Explore UCD

UCD Home >

VNUR20320

Academic Year 2025/2026

Veterinary Surgical Nursing (VNUR20320)

Subject:
Veterinary Nursing
College:
Health & Agricultural Sciences
School:
Veterinary Medicine
Level:
2 (Intermediate)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Ms Pamela Gillick
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
Blended
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

***Please check and be aware if this module is a prerequisite (Academic Regulation 3.27(a)) for any future modules.

This module covers management & best practice techniques relating to maintaining and improving standards in the veterinary surgical environment. It includes an introduction to veterinary surgical instrumentation. We explore the various veterinary surgical nursing roles involved in the pre, peri and post operative stages of common conditions amenable to surgery in small animal, equine and exotics. Equine and small animal wound care and bandaging techniques are also included in the course. This module includes the principles of small animal dentistry and periodontal care.
Attendance at practical classes is strongly advised as the module includes a must pass practical component in addition to other assessment techniques outlined in this module descriptor.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module, the student should be able to:
-Identify best practice of maintaining the surgical environment and principles of aseptic techniques;
-Identify surgical instruments and their correct handling and maintenance;
-Identify appropriate wound care for small and equine surgical patients;
-Identify and distinguish between normal and abnormal small animal dentition and the principles of periodontal therapy;
- Identify pre, peri and post nursing care considerations of common surgical procedures for small animal, equine and exotics patients in veterinary practice.
-Develop your procedural knowledge and competency in veterinary surgical nursing practical/clinical skills. Including aseptic technique, surgical hand preparation, gloving/gowning, patient skin preparation, surgical draping, processing surgical instruments, managing the surgical environment, wound management.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

67
Tutorial

5
Practical

12
Autonomous Student Learning

150
Total

234

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
In person and pre-recorded lectures and tutorials.
Interactive practical skills development sessions in the clinical skills centre (CSC).
Self directed CSC sessions.
Self directed online resources to support knowledge and skills development - literature, videos and other online links.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

A knowledge of principles of veterinary nursing.

Learning Exclusions:

Students cannot be awarded credit for this module if they
have already achieved similar educational outcomes in higher,
further or secondary education.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (In-person): End of semester exam End of trimester
Duration:
1 hr(s)
 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
50
 No
Practical Skills Assessment: Practical examination. Assessment timing may vary slightly due to timetable changes, staff and room availability. Week 6, Week 12 Pass/Fail Grade Scale Yes
20
 Yes
Quizzes/Short Exercises: Multiple choice examination. Assessment timing may vary slightly due to timetable changes, staff and room availability. Week 12 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No
30
 No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn Yes - 1 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Online automated feedback

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

You will receive individual feedback after your practical exam. You get online automated feedback after your MCQ.

Name Role
Ms Kate Acton Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Marijke Beltman Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Andrea Dineen Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Vivienne Duggan Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Robin Farrell Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Jackie Hudson Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Clodagh Kearney Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Emmet Kelly Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Mr Mark Mc Corry Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Sandra Nicholson Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Hannah Callaghan Tutor

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring External & School Exams Offering 1 Week(s) - 26 Fri 09:00 - 12:50
Spring External & School Exams Offering 1 Week(s) - 32 Fri 09:00 - 12:50
Spring Practical Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 29 Fri 10:00 - 12:50
Spring Practical Offering 1 Week(s) - 29 Fri 10:00 - 12:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 1 Week(s) - 21, 23, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31 Thurs 14:00 - 14:50
Spring Practical Offering 1 Week(s) - 24 Thurs 14:00 - 14:50
Spring Practical Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 22 Thurs 14:00 - 16:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 1 Week(s) - 33 Thurs 14:00 - 16:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 1 Week(s) - 21, 23, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31 Thurs 15:00 - 15:50
Spring Practical Offering 1 Week(s) - 24 Thurs 15:00 - 15:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 1 Week(s) - 21, 23, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31 Thurs 16:00 - 16:50
Spring Practical Offering 1 Week(s) - 24 Thurs 16:00 - 16:50
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32 Tues 11:00 - 12:50
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32 Wed 09:00 - 11:50
Spring Practical Offering 1 Week(s) - 33 Wed 09:00 - 11:50
Print this page
Fill in the following details:
Enter the body of your query here.

From time to time UCD would like to send you further information that we feel, based on your enquiry, would be of interest to you.