DO0156, Veterinary nursing in animal healthcare 2, 15.0 Hp
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Syllabus

Finalized by: PN-VH, 2025-11-11
Valid from : Autumn semester 2026 (2026-08-31)

Level

First cycle (G1F)

Main field of study

Veterinary Nursing

Grading Scale

Pass / Fail

The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.

Course language

Swedish

Entry Requirements

Objectives

The course intends to further prepare the student for clinical work in animal healthcare, focusing on horses, dogs, cats and to some extent exotic pets.

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to

• describe commonly occurring illnesses in certain organ systems and identify and describe their associated nursing needs,
• design and review nursing care plans for animals with illness/illnesses in different organ systems,
• propose and justify the choice of diet, as well as describe nutritional supply to animals with special nutritional needs,
• describe basic nursing needs in the geriatric animal,
• describe treatments and preventive measures in dental care,
• describe commonly used analyses within clinical chemistry, describe and perform basic laboratory quality work and describe the most common sources of error in the work with analyses within clinical chemistry,
• describe the different diagnostic imaging methods, assess technical quality of radiographs and theoretically apply radiation protection legislation and correct patient positioning in radiographical work,
• reflect on the importance of communicative skills and apply communicative skills in the professional role as veterinary nurse.

Content

Subject-related content
The course covers pathology, pathophysiology, clinical signs of illness, clinical chemistry and other diagnostics, as well as general treatment and special nursing needs associated to illness in the following organ systems: the endocrine organs, the musculoskeletal apparatus and the digestive organs, including exocrine glands and teeth. The course also covers review and design of nursing care plans for animals with illness/illnesses in different organ systems. The course includes common illnesses and basic nursing needs of exotic pets and geriatric patients, as well as oncology. Feeding of sick animals and animals in rehabilitation is addressed in the course. The course also covers clinical chemistry as well as diagnostic imagining with a focus on radiology. Communication skills are also practised in the course.

Teaching formats
To further student learning and promote discussion, a variety of methods are used:

Lectures, seminars, and exercises.

The course focuses on the following generic competencies:
Critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration and oral communication.

The following components are compulsory:
Some seminars and exercises.

Examination Formats and Requirements for Passing the Course

Passed written examination and approved participation in compulsory components.

•  If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.
• The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.
• If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.
• For the assessment of an independent project (degree project), the examiner may also allow a student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Responsible Department/Equivalent

Department of Clinical Sciences

Supplementary information

Included in program

• Veterinary Nursing programme

Module set

Title	Credits	Code
Diagnostic imaging	3.0	0101
Odontology	2.0	0102
Communication	1.0	0103
Compulsory elements	1.5	0104
Written examination part 1	3.5	0105
Written examination part 2	4.0	0106

The Course Replaces

DO0136

Other Information

The entry requirement of 6 credits nutritional physiology and feed science may be fulfilled through completed course Nutritional physiology and feed science (DO0128/DO0088/DO0108).

• The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.
• If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.