01. Demonstrate the skills required to safely handle and restrain a range of common animal species

Activities:

Intensive 1 week long introduction to safe animal handling and restraint in various animal species. Active learning and practice carried out at the Veterinary Nursing Skills Laboratory at Epping as well as the farms and equine yards belonging to NMIT. Students will be observed performing specific skills necessary for maintaining their own health and safety as well as animal health, safety and welfare throughout the course.

Related graduate capabilities and elements:

Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)

Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Ethical behaviour)

Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Ethical behaviour)

Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)

02. Consider how animal welfare and animal ethics should be approached by veterinary nurses in a range of case studies

Activities:

Preparatory reading, activities and reflection activities. Followed by active learning workshops and group discussions/controlled debate. Students will be comfortably introduced to the concept of animal ethics and the common ethical and often welfare related scenarios they may face as a veterinary nurse. Students will share their own experiences as well as listen to others. Students will need to provide a summary and reflection on their group discussion of specific case studies. Students will reflect on the professional codes of practice set out by the AVA and VNCA. Students will learn to form their opinions based on informed knowledge and experience and to respect that of others.

Related graduate capabilities and elements:

Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking)

Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)

Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Ethical behaviour)

Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Ethical behaviour)

Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)

03. Compare and contrast the human/animal bond formed with companion animals in a range of cultural contexts

Activities:

Preparatory reading, activities and reflection activities. Followed by active learning workshops and group discussions/controlled debate. Students will be introduced to the concept of the human/animal bond from a range of cultural contexts and the scenarios they may face as a veterinary nurse. Students will share their own experiences as well as listen to others. Students will need to provide a summary and reflection on their group discussion of specific case studies. Students will reflect on the professional codes of practice set out by the AVA and VNCA.

Related graduate capabilities and elements:

Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking)

Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)

Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Ethical behaviour)

Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Ethical behaviour)

Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)

04. Investigate the potential impacts of selection of particular breeding animals on the health and welfare of offspring

Activities:

Students will be given preparatory reading and activities offering students to reflect on sometimes ethical situations. They will join their peers in an active workshop and discuss their thoughts here. Working in groups they will present their ideas on challenging case studies. The prominent theme running through is animal ethics and welfare.

Related graduate capabilities and elements:

Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking)

Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)

Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)

Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Ethical behaviour)

Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Ethical behaviour)

Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)

05. Formulate appropriate nutritional plans for a range of healthy animal case studies

Activities:

Preparatory reading and activities, followed by active problem solving workshops. Canine and feline basic nutition is examined from the perspective of the differing needs of healthy animals in relation to factors including age, breed, activity levels and body weight. Students will develop information guidelines for potential clients on the nutrition requirements for common animal species. Students will also be tested on their understanding and applied knowledge using multiple choice questions.

Related graduate capabilities and elements:

Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking)

Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)

Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)

Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)

06. Identify a range of common companion animal training and behaviour problems and the appropriate advice which can be offered to clients from a veterinary nursing perspective

Activities:

Preparatory reading and activities followed by active workshops where students will be introduced to basic canine and feline behaviour and then considered from the perspective of applying them in the context of commonly reported animal behaviour #problems# by clients. Students will apply their knowledge to case studies to develop educational materials suitable to hand out to clients. These will need to demonstrate an understanding of normal animal behaviour and explain to owners how this relates to commonly perceived animal training and behaviour problems, including in the context of puppy classes.

Related graduate capabilities and elements:

Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking)

Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)

Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)

07. Design and communicate animal care and management plans for a number of case study animals including such aspects as housing, nutrition, behaviour and preventative health care

Activities:

Preparatory workshops and activities followed by active workshops where students will use case studies to apply their recent knowledge. Students will have to develop a care and management plan for a small animal and communicate the plan through digital media, e.g. videos demonstrating how to implement the various elements of these plans. They will also be required to produce a portfolio based on case studies and work samples created throughout the semester, involving the care and management plans and advice for a range of species. Students will be developing their ICT skills, sharing experiences and sharing this with others.

Related graduate capabilities and elements:

Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking)

Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking)

Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)

Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)