Working for all

An evaluation of Henderson's nursing needs model and how it can be adapted for use in veterinary nursing

Henderson's nursing needs model is a nursing model of care that is used in human nursing. It is based on 14 fundamental needs that are said to involve every aspect of the patient. Henderson believes that if nursing interventions use these 14 fundamental needs as a framework, this will aid the patient in becoming independent again, which is the overall aim. However, as Henderson's model was intended for human use, there are aspects that are not appropriate for use in veterinary patients. Therefore, this article illustrates how it can be adapted for use in animals, using the nursing process as a structure.

Autumn parasite review

The year 2020 has been an ongoing struggle for many of us, especially for those of us working in veterinary practices. But although our lives seemingly stood still for much of the spring and summer, parasites did not stop! This article will provide a brief overview of some of the current parasite hot topics and threats to the UK, taking information from the quarterly Parasite Forecast published on the ESCCAP UK & Ireland website: www.esccapuk.org.uk.

Brachycephalic ocular syndrome

The small brachycephalic breeds such as the Pug and French Bulldog are currently extremely popular. The conformation of these breeds is part of their appeal to owners, however it leads to ocular surface disease such as corneal ulceration and pigmentation. The eye problems associated with these breeds are collectively known as brachycephalic ocular syndrome. In the normal situation there is a close interaction between the tear film, the eyelids and the cornea, which in the affected breeds is disrupted. Treatment needs to address the causes of the problem, such as lid anatomy, as well as the resultant corneal disease. Combinations of both medical and surgical treatment are required. Hospitalisation and anaesthesia of these cases requires careful, gentle handling and caution to prevent respiratory distress and damage to their often fragile eyes.

Kirby's Rule of 20: the Veterinary Nurse's Critical Patient Checklist Part 3

Kirby's Rule of 20 is a patient checklist including 20 parameters that should be checked daily in the critically ill patient. It reviews the established evidence-based information regarding patient checklist use in veterinary emergency and critical care medicine. The list of 20 will be discussed over a four-part series to give an appropriate level of information and attention to each patient parameter. Part 3 includes: renal function, gastrointestinal motility and integrity, nutrition, glucose and immune status.

Initial Assessment and Stabilisation of the Head Trauma Patient

Head trauma cases can be a daunting emergency to be faced with. These patients require an efficient and thorough assessment and have specific nursing requirements. In order to achieve a positive outcome, it is therefore important that nurses feel confident in identifying the signs that indicate deterioration and are able to alert the veterinary surgeon to them. It is also vital that nurses know the best way to be prepared for the patient's admission to the practice. The principles of the initial assessment are to triage any life-threatening presenting conditions and limit the effects of the secondary trauma to reduce intracranial pressure. The mainstay of stabilising these patients requires intensive nursing care, intravenous therapy, hyperosmolar therapy and pain management. This article discusses the pathophysiology, initial nursing interventions and considerations for the initial assessment and stabilisation of head trauma cases.

A Practical Guide to the New Feline Cardiomyopathy Consensus Statement

In a welcome move, the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) has just published a consensus statement providing guidance on the diagnosis, management, and treatment of the cat with cardiomyopathy. Even more encouraging is that nursing guidelines have also been included in this statement. The paper has been released as ‘open access’, so anyone can access these guidelines free of charge online. The consensus statement is important because it provides an updated classification of feline cardiomyopathies, changing emphasis to different phenotypic groups, and adds a staging system, along similar lines as the ACVIM myxomatous mitral valve disease consensus statement first published in 2009 and then updated in 2019. This article provides a summary of the key points made in the consensus statement.

Nurses' views of pet owners: online pet health information

Background Most research investigating online pet health information has focused on the views of veterinarians or clients with little attention given to the views of veterinary nurses. Aims To investigate the views of UK veterinary nurses in relation to pet owners’ use of online pet health information. Methods An anonymous online survey was distributed via social media platforms. Results Most respondents report thinking that less than half of their clients understand what they read about pet health online, yet the majority do not provide pet health website information to their clients. Conclusions Most responding veterinary nurses feel online pet health information has a negative impact on the client/veterinary nurse relationships. It is suggested that veterinary nurses take a proactive role via information prescriptions to guide information seeking behaviours of pet owners.

Controlling disease to save species

Disease surveillance has a vital role to play in species conservation. Wlidlife Vets International collaborates with and trains a wide range of veterinary professionals to ensure they know how to monitor the level of disease in the animal populations with which they work.