Veterinary Nursing Assistant Level 2 Diploma (RQF).

This course is open to anyone aged 16 and above.

Minimum Age restriction

16

Average completion timeframe

You have 24 months to complete your course.

Assessement requirements

You will be assessed via a combination of video and photo submissions, your supervisor will also need to provide witness testimonies.

Placement or Practical required

This course includes a mandatory placement to provide evidence of practical skills. The placement must be within a registered Veterinary Practice, or an animal establishment that has an element of veterinary care.

You are free to arrange this yourself, but if you prefer, we can arrange this for you for an additional fee.

We are pleased to offer placements with Abbey House Vets - a leading veterinary practice in Leeds and a respected name in West Yorkshire veterinary care. Their highly trained and caring teams of vets, nurses and support staff are proud of the standard of care they have provided to pet owners in Leeds and surrounding areas for over 40 years. The clinic is situated in Batley and has operating facilities so many day procedures can be carried out on site.

During your placement you will have the opportunity to gain experience in:

• Handling and moving a variety of species
• Assisting in a health check
• Cleaning and preparing appropriate accommodation for different species
• Providing an appropriate diet

Should this interest you, add the course placement to your basket when purchasing this course. 

If placement or practical required, when?

Placement training can be completed when it suits the learner.

Certification Timeframe

Learners can expect their certification within 6 months of completing the course, following the (EQA) External Quality Assurance of assessment.

All course fees, inclusive of all payment plans including our Premium Credit Limited option, must be settled before certification can be ordered.

*You will have access to the course for 24 months.

Unit 1: Principles of Animal Health

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand terminology commonly used in veterinary practice and how this relates to a range of species
• Understand the signs of normal and abnormal health in dogs, cats rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, lizards, snakes and tortoises
• Understand how to ensure good health and carry out routine health checks

Unit 2: Principles of First Aid

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the principles of first aid and companion animal veterinary emergencies
• Understand the importance of communication within the veterinary team and how to support a client during the emergency
• Understand the legislation involved in first aid treatment, how to recognise a veterinary emergency, the information required when dealing with an emergency call and how to treat common injuries

Unit 3: Principles Hygiene, Cleaning and Disinfection in an Animal Care Environment

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the high standard of cleaning and hygiene in an animal nursing environment, to prevent the spread of disease and infection
• Be able to identify infectious diseases commonly seen in domestic mammals and reptiles and the importance of maintaining a clean environment
• Understand the difference between disinfection and sterilisation and understanding the safe use of cleaning and disinfection chemicals
• Understand how to follow a cleaning protocol with a thorough understanding of areas to be cleaned and their level of infection risk
• Understand how to sterilise equipment in a veterinary practice, understand waste disposal methods and how to reduce waste in an animal nursing environment

Unit 4: Reception and Administrative Duties in an Animal Care Environment

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the structure of a veterinary practice, the roles within the practice and their tasks
• Understand the services provided in a veterinary practice including the referral process and the promotion and marketing of the veterinary services
• Understand the professional standards and requirements in a veterinary environment
• Understand the importance of health and safety in the veterinary workplace
• Understand how to deal with various clients including different methods of client communication, registering a new client, making appointments answering phones, taking payments, dealing with difficult or sensitive situations and the importance of client confidentiality

Unit 5: Euthanasia and Bereavement

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the reasons for euthanasia and the circumstances when euthanasia may be required
• Understand how the euthanasia process is carried out and the options of the disposal of a deceased pet
• Understand the stages of grief and how to recognise each stage

Unit 6: Principles of Body Language, Behaviour and Welfare

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the correct handling and restraint techniques during veterinary procedures, to reduce stress for domestic mammals and reptiles
• Understand how to recognise and manage stress and fear when handling a variety of companion animals

Unit 7: Veterinary Instruments

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand how to identify the instruments used for routine surgeries such as castration, spay and tumour removal
• Understand correct care, cleaning and storage of veterinary instruments as well as packaging and sterilisation

Unit 8: Veterinary Medicines in an Animal Care Environment

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the workings of the veterinary pharmacy, including stock control, safe and secure storage of medicines, waste disposal and the importance of adherence to protocols
• Understand veterinary medicines and each stage of the medicines management pathway, including prescribing, dispensing and administration

Unit 9: British Wildlife

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the most commonly treated British wildlife including garden birds, hedgehogs, rabbits, badgers, foxes and deer
• Understand the obligations to treat wildlife and the limitations to this treatment
• Understand the options available for further treatment and rehabilitation of wildlife if treatment is beyond the expertise of general practice

Unit 10: Practical Animal Handling and Restraint

Unit 11: Practical Animal Care

When studying this Veterinary Nursing Assistant Diploma Level 2, you will be required to build a computer based portfolio of evidence to showcase your knowledge and understanding throughout the course.