Avian and reptile anaesthesia | LECTURE | OPEN TO ALL

Speaker, Jenna Richardson

Room: Bruce Suite

Anaesthetics, in species less commonly seen in general practice, can be a little daunting. This lecture summarises the key points required to feel confident in anaesthetising the more unusual patient. Using a practical, case-based approach, consideration will be given to understanding key anatomical species differences, identifying underlying anaesthetic risk factors (e.g. co-morbidities), sensible anaesthetic drug choices and making the most of the equipment you have in your practice.

By the end of the lecture you will have an overview of Key Learning Points, understanding:

• Similarities and differences in the respiratory anatomy of reptile and avian species
• Appropriate and practical equipment required to safely anaesthetise these species
• Most common pharmaceuticals used in multi-modal anaesthesia
• Hospitalisation environment to promote an uneventful anaesthetic recovery
  

Wildlife triage | LECTURE | OPEN TO ALL

Speaker, Jenna Richardson

Room: Bruce Suite

Whether fledglings in Spring or underweight hedgehogs in Winter, veterinary surgeries are often the 'first-line' for members of the public bring injured or abandoned wildlife for assessment. As a profession, our role is to provide emergency care for these animals and, in many busy practices, it falls to the responsibility of the RVN for initial triage, prior to veterinary surgeon input. This lecture provides a case-based overview of the most common emergency conditions in wildlife. Points covered include clinical examination points, hospitalisation set up, provision of appropriate nutrition and expected outcomes.

By the end of the lecture you will have an overview of Key Learning Points, understanding:

• How to triage injured wildlife
• The importance of setting up a 'stress-free' enclosure
• Treatment plans for common conditions and species
  

Communication styles | LECTURE | OPEN TO ALL

Speaker, Olivia Oginska

Room: Bruce Suite

The global crisis in the veterinary industry impacted the large number of veterinary workplaces, bringing even higher levels of stress, difficulties in the intra-team communication and conflicts. It is incredibly challenging to nurture civility, collaboration, and psychological safety within the team, when the work pace and clients' expectations constantly increase.

In this talk, delegates will:

• understand the role of communication in building psychological safety in a veterinary workplace
• discover the pathomechanism of the “communication under the pressure”
• learn new techniques that will help veterinary professionals practice efficient and safe dialogues, and protect the workplace culture.

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Client management | LECTURE | OPEN TO ALL

Speaker, Olivia Oginska

Room: Bruce Suite

One of the most common and, at the same time, disheartening scenes that take place in the clinic’s waiting room is an angry client, complaining openly or even offending the members of the team. Managing such clients can seem stressful and daunting, but it is necessary to protect veterinary professionals. It is within the team’s hands - especially leader’s - to appropriately communicate with challenging clients and provide safety and mental support to the employees who fell victim to uncivil behaviour.

In this talk, delegates will:

• discover the impact of the leader-employer trust and leader’s integrity on the workplace culture
• gain a deep understanding of the process happening in the mind of a typical “difficult client”
• learn how to manage misbehaving clients appropriately and comfortably
  

Clinical reasoning in charity medicine and surgery | LECTURE | OPEN TO ALL

Speaker, Maureen Carnan

Room: Bruce Suite

This interactive lecture will explore the diverse challenges faced by veterinary professionals delivering a quality veterinary healthcare service in the face of limited resources. We will examine what affects our clinical decision-making and consider how we can effectively deliver acceptable, contextualized care for our patients. Please bring a smart phone or device with internet connectivity to participate in the interactive tasks.

Key learning Points:

By the end of this interactive lecture you should be able to;

• Recognize some of the theory around the clinical reasoning that you do every day.
• Devise strategies to develop your own clinical reasoning using tools and scaffolds.
• Evaluate resource limited cases using a spectrum of acceptable care options.
• Devise treatment and management plans based on the concept of contextualized care.
  

Making the most of your in-house laboratory | LECTURE | VN

Speaker, Ronnie Barron

Room: Grange Suite

In-house laboratories are now standard in veterinary practice. The lecture will cover important aspects of setting up the laboratory, the role of cytology and blood smear examination, and quality control and quality assurance. The relationship with external laboratories and avoidance of common pitfalls will also be discussed.

Key learning objectives:

• Important aspects of setting up an in-house laboratory
• Understand when in-house microscopic examination is appropriate
• Understand the need for quality control and quality assurance and the difference between them
• How to build a relationship with the external laboratory
  

Triage ultrasound of the emergency patient | LECTURE | VN

Speaker, Serena Bassolino

Room: Grange Suite

Emergency services can be extremely busy, and we have all experienced the feeling that we receive more patients that we have available resources for. In these circumstances the triage of incoming patients streamlines the workflow, reduces the stress of the people on shift and is the first step of making the difference between the life and death of patients. This lecture will focus on the different ways of triaging our patients and on how ultrasound is complementary to the physical examination.

