| Unit name | Professional Studies 3 |
|---|---|
| Unit code | VETS24001 |
| Credit points | 0 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| 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 3: Basic Clinical Science ; Microbiology ; Pharmacology and Therapeutics. |
| School/department | Bristol Veterinary School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Health Sciences |
This Unit is vertically integrated with Professional Studies Units in Years 1, 2, 4 and 5, allowing continuing development of an understanding of the complex issues and responsibilities associated with being a veterinary professional. Communication skills - The teaching will facilitate the development of sound and effective communication skills within the context of the veterinary consultation. Professional conduct ethics and law - Key aspects of UK legislation associated with animal welfare, and ethical issues integral to working in veterinary general practice, are explored. Business management - Marketing theory and practice in UK veterinary work are discussed alongside further exploration of the external factors affecting business success in relation to agricultural businesses. Health and safety - Health and safety law and practice in the UK are elaborated in relation to veterinary work, especially radiation safety, controlled drugs and clinical waste. Study learning and investigation - Critical evaluation skills in the context of diagnostic tests and clinical cases are developed.
Aims:
Communication skills:
Students should be able to:
Describe the NUVACS consultation model and identify the communication skills integral to its application.
Identify their own and peers skills at gathering and giving information with tutors and trained medical actors.
Professional conduct, ethics and law:
Students should be able to:
Describe the main aspects of both farm and small animal welfare law in the UK applicable to the veterinary profession.
Discuss how the farm assurance scheme operates and identify stakeholders involved in decision making in this and similar welfare/ethical situations.
Describe and discuss the nature of animal abuse and its recognition in the UK.
Discuss ethical issues integral to working in practice prior to EMS clinical placements such as client confidentiality and informed consent.
Business management:
Students should be able to:
Distinguish between marketing products and marketing services.
Discuss relationship marketing and how a practice can build the practice-client relationship.
Identify the common marketing methods used by practices and how effective these are for client retention and gaining new clients.
Discuss how they themselves can contribute to building good client relationships.
Identify the external factors that operate on veterinary and agricultural businesses
Health and Safety:
Students should be able to:
Describe and apply Health and Safety legislation to a wide range of clinical settings.
Describe Health and Safety legislation and practice in specific situations – radiation safety, storage and disposal of medicines (including Controlled Drugs) clinical waste and carcases, and the storage and transport of tissues.
Study Learning and Investigation:
Students should be able to:
Identify the appropriate critical analyses for differing data sets associated with diagnostic testing.
Critically evaluate the outcome of diagnostic tests understanding the issues of sensitivity, specificity and quality control.
Create topics for critical appraisal in evidence based medicine searches.
Critically evaluate the diagnostic and quantitative elements of a clinical paper.
Reflect on their personal approach to studying and EMS, on the strengths and weaknesses of their techniques, and on changes might increase their effectiveness.
Lectures, seminars, debate, practicals, computer-assisted-learning, reflective journal
ASSESSMENT To progress to the 4th year BVSc students must:
1. Achieve an overall pass mark made up from the following components:
a) A 1 hour multiple choice question examination - 60%
b) Course work in Communication Skills - 20%
c) Course work in Business studies - 20%
2. Submit a satisfactory reflective journal entry in their Professional Studies portfolio; and discuss this entry with their personal tutor - assessed on a bimodal pass-fail basis.
PROGRESSION
Students who fail to achieve 50% in the combined mark from the course work and MCQ will be given a reassessment opportunity for the MCQ and communication skills coursework. Such students will re-submit the course work before the MCQ re-sit examinations. Failure to achieve an overall pass mark in both MCQ and course work at resit will result in failure to progress.
For those not submitting a satisfactory reflective journal entry, there will be the opportunity to review their submission with their personal tutor, and thereafter to resubmit. Failure to submit an acceptable entry will result in failure to progress.
