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VETERINARY SUPPORT STAFF

    
VSPN CE Course TECH240-1114: Basic Avian Nursing Care
Audio and Text: The Real Time Sessions lecture will be predominantly text with audio used to answer questions

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Instructor(s): Jenni Jenkins-Perez, LVT, CVT, AA, BAS (VT)
Course Open: November 18-December 26, 2014
Real Time Sessions (RTS): Tuesdays, November 25, December 2, 9 and 16; 9:00-10:30pm 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 basic course is designed for the veterinary technician and veterinary assistant who occasionally sees avian patients in practice or has an interest in learning about avian 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 course will cover basic avian anatomy and physiology and how their unique features differ from the mammalian patient. The basics of husbandry, behavior, nutrition, and common disorders will be discussed throughout the Real Time Sessions. Proper history taking, physical examination, and basic nursing care of the hospitalized avian patient will be discussed, including but not limited to medication administration, phlebotomy, fluid therapy, and common emergencies.

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 have 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.

About the Instructors:
Jenni Jenkins-Perez has years of experience with various avian species ranging from finches and canaries to ostriches and emus in both zoo/aquarium practice and private practice. Currently, she is a part-time veterinary technician for a veterinary specialty practice and is president of the Veterinary Laboratory Association for 2014.

Course Outline:
Week 1 (Real Time Session November 25): Anatomy and Physiology, Husbandry, History Taking, and the Physical Exam
Content: This session will discuss avian anatomy, physiology, husbandry, nutrition, and client education pertaining to the avian patient. History taking and the physical examination will also be covered this week, emphasizing the importance of proper restraint to avoid undue stress of the patient.

Week 2 (Real Time Session December 2): Common Disorders of the Avian Patient
Content: Husbandry, nutritional, and behavioral disorders such as crop stasis/crop burns, hypovitaminosis A, feather picking, and bumblefoot will be discussed. Other non-nutritional related disorders covered this week include parasitism, polyomavirus, chlamydiosis, psittacine beak and feather disease, proventricular dilatation disease, and cloacal papillomatosis. Clinical signs and the technician and assistant's role in the care of patients with these disorders will be emphasized during this session.

Week 3 (Real Time Session December 9): Caring for the Hospitalized Patient, Part I
Content: This week's session will cover the basics of what to do when the avian patient is hospitalized. Topics include grooming, phlebotomy, parenteral and oral medication administration, fluid therapy, tube and/or assisted feeding, bandaging, and obtaining various laboratory samples

Week 4 (Real Time Session December 16): Caring for the Hospitalized Patient, Part II
Content: This session includes caring for the critically ill bird and related emergencies. Topics covered include common emergencies seen in practice. Traumatic injuries including fractures, predator attacks, flying into windows, etc., will be outlined in the Real Time Session. Other emergencies covered will include causes of respiratory distress, heavy metal toxicosis, dystocia/egg binding, prolapse, hypoglycemia, and hypocalcemia. The focus of this session includes the veterinary technician and assistant's role in handling emergency situations.

CE Credits: 6

Tuition: $120 ($108 early bird special if enrolled by November 4, 2014)

* 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 November 25, 2014, or when the maximum number of participants is reached.
*For more information on how online CE works, see the Participant Resource Center.

To Enroll:
  » Enroll Now
  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 1-800-700-INFO (4636) 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/VIN 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).

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 VIN/VSPN office 1-800-700-INFO (4636) to discuss eligibility for a pro-rated refund.
* Note: To ensure rapid handling of your request for withdrawal, we recommend that you call the VIN/VSPN office at 1-800-700-INFO (4636).

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

The CE team:

Charlotte Waack, RVT, CVT
VSPN CE Coordinator

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: 01452226154


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

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