Lantra Awards Level 3 Work Based Diploma in Veterinary Nursing – Equine

LANTRA-AWARDS

vocational

This element integrates equine veterinary nursing practice with laboratory diagnostics, focusing on the application of clinical pathology to support disease diagnosis and monitoring in horses. Learners must demonstrate competence in collecting, handling, and processing equine specimens, understanding how laboratory findings inform nursing care plans for commonly encountered disorders of the musculoskeletal, integumentary, and nervous systems. Practical application includes aseptic technique, use of diagnostic equipment, and infection control measures specific to equine practice to safeguard both animal and human health.

Objectives

Exam Tips

Pitfalls

Key Terms

Mark Points

What You Need to Demonstrate

Key skills and knowledge for this topic

Award credit for demonstrating aseptic technique when collecting venous blood samples from a horse, including correct restraint and site preparation.
Expect evidence of performing and interpreting a packed cell volume (PCV) and total protein using a microhaematocrit centrifuge and refractometer, with accurate recording of results.
Look for correct preparation and microscopic examination of a faecal sample using a McMaster slide for equine strongyle egg counts, including identification of common parasites.
Assess the ability to safely handle and process equine skin scrapings for ectoparasite identification, and link findings to appropriate nursing interventions for conditions like sweet itch.
Require demonstration of proper swab collection from a wound or skin lesion and subsequent culture inoculation onto agar plates within a sterile field.
Credit should be given for accurate completion of laboratory request forms and specimen packaging that adheres to legal requirements for category B infectious substances transport.
Check understanding of quality control procedures, such as running controls alongside patient samples and maintaining equipment logs for autoclaves and incubators.
Evaluate the creation of a nursing care plan that incorporates diagnostic results, e.g., adjusting bandaging frequency based on bacterial culture sensitivity from a wound swab.

Marking Points

Key points examiners look for in your answers

Award credit for demonstrating aseptic technique when collecting venous blood samples from a horse, including correct restraint and site preparation.
Expect evidence of performing and interpreting a packed cell volume (PCV) and total protein using a microhaematocrit centrifuge and refractometer, with accurate recording of results.
Look for correct preparation and microscopic examination of a faecal sample using a McMaster slide for equine strongyle egg counts, including identification of common parasites.
Assess the ability to safely handle and process equine skin scrapings for ectoparasite identification, and link findings to appropriate nursing interventions for conditions like sweet itch.
Require demonstration of proper swab collection from a wound or skin lesion and subsequent culture inoculation onto agar plates within a sterile field.
Credit should be given for accurate completion of laboratory request forms and specimen packaging that adheres to legal requirements for category B infectious substances transport.
Check understanding of quality control procedures, such as running controls alongside patient samples and maintaining equipment logs for autoclaves and incubators.
Evaluate the creation of a nursing care plan that incorporates diagnostic results, e.g., adjusting bandaging frequency based on bacterial culture sensitivity from a wound swab.

Examiner Tips

Expert advice for maximising your marks

💡When compiling your portfolio, include a reflective account for each diagnostic procedure explaining how the result influenced the nursing care plan, linking theory to practice.
💡During observed assessments, verbalise infection control steps clearly, including hand hygiene before and after specimen handling and waste disposal routes.
💡For the written component, revise the specific laboratory tests recommended for common equine conditions such as PPID (ACTH, insulin) and tying-up (CK, AST) to demonstrate applied knowledge.
💡Prepare to discuss the limitations of in-house versus referral laboratory tests, and how to decide when an external lab is necessary, considering equine-specific assays.
💡When presenting evidence of bandaging or wound care, always cross-reference the diagnostic findings (e.g., swab results) that determined your choice of dressing or topical agent.

Common Mistakes

Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

Confusing equine reference ranges for haematology and biochemistry with small animal values, leading to misinterpretation of results.
Failing to consider the effects of excitement or exercise on equine blood parameters such as packed cell volume (splenic contraction) when collecting samples.
Incorrect handling of urine samples, such as not preserving them for culture or not examining within 30 minutes of collection, resulting in artefactual changes.
Neglecting to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling equine samples with zoonotic potential, e.g., suspecting dermatophytosis (ringworm).
Using inappropriate anticoagulant tubes for blood collection (e.g., EDTA for clotting profiles) or under/overfilling tubes, affecting test accuracy.
Assuming that a negative faecal egg count rules out all internal parasites, overlooking tapeworms or bots that require different diagnostic methods.
Misidentification of common equine skin cytology findings, such as confusing eosinophils and neutrophils in inflammatory conditions like insect hypersensitivity.
Failing to calibrate and clean laboratory equipment (e.g., refractometer, centrifuge) regularly, leading to unreliable results.

Key Terminology

Essential terms to know

Understand essential terminology in relation to veterinary nursing practice Understand the normal form and function of cells and tissuesUnderstand the normal form and function of the nervous system and associated nursingcare for commonly encountered disordersUnderstand the role of infection in animal and human healthUnderstand the principles of disease transmission in veterinary practiceUnderstand the principles of disinfection and sterilisationUnderstand how to maintain personal hygiene in relation to cross-infection Understand the principles of infection monitoringUnderstand the function and use of laboratory equipment Understand how to collect and prepare specimens for examination Understand how to test pathological specimensUnderstand how to prepare specimens for transportation Understand the normal form and function of the musculoskeletal system and associated nursing care for commonly encountered disordersUnderstand the normal form and function of skin and associated nursing care for commonly encountered skin disordersUnderstand the principles of wound healing and careDeliver nursing requirements relating to skin, wound care, and bandaging

Ready to test yourself?

Practice questions tailored to this topic

Lantra Awards Level 3 Work Based Diploma in Veterinary Nursing – Equine

What You Need to Demonstrate

Marking Points

Examiner Tips

Common Mistakes

Key Terminology

Ready to test yourself?

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