Key learning points:

• Several triage and scoring system are available in veterinary medicine, and they are used to identify the most seriously ill patients and decide the order in which they need to be seen.
• Triage starts before the patient arrives to the hospital and readiness of personnel and equipment is time and life-saving.
• Although not part of many triage systems, point of care ultrasound (POCUS) is a valuable tool to assess the patients that arrive to the emergency service both on presentation and during their hospitalization.
  

Supporting your SVN | LECTURE | VN

Speaker, Jennifer Marshall

Room: Grange Suite

This lecture is aimed at all members of the veterinary practice, including Clinical Coaches, and will focus on the importance of effective mentorship when supporting the Student Veterinary Nurse in clinical practice. Subjects including roles of the mentor, training strategies, reflection and effective feedback will be discussed.

Key learning points:

• How to identify learning and mentorship opportunities
• How to effectively incorporate mentorship into clinical practice
• How to reflect on, improve and troubleshoot the mentorship process
  

An update in preventative health care | LECTURE | VN

Speaker, Nicola Lakeman

Room: Grange Suite

Preventative healthcare isn’t just about fleas, worms and vaccinations. The RVN is in a prime position in practice to discuss preventative healthcare with owners and to help educate them.

Key learning points:

• To be able to identify opportunities to discuss preventative healthcare.
• Learners will be updated on areas where there is new evidence that provides a basis for the advice that they give.
• Learners will be able to discuss how diet plays an important role in preventative healthcare.
  

Dermatology: what can nurses do? | LECTURE | VN

Speaker, Sue Paterson

Room: Grange Suite

Whilst the VSA does not permit RVNs to diagnose or treat pets there is much that an RVN can do working within the vet led team. Vets can delegate the investigation of dermatology cases to nurses and nurses are also able to help owner with advice around diets, topical therapy, ectoparasite control.

Learning objectives:

• Nurses will learn about the ways in which they can work within a vet led team to help veterinary surgeons diagnose and manage skin cases
• Nurses will learn about the basic diagnostic tests that can be undertaken in a primary care setting
• Nurses will understand the basic of setting up a RVN dermatology clinic within a primary care practice.
  

Introduction to suturing for VNs | PRACTICAL | VN

Speaker, Lissann Wolfe

Room: Earl Suite

Fee: £10 +VAT

This workshop is aimed at veterinary nurses who have little or no practical experience of suturing. During the session participants will be taught correct instrument handling, knot tying, and how to suture using basic suture patterns. By the end of the session, participants should be capable of applying the taught techniques to suture a simple skin incision.

Key learning objectives:

• Demonstrate correct instrument handling
• Perform the following suture patterns – Simple Interrupted, Cruciate, Simple Continuous
• Tie a Square Knot and a Surgeon’s Knot
  

Advanced suturing for VNs | PRACTICAL | VN

Speaker, Lissann Wolfe

Room: Earl Suite

Fee: £10 +VAT

This practical CPD cadaver suture course is aimed at RVNs or Vet Students who already have some experience with suturing. During the practical delegates will explore the following:

• Choosing a suitable suture material
• Making a surgical incision
• Horizontal and Vertical Mattress suture patterns
• How to bury the knot at the beginning of a subcutaneous suture
• Intradermal suture patterns
• How to perform an Aberdeen Knot
  

Ferret clinical exam | PRACTICAL

Speaker, Madonna Livingstone

Room: Earl Suite

Fee: £10 +VAT

This practical session will cover:

• Tips on removing ferrets from carriers
• How to handle friendly versus unfriendly ferrets (we have friendly and unfriendly canine and feline patients too!)
• How the clinical exam differs
• Tips on distraction techniques
• Restraint for venipuncture
• Sexing
  

Patient bereavement: having difficult conversations | LECTURE | OPEN TO ALL

Speaker, Fiona McDowall

Room: Bruce Suite

Communicating with clients whose animals are approaching their end of life can be stressful and emotional for pet owners; therefore, timely, empathetic and non-judgmental communication is vital for effective client support. How the veterinary team respond to client grief plays a vital role in the client experience.

Key learning objectives:

• Appreciate the relative importance of various communication techniques.
• Develop an awareness of the grieving process.
• Consider means by which clients can be supported following euthanasia of their pet.
• Examine the correlation between communication and “relationship building”.
  

Surgical complications | LECTURE | OPEN TO ALL

Speaker, Jon Hall

Room: Bruce Suite

Veterinary surgeons have owners’ and animals’ best intentions at heart, but surgery inevitably causes physical harm. Managing morbidity and maximising the benefit for the animals we treat preserves welfare. There is no surgery without potential complications, but through diligence, meticulous attention to detail and conscientious reflection we can minimise the risk of complications in current and future patients. There’s a fine balance between learning from negative outcomes to improve and self-flagellating with detrimental personal effects. Similarly, passing off a problem as ‘one of those things’ misses an opportunity to reflect and do better. Since complications are an unavoidable experience in surgery, thorough documented communications with owners can minimise the impact that complications have to the best of our efforts on our patients, the owners and ourselves.

