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Course overview

Registered Veterinary Nurses (RVN) perform a varied and integral role within the veterinary team.  Completing this award and meeting the required assessment criteria will allow graduates to apply to enter the register of veterinary nurses held by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), the regulatory body.^#

On entry to the course, you will enrol with the RCVS as a Student Veterinary Nurse (SVN).  During your placement periods within a veterinary practice, you will develop the practical skills you will require as an RVN.

The course will provide you with the practical, theoretical and technical skills required of an RVN. This will include use of evidence based veterinary nursing, leading to the completion of a dissertation in the final year. The required by the RCVS will be covered, in addition to advancing understanding and developing skills above and beyond this.  You will be taught in interprofessional, specialist facilities. Teaching approaches will be varied to suit the subjects and allow you to develop independence and take responsibility for your own learning. This will support your development to become a reflective practitioner. Assessments will align with professional body (RCVS) requirements and utilise a range of assessment types.

Students undertaking the Veterinary Nursing with Companion Animal Behaviour pathway will study diagnosis and treatment of behavioural problems, whereas students on the Veterinary Nursing with Small Animal Rehabilitation pathway will study rehabilitation of the veterinary inpatient. Those undertaking the honours degree in Veterinary Nursing will study leadership, business skills and consulting for veterinary nurses.

How will I be taught?

Students on veterinary nursing courses share a common curriculum for the first two years, studying the same modules, before spending their third year on placement. The main focus of the first three years of the course is to equip students with the day one skills and competences required by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) in order to practice as a Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN). Subjects will include veterinary physiology, professional skills of the veterinary nurse, companion animal management, anaesthesia and surgery, medical nursing, diagnostic imaging and disease diagnosis.

In the final year all veterinary nursing courses will share a number of common subjects such as anaesthesia, critical care and surgical techniques.

The specific Honours pathways will then allow students to specialise in their chosen field of study.

Students on the Veterinary Nursing with Companion Animal Behaviour pathway will study diagnosis and treatment of behavioural problems.

For students on the honours degree courses completion of an Honours Research Project will allow them the opportunity to more fully explore an area of veterinary nursing that is of particular interest.

Work Placement

To obtain the nursing qualification a minimum of 1800 hours is spent working in a registered veterinary nurse training practice, both as short block release and during the sandwich year. This hands-on experience complements the applied animal health, nursing, business and welfare sciences studied at Harper Adams.

Careers

Veterinary nursing is a career with lots of job satisfaction and there is a strong demand for registered veterinary nurses. Although the majority of RVNs work in general practice there are increasing opportunities for specialisation into different areas, such as patient rehabilitation and companion animal behaviour. Although primarily a companion animal qualification, the degree offers modules for those interested in other species, increasing the job opportunities available upon graduating.

The pharmaceuticals industry employs trained veterinary nurses. The degree also opens the door to wider opportunities concerning the health and welfare of animals.

Accreditation