the following information in the comments section of the CE enrollment form in order to be eligible for this discount: your program director's name and contact information (email/phone) and school name.

** NOTE: Registration will be closed when the maximum number of participants is reached or at 5pm ET the day of the first real time session.

• Minimal computer requirements for participating in VSPN and VPSNCE
  

• How To's of Online CE

• Polices & Procedures

TO REGISTER:

1. Each person must individually be a registered member of VSPN (www.vspn.org). Membership in VSPN is free.
2. To enroll in any VSPN CE course click on the ENROLL NOW link below the course title on the right side of the page at www.vspn.org/CE
3. Each enrollee must be able to receive emails from @vspn.org and @vin.com addresses. This is our major form of communication with participants. It is highly recommended that course participants use their own, personal emails rather than clinic/hospital email addresses.
4. VIN Member veterinarians SHOULD NOT register for their staff. Please have the staff member register through VSPN. Please email VSPNCE@vspn.org if you have questions.

Note: "This course has been submitted for approval for 3 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 1-800-700-4636 for further information." (Attendees are encouraged to check with their licensing jurisdiction(s) for information regarding recognition by their board).

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COURSE WITHDRAWAL AND REFUND POLICY: Withdrawal prior to the listed start date of a course entitles the registrant to a complete refund or a credit toward a future VSPN or VIN CE course, whichever is preferred. Withdrawal within 1 week after the listed start date (i.e. including no more than one real-time session) entitles the registrant to a credit toward any future VIN CE course. (Does not apply to courses with only one real-time session.) After the first real-time session, a registrant may withdraw due to special circumstances and receive prorated credit towards a future VIN course. These requests will be handled on an individual basis. The amount of the prorated credit will be determined based on 65% of the time remaining in the course at the time of withdrawal. It is not possible to withdraw retroactively.
Note: To ensure rapid handling of your request for withdrawal, we recommend that you call the VIN office at 1-800-700-INFO (4636).

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** For More Information on VSPN's upcoming CE Courses, check out http://www.VSPN.org/CE

Nanette R. Walker Smith, M.Ed., RVT, CVT, LVT
VSPN Content Director & CE Coordinator
VSPNCE@vspn.org
1-800-846-0028 or 1-530-297-4950, ext 187

Charlotte Waack (Charlotte@vspn.org), ext 193
Chris Upchurch (Chris@vspn.org); ext 197
VSPN CE Services
1-800-846-0028 or 1-530-297-4950

[ CE MAIN | COURSE CATALOG | RACE/GETTING CREDITS | ONLINE CE HOW TO | SUGGEST A COURSE | VIN MAIN ]

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