Level 2 Diploma for Veterinary Nursing Assistant (RQF)

Level 2 Diploma for Veterinary Nursing Assistant (RQF)

This Course at a Glance

• Gain an understanding of how to manage and maintain accommodation for animals
• Understand how to provide basic treatments that animals often need including typical healthcare treatments
• Learn about the principles of infection control and how to manage infections
• Practical placement required - organise your own or let us organise one for you!
• Gain a recognised Level 2 Diploma
• Complete this course within a year
• Qualify as a Veterinary Nurse Assistant

About Your Diploma

If animal welfare is an area of interest and you have a strong desire to work with animals training to become a Veterinary Nurse Assistant could be the ideal career path for you.

Depending on the kind of veterinary practice you will get the opportunity to work with small animals, like cats, dogs, rabbits and guinea pigs. Or large animals such as horses and livestock.

The role of a Veterinary Nurse Assistant is challenging but very fulfilling, providing both emergency and routine healthcare to animal patients. You will provide support to qualified veterinary professionals, as well as pastoral care to the animals and their owners.

You will carry out all aspects of routine pet care. Also being responsible for observing and recording the well-being of animals within your care by monitoring temperature, pulse, respiration, pain and more. Plus, you will also oversee the maintenance, sterilisation and cleaning of examining rooms, kennels/cages and surgical equipment.

As a Veterinary Nurse Assistant, you will guide animal owners on nutrition, behavioural advice and preventative care. You will demonstrate how to use medication to animal owners.

By studying this Veterinary Nurse Assistant Level 2 Diploma online, you will be able to study around your existing commitments. Meaning that you can gain your qualification alongside your current job. With online learning, you can study from the comfort of your home, at your own pace with no need to wait for term time to begin.

Practical Placement

This course includes a mandatory placement to provide evidence of practical skills. The placement must be within a registered Veterinary Practice, or an animal establishment that has an element of veterinary care.

You are free to arrange this yourself, but if you prefer, we can arrange this for you for an additional fee.

We are pleased to offer placements with Abbey House Vets - a leading veterinary practice in Leeds and a respected name in West Yorkshire veterinary care. Their highly trained and caring teams of vets, nurses and support staff are proud of the standard of care they have provided to pet owners in Leeds and surrounding areas for over 40 years. The clinic is situated in Batley and has operating facilities so many day procedures can be carried out on site.

During your placement you will have the opportunity to gain experience in:

• Handling and moving a variety of species
• Assisting in a health check
• Cleaning and preparing appropriate accommodation for different species
• Providing an appropriate diet

Should this interest you, add the practical placement to your basket when purchasing this course. 

Getting Started

learndirect is a leading UK distance learning provider. This Level 2 Diploma for Veterinary Nursing Assistants is recognised and regulated by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual). To ensure learners are studying a specialised regulated qualification in animal nursing.

It has been designed to prepare learners for a career within animal care or Veterinary Nursing, while based in a Veterinary Practice.

You can learn around your existing job or family commitments, as this course is provided online.

You will be assigned a dedicated tutor who can advise and guide you through the course, as well as provide constructive feedback on assignments. This ensures you are on the right track with your education and better prepared to care for animals.  

There are flexible payment methods available and you can start learning from the moment you enrol. Start working towards a life-changing career in veterinary nursing today!  

+ Free Upgrade	Self-Paced Online Learning With Tutor Support	Self-Paced Online Learning With Tutor Support PLUS On-Demand & Live Classes
Access your course materials immediately
Tutor support via our market-leading platform
Study around existing commitments
Progress as quickly as you’d like
Tailored individual learning plan to help you succeed
Engaging content; from videos to interactive quizzes
Industry-leading 5 days marking turnaround
Live class scheduled between 10 am to 8 pm daily (including weekends)
Access to our video library of previous lectures available on-demand
Interact with your tutors directly during your class
Network with like-minded students via our chat functionality
Take live classes multiple times or access recordings as you like

Modules

Unit 1: Principles of Animal Health

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand terminology commonly used in veterinary practice and how this relates to a range of species
• Understand the signs of normal and abnormal health in dogs, cats rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, lizards, snakes and tortoises
• Understand how to ensure good health and carry out routine health checks

Unit 2: Principles of First Aid

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the principles of first aid and companion animal veterinary emergencies
• Understand the importance of communication within the veterinary team and how to support a client during the emergency
• Understand the legislation involved in first aid treatment, how to recognise a veterinary emergency, the information required when dealing with an emergency call and how to treat common injuries

Unit 3: Principles Hygiene, Cleaning and Disinfection in an Animal Care Environment

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the high standard of cleaning and hygiene in an animal nursing environment, to prevent the spread of disease and infection
• Be able to identify infectious diseases commonly seen in domestic mammals and reptiles and the importance of maintaining a clean environment
• Understand the difference between disinfection and sterilisation and understand the safe use of cleaning and disinfection chemicals
• Understand how to follow a cleaning protocol with a thorough understanding of areas to be cleaned and their level of infection risk
• Understand how to sterilise equipment in a veterinary practice, understand waste disposal methods and how to reduce waste in an animal nursing environment

