| Unit name | Professional Studies 4 |
|---|---|
| Unit code | VETS36000 |
| Credit points | 0 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Blaxter |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
All other units in BVSc 4: Pathology ; Veterinary Public Health ; Farm Animal Science ; Companion Animal Science. |
| School/department | Bristol Veterinary School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Health Sciences |
This Unit is vertically integrated with Professional Studies Units in years 1, 2, 3 and 5 and allows continuing development of an understanding of the complex issues and responsibilities associated with being a veterinary professional. Communication skills - Teaching allows development of effective communication skills in the context of challenging situations where issues such as grief and anger are likely. The concept and practicalities of shared decision making within the clinical team and with clients are also explored. Professional conduct ethics and law - The RCVS guide to professional conduct and veterinary jurisprudence are explored and applied to a range of common and more challenging situations. Business management - Business models applicable to UK veterinary practice and fundamental business principles such as price setting, and profitability are explored. The requirements of the RCVS practice standards scheme and issues of clinical governance and audit and employment law are discussed.
Aims:
Communication skills:
Students should be able to:
Describe the range of attachment owners have for their animals.
Describe models of grief and apply these to clinical situations.
Identify the role of shared decision making and negotiation in the veterinary consultation.
Identify their own and peers communication skills at dealing with a range of challenging situations with tutors and trained medical actors such as when clients are angry, distressed, grieving or in conflict.
Professional conduct, ethics and law:
Students should be able to:
Identify the skills they require to manage the transition to practice post-graduation.
Describe the skills required for professional and ethical negotiation with clients and within the practice team.
Identify how to act ethically and professionally within the law and the RCVS guidelines as described in the RCVS ’Guide to Professional Conduct’.
Reflect on generic situations requiring ethical and professional consideration observed on EMS placements and discuss these with tutors
Reflect on personal study skill strategies in the light of the RCVS requirements for pre and post graduation
Business Management:
Students should be able to:
Describe the different business models of veterinary practice ownership.
Critically discuss the factors, which must be considered when setting fees for goods and services
Explain and interpret financial statements.
Define the term ‘profitability’ and calculate profitability ratios.
Describe employee and employer rights and duties as outlined in employment legislation.
Describe what provisions and systems practices need to have in place in order to satisfy the requirements of the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme.
Lectures, seminars, debate, practicals, computer-assisted-learning, reflective journal
ASSESSMENT To progress into clinical rotations after Easter BVSc students must:
1. Achieve an overall pass mark made up from the following written components: a) A 1 hour multiple choice question - 60% (33% questions in each of Communication Skills , Professional Conduct, Ethics and Law, and Business Management). b) Course work in Communication Skills assessed through moderated self and peer assessment - 20%. c) Course work in Business Studies assessed through moderated self and peer assessment - 20%.
2. Submit satisfactory reflective journal entries in their Professional Studies portfolio and discuss this with their personal tutors, on: a) Their personal study methods. b) The Professional Conduct, Ethics and Law task.
3. Pass OSCES in Communication skills
PROGRESSION
Students will be given an opportunity to retake or resubmit any written components they fail.
If they fail to achieve 50% in the combined mark from the course work and MCQ, students must re-submit aspects of unsatisfactory course work before taking the MCQ resit examination Failure to achieve an overall pass mark in the resit will result in failure to progress.
Before starting clinical rotations, multiple opportunities will be given to:
a) submit acceptable reflective journal entries. Review opportunities with the course director and personal tutors will be given throughout the second term. Failure to submit an acceptable entry will result in failure to progress.
b) pass OSCEs in communication skills that will be offered in term 2. Failure to attend and complete these satisfactorily will result in non-admission to clinical rotations.
