Program Overview

BSc (Hons) Veterinary Nursing Top-up Blended Learning

About the course

The course is delivered at University Centre Myerscough and awarded by the University of Central Lancashire. This innovative and dynamic course is a progression route from the FdSc Veterinary Nursing course and provides a unique opportunity to gain an Honours Degree in Veterinary Nursing and enhance employability within the profession. The course focusses on the application of theory to professional practice and will facilitate both the personal and professional development of qualified registered Veterinary Nurses.

Key information

• Location: Myerscough College (Preston)
• Course length: 2 years
• Start date: September
• UCAS code: N/A

Course modules

Year 1

• Professional Practitioner Research Proposal
  • The module will foster research awareness, the development of transferrable skills, including the capacity for self-management and the concept of life-long learning.
• Veterinary Nursing Support of Pain Management
  • This module will enhance the student’s knowledge regarding the physiology of pain focusing on the impact pain has on an animal.
• Critical Care Veterinary Nursing
  • This module will cover the implementation and evaluation of the advanced nursing care of emergency surgical and critically ill medical patients.

Year 2

• Dissertation (Double module)
  • This module will enable the student to demonstrate their ability to work independently and nominate a topic of their choice that is of special personal interest and to investigate in depth this area of veterinary nursing practice.
• Veterinary Nursing of Life Limiting Conditions
  • This module will develop an appreciation of the ageing process and common conditions affecting geriatric animals and how these considerations affect the selection of appropriate nursing protocols for these patients.

Entry requirements & additional information

Entry requirements

• Applicants must hold a UK HE Level 5 qualification in veterinary nursing, for example a Foundation Degree in Veterinary Nursing or Diploma Higher Education Clinical Veterinary Nursing and appear on the RCVS register for veterinary nurses (or be eligible to apply / be in the process of applying to the RCVS to be entered onto the register).
• Applicants must also provide evidence of successfully completing a research-based module at Level 5.
• Applicants for whom English is a second language must be able to demonstrate proof of International English Language Testing System (IELTS) at level 7.0 or equivalent.

Learning and assessment

• Learning Environment: Learning activities on the course are diverse, including weekly lesson delivery on Canvas for each module the student is studying, and lectures, seminars, tutorials and workshops will also be delivered in the purpose-built veterinary nursing facility during the study weekends.
• Assessment: Students will face a variety of assessments including a combination of coursework, unseen examinations, individual presentations and practical assessments.

Progression

• On completion of the course further academic opportunities are available including, MA, MEd, MSc, MPhil, PhD and related courses.

Careers

• The course aims to provide a programme of veterinary nursing education which will enable BSc (Hons) degree holders to analyse key academic themes in the subject area and critically evaluate the wide range of management issues within different sectors of the veterinary industry.
• Examples of possible careers included:
  • Head Nurse in General Veterinary Practice
  • Senior Surgical / Medical Nurse in specialist referral Veterinary Practice
  • Lecturer/Senior Nurse in Veterinary Schools
  • Technical Advisor in Pharmaceutical Companies
  • Lecturer in Educational Establishments
  • Consultancy in Animal Health Companies
  • Managerial positions in Welfare Organisations

Professional accreditations

• The BSc (Hons) Veterinary Nursing has been validated by the University of Central Lancashire and students must have satisfied all the RCVS requirements to enrol as a Registered Veterinary Nurse to undertake the BSc.

Special requirements

• Additional costs for items that are essential for the course include:
  • Accommodation during study periods at Myerscough College
  • Access to broadband internet and a computer
  • Books - Approx. £120. Students will be provided with a reading list for each module studied. The decision to purchase any books remains with the student, and no books are considered essential.