Unit 4: Reception and Administrative Duties in an Animal Care Environment

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the structure of a veterinary practice, the roles within the practice and their tasks
• Understand the services provided in a veterinary practice including the referral process and the promotion and marketing of the veterinary services
• Understand the professional standards and requirements in a veterinary environment
• Understand the importance of health and safety in the veterinary workplace
• Understand how to deal with various clients including different methods of client communication, registering a new client, making appointments answering phones, taking payments, dealing with difficult or sensitive situations and the importance of client confidentiality

Unit 5: Euthanasia and Bereavement

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the reasons for euthanasia and the circumstances when euthanasia may be required
• Understand how the euthanasia process is carried out and the options of the disposal of a deceased pet
• Understand the stages of grief and how to recognise each stage

Unit 6: Principles of Body Language, Behaviour and Welfare

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the correct handling and restraint techniques during veterinary procedures, to reduce stress for domestic mammals and reptiles
• Understand how to recognise and manage stress and fear when handling a variety of companion animals

Unit 7: Veterinary Instruments

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand how to identify the instruments used for routine surgeries such as castration, spay and tumour removal
• Understand correct care, cleaning and storage of veterinary instruments as well as packaging and sterilisation

Unit 8: Veterinary Medicines in an Animal Care Environment

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the workings of the veterinary pharmacy, including stock control, safe and secure storage of medicines, waste disposal and importance of adherence to protocols
• Understand veterinary medicines and each stage of the medicines management pathway, including prescribing, dispensing and administration

Unit 9: British Wildlife

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the most commonly treated British wildlife including garden birds, hedgehogs, rabbits, badgers, foxes and deer
• Understand the obligations to treat wildlife and the limitations to this treatment
• Understand the options available for further treatment and rehabilitation of wildlife if treatment is beyond the expertise of general practice

Unit 10: Practical Animal Handling and Restraint

Unit 11: Practical Animal Care

Entry Requirements

This course is open to anyone aged 16 and above.

Minimum Age restriction

16

Average completion timeframe

You have 24 months to complete your course.

Assessment requirements

You will be assessed via a combination of video and photo submissions, your supervisor will also need to provide witness testimonies.

Placement or Practical required

This course includes a mandatory placement to provide evidence of practical skills. The placement must be within a registered Veterinary Practice, or an animal establishment that has an element of veterinary care. You are free to arrange this yourself, but if you prefer, we can arrange this for you for an additional fee. We are pleased to offer placements with Abbey House Vets - a leading veterinary practice in Leeds and a respected name in West Yorkshire veterinary care. Their highly trained and caring teams of vets, nurses and support staff are proud of the standard of care they have provided to pet owners in Leeds and surrounding areas for over 40 years. The clinic is situated in Batley and has operating facilities so many day procedures can be carried out on site. During your placement you will have the opportunity to gain experience in: • Handling and moving a variety of species • Assisting in a health check • Cleaning and preparing appropriate accommodation for different species • Providing an appropriate diet Should this interest you, add the course placement to your basket when purchasing this course.

If placement or practical required, when?

Placement training can be completed when it suits the learner.

Certification Timeframe

Learners can expect their certification within 6 months of completing the course, following the (EQA) External Quality Assurance of assessment.

Course Fees

All course fees, inclusive of all payment plans including our Premium Credit Limited option, must be settled before certification can be ordered.

*You will have access to the course for 24 months.

When studying this Veterinary Nursing Assistant Diploma Level 2, you will be required to build a computer based portfolio of evidence to showcase your knowledge and understanding throughout the course.

AIM Qualifications Assessment Group

Upon successful completion of this course you will be awarded the AIM Qualifications Assessment Group Veterinary Nursing Assistant Diploma Level 2 (603/5172/X).

AIM Qualifications and Assessment Group is a leading Awarding (AO) and End-Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO) offering award-winning qualifications and nominated end-point assessment services.

AIM has over thirty years of experience in developing high-quality qualifications that meet the needs of employers and learners. They approve the colleges, training providers, and other education centres that deliver their qualifications and work closely with them to ensure high-quality delivery.

AIM is also regulated by the public regulator governing qualifications in England – Ofqual.

With this nationally recognised Veterinary Nursing Assistant Diploma Level 2, you will be able to achieve a long and rewarding career within the sector.

This course facilitates learners to progress into a career in animal care or Veterinary Nursing within a veterinary practice. After completing this course learners will have a deeper understanding of how best to support qualified veterinary staff. This course will also provide a wealth of knowledge when it comes to giving guidance and advice to owners, on the correct management and care of pets.

Learners may progress directly into employment or onto higher level animal care qualifications. They may also choose to apply their learning by volunteering or contributing as part of a charity.

Many Veterinary Nurse Assistants choose to continue their education by qualifying to be a Veterinary Nurse, once they have a feel for what the role entails.