VetSkill
Level 2
QN: 603/5307/7
Curriculum Active
VetSkill Level 2 Diploma in Patient Care Assistance
Official qualification regulated by Ofqual, awarded by VetSkill. Classified as a Occupational Qualification. Total guided learning hours: 400 hours.
Qualification Level
Level 2
Awarding Body
VetSkill
Syllabus Units
10 Units
Guided Hours
400 hrs
Instant access to interactive lessons, quizzes, and spaced revision.
Course Syllabus & Study Modules
Complete breakdown of verified curriculum topics and learning objectives.
1
Animal Environment and Accommodation
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand accommodation and environment requirements that are suitable and safe for animals
- Be able to identify and report potential hazards and breaches of security within animal accommodation/enclosures
- Understand the use of different cleaning materials and equipment
- Be able to clean and maintain animal, accommodation, enclosures, environment and equipment and provide appropriate resources including species specific enrichment
- Understand hygiene, bio security procedures and infection controls when working with animals including quarantine and isolation
- Be able to maintain hygiene, bio security procedures and infection controls when working with animals including quarantine and isolation
2
Animal Health and Welfare
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Know the types of basic medication, routes of administering medication, safe handling and disposal of medication
- Be able to store
- use and administer medication in line with legislative and veterinary instructions as appropriate
- Understand signs that indicate potential problems with animals’ health and welfare and the actions that should be taken
- Be able to monitor
- record and report the health and welfare of animals in line with animal welfare legislation and workplace policies
- Be able to observe and be aware of the behaviour of animals and take appropriate actions
- Know how to provide appropriate care, for example coat, skin, scales, plumage and feet to ensure good health and appearance
- Know how to assist with animal first aid, urgent, ongoing and preventive care requirements as appropriate
- Be able to assist with emergency care
3
Assisting with Diagnostic Imaging
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand the basic principles of radiation protection
- Understand the basic principles of the physics of radiography
- Know the structure and function of basic radiography equipment
- Know the purpose and types of contrast media used in radiography
- Understand the basic principles of ultrasound imaging
4
Assisting with Laboratory Procedures
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Be able to perform routine haematology tests
- Understand the principles of biochemical blood testing
- Be able to use in-ho
- use analysers to perform routine biochemical tests
- Be able to work safely in the practice laboratory
- Be able to assist the veterinary team with collection of cytological specimens
- Understand the principles of collection and evaluation of urine samples
- Understand the life cycles, control and treatment of companion animal parasites and advice to be offered to clients
- Be able to prepare for collection of a range of diagnostic samples
- Understand equipment and sites for sampling of blood
- Understand procedure and rationale for packaging and labelling of samples for external laboratories
5
Introduction to Animal Anatomy and Physiology
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Know basic anatomy and physiology terms
- Understand basic cell structure
- Understand basic tissue types
- Understand the skeleton – function and basic bone identification
- Understand the heart, lungs and circulatory system
- Understand the digestive tract and associated organs
- Understand the role of the liver and kidneys
- Understand the endocrine system
- Understand the structure and function of the nervous system
- Understand basic reproduction and obstetrics and reproductive behaviour, including neutering
6
Introduction to Patient Care
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand basic capture techniques
- Know how to approach/handle/restrain/move/ recapture animals as part of routine husbandry appropriate for the species and individual
- Be able to approach/handle/restrain/move/recapture animals as part of routine husbandry appropriate for the species and individual
- Be able to identify and describe animals using appropriate methods to the species involved (e.g. scanning for microchips)
- Understand how the animal you are working with learns and the basic principles of re-enforcement techniques
- Be able to exercise/socialise animals and provide appropriate enrichment relevant to their specific needs
- Understand the feeding, watering and basic nutrition requirements of animals, and characteristics of foodstuffsBe able provide food and water to animals in the veterinary practice environment
7
Legislation and Safe Working Practices
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand UK and EU Animal related legislation and its relevance to a veterinary practice
- Understand workplace policies and procedures relevant to the health and welfare of animals
- Understand safe working practices in the veterinary environment
- Be able to work safely within the veterinary environment
- Be able to maintain, update and reference correct veterinary medical records in accordance with current legislation
- Understand the importance of good customer experience (internal and external)
- Be able to deliver customer experience (internal and external), where applicable, in line with workplace policies and procedures
8
Techniques in Medical Patient Care
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand the principles of medical nursing
- Be able to perform a basic patient assessment
- Understand ante-natal requirements for a range of domestic species
- Know how to assist with parturition and the provision of maternal post-partum care
- Understand fundamental principles in neonatal care
- Know how to provide assisted feeding care to patients
- Understand the principles and materials required for Intravenous Fluid Therapy (IVFT)
9
Techniques in Surgical Patient Care
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand types and uses of a range of surgical instruments, equipment and theatre furniture
- Be able to correctly fold surgical drapes and recognise the types and properties of surgical gowns and drapes
- Be able to assist scrubbed personnel to don surgical attire
- Understand the principles and means of cleaning and sterilising surgical equipment
- Be able to demonstrate appropriate theatre etiquette
- Be able to assist with the preparation of the patient for surgery
- Be able to provide assistance during surgery
- Understand procedures for cleaning of theatre
- Understand principles of wound care and management
- Know how to recognise common post-operative surgical site complications
- Understand assessment and basic management of pain in domestic species
10
Veterinary Care Support
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Be able to provide general care in the veterinary environment
- Be able to provide specific nursing care to animals
- Be able to assist with diagnostic procedures
- Be able to assist with end of life care
- Understand common diagnostic tests carried out in veterinary practice
- Be able to perform diagnostic tests in veterinary practice
Regulatory & Verification Details
- Qualification Number (QN)
- 603/5307/7
- Regulated Status
- Available to learners
- Awarding Body
- VetSkill
- Qualification Type
- Occupational Qualification
- Operational Start
- Dec 2019