VETERINARY NURSING: DISEASES AND DISORDERS OF COMPANION ANIMAL EXOTICS

 

 

RACE Approved Interactive For Veterinary Technicians/Nurses

Course meets the requirements for 18 RACE hours of continuing education credit for veterinary technicians in jurisdictions which recognize AAVSB's 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.

RACE Subject Category: Scientific; Delivery Method: Interactive Distance; Program Number 750009.



This course does not require employment nor prior experience.

 

Course Focus - Learning Objectives - Completion Requirements

Veterinary Nursing: Diseases and Disorders of Companion Animal Exotics looks at diseases and disorders of ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, small rodents, sugar gliders, and hedgehogs. Individual systems are examined in the light of viral, bacterial, and parasite infections, along with neoplasia.

Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:

  • compare and contrast diseases of the gastrointestinal tract in ferrets including viral and bacterial diarrhea
  • identify and discuss disorders of the urinary tract system in ferrets
  • identify and discuss cardiac and respiratory diseases in ferrets, including myocarditis, heartworm disease, influenza, and pneumonia
  • evaluate endocrine and dermatological related diseases in ferrets
  • recognize Gastrointestinal Stasis in rabbits
  • compare and contrast respiratory diseases, including Pasteurellosis, in rabbits
  • identify and discuss disorders of the urinary tract and reproductive system in rabbits
  • compare and contrast bacterial, fungal, parasite, and viral dermatological infections of rabbits
  • identify and discuss diseases of guinea pigs, chinchillas, and other small rodents
  • compare and contrast diseases of sugar gliders, and hedgehogs including neoplasia, musculoskeletal and, reproductive disorders

Completion requirements:

Critical Thinking and Case Study Assignments: Designed to help the participant apply the newly learned skills and knowledge via implementation focused and patient based scenarios

Comprehension Quizzes: Must be submitted with a score of 80% or better, multiple attempts

Course Survey

A certificate of completion is provided.

 

How Does the Enrollment Process Work?

This course is designed to be as schedule friendly as possible as we understand it can be hard to fit interactive CE into an already busy life. Open enrollment allows students to enroll in this course at any time.

Once the course payment transaction has been submitted, we will receive a notification of enrollment. In addition, the student will be sent a couple of "heads up" emails. The payment receipt will be sent to the email address designated in the payment page of the shopping cart, by the person who paid.

There is a post-payment manual process we must complete in order to add the new student to the course.

Completing enrollments as quickly as possible is a priority but it can take a full 24 hours, especially on weekends and holidays. Once fully enrolled. the student will be sent a course welcome email containing important information, including how to access and log into the course.

 

Activity Requirements

Students are not expected to be online in the course at any specific times as there are no real time lectures.

In order to remain active in the course, a student must post assignments on a regular basis. Module or final exams, reading or viewing training materials, or just logging into the course, does not meet this requirement. Assignments are course activites that require submission to the instructor for review, grading (pass/fail) and feedback. As long as the participant continues to make regular progress, course access time is not set to a specific deadline.

If 30 days elapses without submitted assignment activity, the student will be removed from the course and graded out as incomplete, as the lack of activity will indicate the student wishes to drop the course.

But What If Something Comes Up?:

There are times that students will have situations that interfere with their ability to work the course on a regular basis. In that case an email to VetMedTeam, as soon as such a situation arises, will allow us to work with the student to adjust the time frame. It all comes down to communication.

 

Technology Requirements

Reading content within the course is provided via PDF therefore the ability to download files and open PDFs is required.

It is recommended that participants utilize a program such as MS Word to create, and save, their assignment submission to their computer. Then the information can be pasted into the assignment submission area.

 

Participant Feedback

When asked what aspects of the course liked best some responses were:

...I liked that the assignments required an in-depth study of the material in order to complete them. I felt the instructor expected much more than a cursory response for the assignments and case studies and therefore I was required to really convey my understanding of the diseases and disorders covered in the class. I liked this challenge. Feedback on the assignments was returned in a timely manner and I felt the instructor was available for any questions.

...The case studies were wonderful and the follow up questions after some of them really helped me hone my skills more. It is nice to take a step outside of typical clinical practice and evaluate all the possibilities not just what you have learned through your employer! I actually feel much more secure in my applying for the VTS!

...The assignments were good. They were very time consuming but really made me look deeper into the subject matter than I would have without.

...I enjoyed the case studies the most because I could figure out differentials, diagnostics, and treatments as if it was a real patient.

...It was nice to have my own timeline to complete the modules and case studies.

...being interactive without it needing to be live

...Everything was great! I think it's awesome that the reading material was provided. The course work was challenging, but not overwhelming. I like that I could work at my own pace and edit submissions as needed.

...The case studies. Not only was I learning about common medical conditions, I was also learning how to approach presenting complaints. This has sincerely elevated my work in hospital

 

Course Instructor

Jody Nugent-Deal, RVT, VTS (Anesthesia/Analgesia), VTS (Clinical Practice-Exotic Companion Animal)Jody Nugent-Deal, RVT, VTS (Anesthesia/Analgesia), VTS (Clinical Practice-Exotic Companion Animal)

Jody Nugent-Deal is a Registered Veterinary Technician and Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) in Anesthesia/Analgesia and Clinical Practice – Exotic Companion Animal. She has worked for the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital since 1999, working in the Companion Exotics Department for 10 years and currently the Anesthesia Department where she is the supervisor.

She is a founding member of the Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Clinical Practice and currently serves as the executive secretary for the group as well as the appeals committee chair. Jody is also an active member with the Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Anesthesia and Analgesia having served on the nominations, credentials, and appeals committees. Currently she serves as the President for the AVTAA as well as the appeals committee chair.

Jody is passionate about teaching and life-long learning. She recently started her own company where she provides CE via online webinars and in-clinic hands-on training. She regularly lectures for VSPN and VetMedTeam, teaching anesthesia, analgesia, and exotic animal medicine. Jody has had the opportunity to lecture throughout North America since 2000 on anesthesia and various exotic animal topics as well as publishing numerous articles and book chapters for both canine/feline and exotic animal medicine and
anesthesia topics.

 

Pricing

Price: $199.00 USD


Practices may enroll individual team members. To learn how to assign a specific team member to a course, please visit the Assigning Students page.


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