Plumpton College
UCAS Code: D310 | Foundation Degree in Science - FdSc
About this course
**If you’re looking to train while gaining invaluable experience as a student veterinary nurse in a placement, this three-year Foundation Degree (FdSc) is the ideal course for you.**
The foundation degree in veterinary nursing runs over three years with students spending the second year out in a veterinary placement where they will gain the essential clinical skills and competencies required by the RCVS to become a registered veterinary nurse. At Plumpton, students will work with a range of small animals including exotics species and have access to the Animal Education Centre which houses over a 100 species. We have been delivering veterinary nursing degrees since 2009. The course incorporates theoretical modules and key practical skills and competencies required but the industry. Students will find themselves honing their professional skills while spending the second year of study in a veterinary work placement to complete the essential skills log.
Our course maps fully across to the RCVS Day One Skills and Competencies for Veterinary Nurses. This allows successful students to be eligible for joining the RCVS' professional register of veterinary nurses.
**Why Choose Us?**
- State-of-the-art new Veterinary Sciences Centre with a purpose built Veterinary Nursing Clinical Training Suite (opening March 2025)
- Excellent teaching staff with over 20 years' experience of delivery university degrees
- Registered Veterinary Nurse status awarded on graduation (subject to full accreditation)
- Highly sought after qualification within the veterinary sector
- Degrees quality assured by the University of Greenwich (TEF Gold), our collaborative partner.
Modules
Level 4 modules include:
**Animal Health, Husbandry and Welfare** - This 30-credit module focuses on the practical skills of animal husbandry including accommodation requirements, managing the environment, nutritional needs, environmental enrichment, handling, transportation and species-specific care. It also covers current legislation and is assessed via a written assignment, examination and a professional discussion.
**Applied Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology** - This modules will provide students with a comprehensive knowledge of animal body structure and organ systems and associated abnormal conditions. It is an intensive module covering lymphatic systems, endocrinology, digestive systems and cell biology, amongst others. It is assessed via a written exam and assignment.
**Clinical Veterinary Nursing Skills** - Another 30-credit module, to provide students with a working knowledge of the nursing requirements within a veterinary practice. It is assessed via a written exam, case study analysis and a practical (pass/fail) assessment.
**Principles of Veterinary Nursing Practice** - This 15-credit module focuses on understanding the workings of a veterinary practice including factors involved in dispensing, pharmacy management, compliance with health and safety regulations and communication. It is assessed via a written exam and a coursework assignment.
**Veterinary Theatre Practice** - The module covers factors involved in surgical theatre preparation including surgical preparation, techniques of patients and staff, and the maintenance of associated instruments and equipment. It is assessed via a written exam and assignment.
**Study and Research Skills** - This 15-credit module is designed to support students in the development of study and research skills required at undergraduate level. It is assessed via a portfolio of tasks including data analysis.
During the sandwich year, students will be on a Clinical Placement. The module includes the 'Lincence to Practice' aspects that is required for the completion for a student to be eligible to apply to join the RCVS professional register upon graduation subject to passing their OSCE. It covers all the Day One Skills and students will need to complete 1800 hours of training, a practical exam (OSCE) and a nursing progress log.
Final year modules (Level 5):
**Independent Enquiry** - This 15-credit module enables students to explore and research a topic of interest, relevant to the veterinary field. Students are required to demonstrate contemporary data analysis and dissemination skills through the submission of a 3,000 word independent enquiry report (dissertation).
**The Fundamental Aspects of Advanced Nursing Care** - A 30-credit module which gives students the opportunity to build on the knowledge of nursing care learnt in the first year of study. It is assessed via coursework and a written exam.
**Professional Development and Business skills** - This module (30 credits) will provide students with the basics of running a veterinary practice and includes employment law, marketing, profit and loss accounting as well as leadership and management skills. It is linked to the Clinical Placement module and assessed by a presentation, coursework and a written exam.
**Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia** - This module underpins the theories of anaesthesia, associated physiology and impact on major body systems and associated pharmacology. Students will learn anaesthetic protocols and the boundaries of legislation and professional codes. It is assessed via a written exam and assignment.
**Veterinary Diagnostics** - Students will investigate the nature of the disease process and critically examine the techniques used to diagnose conditions and diseases with the aim of being able to perform a range of diagnostic tests and imaging techniques. It is assessed via an exam and coursework.
Note module content and assessment types may be subject to change, please enquire with the Course Team.
Assessment methods
Students can expect a range of assessment types during the course such as presentations, essays, reports, written exams, practical clinical examinations (OSCEs) and a mini dissertation (independent enquiry) in the final year of study. Note there is a particular focus on written examinations to ensure students develop the critical knowledge required in industry.
Tuition fees
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