How to enrol:
Enrolment for 2012 Short Courses is now available. Where enrolment is available online via the web, simply press the ‘Enrol’ button below. If enrolment is not available online, or, if you would prefer to enrol via phone, fax or in person, simply telephone us with your credit card details, or download and fax or mail your completed application form.
Enrol offline: download application form
Target Audience
The program provides an orientation to all of the major aspects of veterinary nursing.
Course Content
Lectures, discussion, demonstrations and a clinic visit. It focuses on dogs and cats but presenters also try to answer questions about other species of animals. Please note that the order of presentation may vary.
Session 1:
Introduction to Veterinary Practice
- Roles of the veterinary nurse
- Getting a job
Introduction to Dog and Cat Behaviour
- Introduction to dog behaviour
- Principles of dog training
- Behavioural problems in dogs
- Introduction to cat behaviour
- The sixth sense
- Recognised breeds of dogs seen in Australia
- Breeds and general characteristics of the domestic cat
Session 2:
Introduction to Dog and Cat Health
- Internal parasites
- External parasites
- Infectious diseases and prevention
- Parasite control
- Neutering
- Zoonoses
Introduction to Feeding Cats and Dogs
Introduction to Grooming Dogs and Cats
Session 3:
Assisting in the Consult Room Handling and restraint of dogs in veterinary practice
- Introduction
- Removing a dog from a cage or pen
- Lifting dogs
- Handling and restraint of cats in veterinary practice
- Animal examination
- Identification of individual patients and their possessions
- Sexing, aging and weighing dogs
- Sexing, aging and weighing cats
Session 4:
The Role of the Veterinary Nurse in Surgery
- Introduction
- Sterilisation
- Disinfectants and antiseptics
- General cleaning of operating theatre
- Preparing equipment and materials
- Staff preparation for surgery
- Pre-operative animal preparation
Session 5:
The Role of the Veterinary Nurse in Reception, Pharmacy and Anaesthesia
The role of veterinary nursing in reception:
- Introduction
- Admissions
- Discharges
- Dealing with difficult clients
- Coping with grief
The role of veterinary nursing in pharmacy:
- Introduction
- Packaging of drugs, poisons and controlled substances
The role of veterinary nursing in anaesthesia:
- Introduction
- Anaesthetic terminology
- Reasons for administration of anaesthesia
- Inhalation anaesthesia
- Routine post anaesthetic care
Session 6:
The Role of the Veterinary Nurse in Veterinary Diagnostic Procedures
- Introduction
- Role of clinical pathology tests
- The role of the veterinary nurse
- Containers for clinical pathology samples
- Ultrasound
- Endoscopy
- Flexible endoscopes
Session 7:
Clinic Visit During this session we will tour an emergency centre and discuss:
- Design
- Management of clients and patients
Session 8:
First Aid for Dogs and Cats
- Dressing minor wounds and applying a compression bandage
- Suitable housing for injured animals
There is no formal assessment in the program. You will be awarded a certificate of attendance if you attend a minimum of six sessions. Although it is anticipated that completion of the program will make you more informed and hopefully a more attractive candidate as an employee, it is no guarantee of employment in a field that is highly competitive.
Refund Policy (short courses)
Course Withdrawal & Refunds:
Fee refunds will only be issued if a course withdrawal request
is received at least five (5) working days prior to the date of
course commencement. A 25% administration fee will be charged.
No refunds will be issued for withdrawal requests received after
this time.
Course Transfers:
Students wishing to transfer to a future start date of the same
course will be accepted if a request is received at least five
(5) working days prior to the date of course commencement, and
providing a suitable future course offering is available. For
all transfer requests, a $35 transfer fee will apply.
Course Cancellation by the
Institute: Where a course is cancelled due to
unforeseen circumstances, a full refund will be issued.
Processing of refunds takes a minimum
of twelve (12) working days. All refunds will be made directly
to the payee, and will be mailed to the payee’s address as shown
on the application form. For online/web-based fee payments made via credit card, refunds will only be made to the payee’s credit card as was used for the original fee payment.