Monitoring of Anaesthesia Qualification for Lay Staff – £100 discount for SPVS practices!

This City & Guilds qualification was developed in associated with Lantra with encouragement and support from SPVS.   It is aimed at those who are working in a veterinary practice and are tasked with assisting with anaesthesia and sedation and monitoring animal patients to companion animals under the direct supervision of a veterinary surgeon.

Whilst it is recognised that the monitoring of anaesthesia of companion animals would be best carried out by a qualified veterinary nurse wherever possible, this is not always feasible on every occasion. This course aims to equip lay staff, who may be called upon to assist with the monitoring of anaesthesia under the direct supervision of a veterinary surgeon, with the background knowledge and skills to do so in safe manner.

The learner will at no time be responsible for inducing, controlling or maintaining the level of anaesthesia as these are, without exception, the responsibility of the veterinary surgeon. All anaesthetic monitoring must be carried out under the direct supervision of a veterinary surgeon in accordance with veterinary instructions and current RCVS guidance.  Learners may not legally perform any action either during their training, or post-qualification, which may be interpreted as an act of veterinary surgery as defined by the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966.

The course is delivered online with the support from a college based Distance Learning Tutor and an allocated supervising veterinary surgeon from the student’s practice. The course uses modern methods of education to deliver a ‘fit for the role’ level of anaesthesia monitoring knowledge and an ongoing programme of developing experience. The course may take up to a year to complete and requires all students to keep a written practical record of their work, prepare three case studies and pass an online City & Guilds multiple choice examination. All students must complete 200 hours of anaesthetic monitoring over the duration of the course which has to be authenticated by a veterinary surgeon. To enrol on the course students must have already been employed, or undertaking voluntary work, for at least six months in a veterinary practice. The sole responsibility for deciding if a lay person is suitable to train for this qualification will be the Practice Principal who is required to endorse the student’s application.

If the applicant is sponsored by a SPVS member, they can claim a discount of  £100 off the course fee

For further information, or to apply for a place, please visit http://www.caw.ac.uk/courses/vn/mal2.aspx or email admin@caw.ac.uk.