When the Pancreas Protests! The RVNs Role from Recognition to Recovery in Canine Patients

This session will evaluate the pivotal and diverse role that RVNs have in the management and treatment of canine pancreatitis, from recognition through to recovery.

A review of the anatomy and physiology will provide a foundation of key knowledge before examining the associated risk factors, common clinical signs and diagnostic tests performed in these patients. This lecture will focus on treatment and nursing care, whereby case examples are used to highlight how much of an impact nursing interventions can have on recovery.

It will be noted that as these patients can be hospitalised for extended periods,
RVNs must act as the patient’s advocate. As a result, we require a comprehensive understanding of the condition, patient monitoring and treatment plans available.

The session fundamentally aims to bolster RVN confidence when managing these patients and to empower individuals to elevate their advance nursing skillset, facilitating effective utilisation of the entire veterinary team. This session will outline a practical and clinically relevant approach to treatment, where learnings can be latterly applied into practice.

• 1)Understand the anatomy and physiology of the canine pancreas and pathophysiology associated with pancreatitis in these patients, differentiating the acute vs chronic form of disease.
• 2)Be able to recognise risk factors, common clinical signs and diagnostic techniques performed in patients with this condition.
• 3)Evaluate advances in the medical management and nursing care required for these patients which include analgesia, patient monitoring, nutritional requirements and supportive care.
• 4)Demonstrate the utilisation of advanced clinical skills that can be performed by RVNs, in these patients, through specific case examples.