First & Second Year
Students receive a high-quality education through lectures, tutorials and practical classes, as well as off-site work experience. The curriculum reflects the demands on the Irish veterinary nurse in practice by incorporating teaching on small animal (including exotics), farm animal and equine nursing.
During the first two years, students spend an average of 30 hours per week attending lectures, tutorials and practicals on all aspects of veterinary nursing, including classes:
Comparative Veterinary Anatomy & Physiology I & II • General Veterinary Nursing & Animal Handling • Veterinary Anaesthesia & Therapeutics • Surgical Nursing • Professionalism & Introductory Chemistry
Third & Fourth Year
During third year, you undertake additional modules and will complete work placements within veterinary practices that are committed to veterinary nurse training.
During the final year, veterinary nursing rotations largely take place in the UCD Veterinary Hospital and can involve early mornings and some late-night work. Students are also expected to undertake independent study.
Assessment is via a combination of end-oftrimester written and practical examinations, along with continuous assessment during trimesters.
All students must pass a veterinary nursing skills exam to graduate and register as a veterinary nurse in Ireland. This Exam is held in the latter part of the course.