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Try a Lesson (NCert/VPPCert Nurses)

8 Modules | NCert/VPPCert

8 Modules | NCert/VPPCert

Topic outline

  • Overview

  • Emergency and Critical Care

    • Vascular Access

      In this lesson, we will be discussing when and how we place and manage intravenous catheters. Patients presenting as an emergency are likely to need a peripheral IV catheter for stabilisation, whereas the critical patient may benefit from a central venous catheter. We look at indications and contraindications for placement of both options, different placement techniques and how these devices can be managed to avoid complications arising. We will also touch on arterial catheters along with their similarities and differences to venous catheters.

      By the end of this lesson you should be able to:

      • List the indications and contraindications for different types of vascular access;
      • Describe the different placement techniques for peripheral and central venous catheterisation;
      • Discuss the management of intravenous catheters;
      • Describe the complications associated with each device and common troubleshooting techniques.

    • Completion
      Students must
      Complete the activity
      SCORM package icon
      Vascular Access Interactive Lesson
    • Click the icon above to begin the lesson. Please note that lessons will open in a new browser tab, so if your browser asks you to accept pop-ups, please approve. Once you've engaged with the lesson you can close the tab and you'll be brought back to this page. Your progress will be saved so you can return to the lesson should you wish.

  • Feline Nursing

    • Physical Examination of the Feline Patient

      In this lesson, we will look at how to perform a full physical examination, and the specific considerations we need to think about when examining a feline patient. We’ll also discuss the impact of stress on the feline physical examination, and the strategies we can use to minimise this in practice.

      By the end of this lesson you should be able to:

      • Perform a full clinical examination of a cat, utilising cat friendly handling principles, and recognise normal and abnormal findings.

    • Completion
      Students must
      Complete the activity
      SCORM package icon
      Physical Examination of the Feline Patient Interactive Lesson
    • Click the icon above to begin the lesson. Please note that lessons will open in a new browser tab, so if your browser asks you to accept pop-ups, please approve. Once you've engaged with the lesson you can close the tab and you'll be brought back to this page. Your progress will be saved so you can return to the lesson should you wish.

  • Medical Nursing

    • Cancer Biology

      In this first lesson, we will explore some basic principles of cancer biology.

      By the end of this lesson you should be able to:

      • Outline the basic principles of cancer biology;
      • List the nine “Hallmarks of Cancer”;
      • Explain why comparative studies of oncology are so helpful.

    • Completion
      Students must
      Complete the activity
      SCORM package icon
      Cancer Biology Interactive Lesson
    • Click the icon above to begin the lesson. Please note that lessons will open in a new browser tab, so if your browser asks you to accept pop-ups, please approve. Once you've engaged with the lesson you can close the tab and you'll be brought back to this page. Your progress will be saved so you can return to the lesson should you wish.

  • Nursing Anaesthesia

    • Pre-anaesthetic Assessment

      In this lesson will cover the pre-anaesthetic assessment of animals in small animal practice. 

      Anaesthetic risk and some of the factors that influence it will be covered. Key features of the clinical examination will be discussed, as will the indications for further tests. 

      We’ll also begin to think about how you formulate protocols for anaesthesia based on your examination findings; these foundations will be developed further as the course progresses.

      By the end of this lesson you should be able to:

      • State the risk of anaesthesia in various animal species;
      • Discuss the factors that influence anaesthetic risk;
      • Outline how to perform a pre-anaesthetic assessment of an animal;
      • Apply the American Association of Anaesthesiologists classification to cases;
      • Outline appropriate timescales for withholding food and water before anaesthesia in dogs, cats and rabbits;
      • Outline how to plan an anaesthetic protocol.

    • Completion
      Students must
      Complete the activity
      SCORM package icon
      Pre-anaesthetic Assessment Interactive Lesson
    • Click the icon above to begin the lesson. Please note that lessons will open in a new browser tab, so if your browser asks you to accept pop-ups, please approve. Once you've engaged with the lesson you can close the tab and you'll be brought back to this page. Your progress will be saved so you can return to the lesson should you wish.



    • A six-month old French Bulldog has been admitted for castration. What are you anaesthetic considerations?

      In this reflective lesson you are asked to interpret the pre-anaesthetic findings given in the case information and describe how they would influence anaesthesia and apply terminology and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic principles of drugs.


      Aidan McAlinden, Academic and Content Director


    • Completion
      Students must
      Complete the activity
      SCORM package icon
      Reflective Lesson: The Young French Bulldog Interactive Lesson
    • Click the icon above to begin the lesson. Please note that lessons will open in a new browser tab, so if your browser asks you to accept pop-ups, please approve. Once you've engaged with the lesson you can close the tab and you'll be brought back to this page. Your progress will be saved so you can return to the lesson should you wish.

  • Surgical Nursing

    • Patient Assessment

      The success of a surgical procedure depends primarily on good planning and the awareness of potential patient risk factors. Thorough patient pre-operative assessment and selecting the right surgical procedure for the patient is therefore imperative in order to reduce associated surgical risks so that a positive outcome can be achieved. 

      By the end of this lesson you should be able to:

      • Explain the importance of taking a thorough patient history;
      • Describe what is involved in the patient assessment and explain its importance in a surgical patient;
      • State the term S.O.A.P. and explain its relevance in patient assessment;
      • Demonstrate a patient examination, stating normal and abnormal findings.

    • Completion
      Students must
      Complete the activity
      SCORM package icon
      Patient Assessment Interactive Lesson
    • Click the icon above to begin the lesson. Please note that lessons will open in a new browser tab, so if your browser asks you to accept pop-ups, please approve. Once you've engaged with the lesson you can close the tab and you'll be brought back to this page. Your progress will be saved so you can return to the lesson should you wish.



    • Can you prepare a nursing care plan for Eric?

      Eric is a 3-year-old male neutered DSH. In this reflective lesson, you'll learn the key things to consider when preparing a nursing care plan.

      Aidan McAlinden, Academic and Content Director


    • Completion
      Students must
      Complete the activity
      SCORM package icon
      Reflective Lesson: Eric Interactive Lesson
    • Click the icon above to begin the lesson. Please note that lessons will open in a new browser tab, so if your browser asks you to accept pop-ups, please approve. Once you've engaged with the lesson you can close the tab and you'll be brought back to this page. Your progress will be saved so you can return to the lesson should you wish.

  • Transfusion Medicine

    • Canine Blood Collection

      In this lesson we will be looking at blood collection in canines. We will look at how to identify suitable donors, which screening tests to carry out to maximise donor and recipient safety, the equipment required and the process of blood donation itself.

      By the end of this lesson you should be able to:

      • Describe the process of canine blood collection to include donor selection and criteria, screening, equipment required and the process of donation and donor care;
      • Calculate the safe donation volumes for canine donors of a given weight.

    • Completion
      Students must
      Complete the activity
      SCORM package icon
      Canine Blood Collection Interactive Lesson
    • Click the icon above to begin the lesson. Please note that lessons will open in a new browser tab, so if your browser asks you to accept pop-ups, please approve. Once you've engaged with the lesson you can close the tab and you'll be brought back to this page. Your progress will be saved so you can return to the lesson should you wish.

  • Ready to take the next step?




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      Aidan McAlinden, Academic and Content Director


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