Enroll Now

Tuition: $132 ($119 early bird special if enrolled by June 25, 2024) * Students currently enrolled in an AVMA accredited or CVMA approved Veterinary Technician Program may be eligible to receive a 50% discount off the regular rate for this course (upon verification of student status). Prices are listed in US dollars.

Course Information:
This course is designed to review the current theory and practice of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) based on the RECOVER guidelines in the small animal hospital. This course will focus on veterinary technician interventions and skills used to prepare the hospital for a cardiopulmonary arrest event, identify patients at risk for arrest, basic life support procedures and protocols to follow, advanced life support procedures and protocols to follow, the team approach to CPR, and care of the post-cardiopulmonary arrest patient.

• Explain the RECOVER initiative
• Discuss hospital and staff preparedness
• Identify crash cart essentials
• Review advanced directive orders
• Discuss the CPR roles and team approach
• Review compression rates and techniques
• Explain cardiac and thoracic pump theories
• Discuss intubation and breathing rates
• Recognize the importance of 2-minute BLS cycles
• Review venous access/IV fluid therapy
• Discuss drug therapies used
• Explain ECG and ETCO2 monitoring
• Name the most common arrest rhythms
• Review signs associated with ROSC
• Discuss the team approach to CPR, including debriefing
• Review medical and nursing care of the post-CPA patient
• Identify when to stop CPR efforts
• Discuss the quality of life of the post-CPA patient
• Review when to stop CPR efforts

RACE Accreditation: This program has been submitted (but is not yet approved) for 6 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.

Week 2 (Real Time Session July 23): Basic Life Support
This session will focus on the aspects of basic life support, including chest compression technique and posture, ventilation technique and options, and rescuer cycles.

Week 3 (Real Time Session July 30): Advanced Life Support
This session will focus on the aspects of advanced life support, including drug access and administration, monitoring device usage and interpretation, and return of spontaneous circulation.

Week 4 (Real Time Session August 6): Post-Cardiopulmonary Arrest Care
This session will focus on the aspects of post-cardiopulmonary arrest patient care once the return of spontaneous circulation is achieved, including debriefing, the post-CPA algorithm, respiratory optimization, hemodynamic optimization, and neuroprotection.

Successful completion (scoring 80% or better) on the end-of-course test is required to earn a certificate of completion for the course. To learn more about the requirements for earning a CE certificate, please refer to Receiving Your CE Credit and Course Completion Certificate.

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. For further assistance call 800-846-0028 ext.792 or email VSPNCE. Please include the course title, your full name, and contact information in your correspondence.