Mental health: intentional presence | LECTURE | OPEN TO ALL

Speaker, Olivia Oginska

Room: Bruce Suite

Veterinary medicine certainly belongs to some of the most pressured, high pace and life-and-death industries. The intense daily schedule in a vet clinic rarely leaves employees much space for mental breaks or reflection, which often leads to debilitated wellbeing, mental illness, high prevalence of burnout and increasing employee turnover. Understanding the mechanisms that lead to mental exhaustion and learning the practical techniques that could prevent it is essential to protect the future of our profession.

In this talk, delegates will:

• discover the power of self-awareness
• learn how to utilise it to build workplace culture and protect their own mental health
• design their path towards intentional presence at work
  

Mental health: thriving at work | LECTURE | OPEN TO ALL

Speaker, Olivia Oginska

Room: Bruce Suite

In the last couple of years, most of the veterinary organisations around the world have been working on developing wellbeing programmes that would help veterinary professionals thrive at work. The topic of wellbeing has become very popular, yet still, its complexity and psychological roots make it incredibly challenging to grasp and put into practice. What does it mean to thrive at work? How to turn empty words into concrete action?

In this talk, delegates will:

• discover various phenomena contributing to wellbeing of a veterinary professional
• have an opportunity to decide what is the most important for them and their teams
• channel their focus into specific areas of wellbeing
• learn practical advice on how to take the first steps towards thriving at work
  

Antimicrobial stewardship in companion animal practice | LECTURE | OPEN TO ALL

Speaker, Spela Oberstar

Room: Bruce Suite

Veterinary professionals have a role to play in tackling antimicrobial resistance, which is recognised as a serious global public health threat. The lecture will explore how small animal practices can safeguard antimicrobials and keep them working both for the veterinary as well as human patients.

Key learning points:

• Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) in human medicine – learning from successes and failures
• Setting up antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) in a veterinary practice
• Challenges when applying AMS guidance to companion animal practice and how to address them
  

Introduction to veterinary dental nursing | LECTURE | VN

Speaker, Karen Carver

Room: Grange Suite

Learn anatomy and physiology of the oral cavity and have confidence in understanding the aetiology, development and prevention of common conditions. We will also discuss essential considerations for every dental examination.

Key learning points:

• Oral anatomy and physiology
• Common cases
• Considerations during dental examinations
  

Charting, scaling and polishing | LECTURE | VN

Speaker, Karen Carver

Room: Grange Suite

Covering instrumentation used in periodontal examination and surgical procedures, care of equipment – from periodontal probes to the dental machine and sharpening. You will learn how to perform a comprehensive oral assessment and document your findings.

Key learning points:

• Instrumentation
• Sharpening
• Performing a thorough oral examination
  

Nursing the oncology patient | LECTURE | VN

Speaker, Fiona McDowall

Room: Grange Suite

The prevalence of various types of cancer in companion animals is high. Treatment protocols for cancer vary according to the tumour type and both the grade and stage of disease. Treatment is likely to include one or more of the following approaches: chemotherapy, surgical oncology (SO) and radiation therapy (RT).

Key learning objectives:

• Develop an awareness of the various types of treatment for neoplasia.
• Understand the health and safety implications of each treatment modality.
• Appreciate both the immediate and delayed side-effects of chemotherapy and the appropriate nursing interventions that can be applied.
  

Advanced theatre nursing | LECTURE | VN

Speaker, Emma Boyce

Room: Grange Suite

The lecture will look at advanced nursing in the surgical and theatre environment. I will focus on key roles within the theatre area such as the scrub and circulating nurse. The lecture will explore advanced infection control techniques and will explain specific advanced surgical procedures.

Key learning objectives:

• Identify the differing nursing roles within the theatre environment and highlight the importance of these.
• Identify and implement good infection control practices.
• Recognise the pre, intra and post-operative concerns of specific advanced surgical procedures.
  

Dermatology sampling techniques | PRACTICAL

Speaker, Louise Anderson & Lissann Wolfe

Room: Earl Suite

Fee: £10 +VAT

This will be a hands-on practical session with a focus on skin and ear sampling focused on obtaining good quality diagnostic samples for cytology. The techniques covered will be acetate tape strips for cytology, ear sample cytology and fine needle aspirate dos and don’ts.

A knotty problem | PRACTICAL | OPEN TO ALL

Speaker, Jon Hall

Room: Earl Suite

Fee: £10 +VAT

Tying a secure knot is simply the most important transferrable surgical skill. Ensuring that square knots (Reef knots) rather than Granny knots are tied is common knowledge, but fewer people are aware of the advantage to being able to slip or tumble a knot and how hand tying can provide benefits in deep surgeries.

This practical session will quickly review how to slip a simple square knot, reiterate the importance of properly tying either a two-handed or one-handed tie, and then looks at some of the relatively simple hand and instrument tie knots of the modified Roeder, Western and Constrictor knot.