SAVN17
Clarification on how to complete Skill 1 (Plan, deliver and evaluate care for animals with a range of conditions) – student MUST address a minimum of four medical conditions. Of these four, the student MUST include a range of species, a range of patient ages and medical conditions: however students may address some or all of the other medical conditions listed.
Where the student does not address specific conditions, the clinical coach will record ‘student chooses not to undertake skill’, which will automatically light the four stars.
Reflective comments box
Some students are simply describing tasks in the reflective comments box; this misses the point of the box, which is to record reflection on performance (what was learned, what well, what didn’t etc). Clinical coaches must encourage students to reflect on their performance, which will help them to develop both their clinical performance and their learning skills.
Reading the guidance notes
It is apparent some clinical coaches and students don’t always refer to the guidance notes. These include the scope to be covered for relevant skills.
During the recent audit carried out by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) the following omissions have been identified:
Unit VN4 Applied animal welfare, health and husbandry for veterinary nurses Skill 1 Demonstrating correct techniques for handling and restraining animals for examination: Exotics – students MUST handle rabbits, birds, rodents and reptiles.
Unit VN9 Veterinary nursing support of diagnostic imaging Skill 11 Position patients for the following small animal views – a range of species MUST be included.
Unit 11 Supporting veterinary operating theatre practice Skill 10 Scrub up to assist with a surgical procedure – gloves; it has not always been clear that both open and closed gloving have been demonstrated by the clinical coach or both techniques practiced by the student.
Tutorials
Tutorial records need to demonstrate that the clinical coach and the student are planning training with clear and achievable targets being set and reviewed.
If you have any questions please contact your Quality Assurance Supervisor.