Student-Led Neutering Scheme

Eynon, P. A. (2021) Student-Led Neutering Scheme. VetEd Symposium 2021, 07-09 Jul 2021. (Unpublished)

Abstract

Background: In response to the impact of COVID-19 reducing the throughput of Small Animal Primary care (SAP) spay and neuter surgeries and the critical requirement to provide such experience to our final year students, we created a caseload stream by entering into a partnership with the Scottish SPCA. The Scottish SPCA were already one of our existing charity partners, but understandably, during the pandemic, were not able to allow us access with the students to their clinic. We sourced a suitable mobile surgical unit to be based at the Glasgow Vet School campus, allowing us to successfully facilitate the provision of a final year Small Animal Primary Care rotation for the graduating class of 2021. Summary of Work: We partnered with the Scottish SPCA to provide a student-led low-cost neutering scheme that principally allowed access to an otherwise absent caseload for our final years, providing a much-needed service for the local Glasgow pet-owning public and fostered closer partnerships between the University, the Scottish SPCA and the general public. Students are actively involved in the running of the mobile surgical unit and scheme 5 days a week, from admitting to discharge. Despitebeing titled the final year SAP Care - Surgical rotation, students have been exposed to theworkings of what is required to operate such a mobile surgical unit, in addition to their time holding the scalpel. Due to the popularity of the scheme and rotation, we were able to provide much sought after, additional placement opportunities to student veterinary nurses and animal care assistants, learning and working alongside our final year vet students. Due to the layout of the mobile surgical unit and to promote a safe working and learning environment, the decision was taken to reduce student numbers - utilising a shift pattern akin to that which might be found in the general workplace. Take Home Message: When faced with a reduced, yet critical caseload, it is possible to create a sustainable experience for our students through partnership with others. The rotation has proved very popular with student vets, nurses and animal care assistants, in that it offers a wide range of experiences within the small stand-alone team unit. Students have commented on feeling more confident not only with surgeries performed, but also with the many other important aspects of patient and client care e.g., animal handling, handling of drugs and medications, client interaction, obtaining informed consent, discussing finances and playing their part in keeping the workplace clean and maintaining a high standard through challenging circumstances. The low-cost partnership neutering scheme has allowed the students access to caseload, facilitated in their learning opportunities with managing a surgical case, allowed them to engage in the education of the Glasgow pet-owning-public, helped provide a much-needed service for clients in caring for their pets during the pandemic and the funds raised go directly towards supporting the ongoing work of the Scottish SPCA in caring for the animals in their shelters and educating the wider public in all matters of animal welfare. Owing to its success and looking forward, we plan to continue with this rotation model with our incoming final year cohort, maintaining and fostering the development of our partnerships with the Scottish SPCA, the general public and the vet nursing/animal care assistant training providers. In addition to spay and neuter surgeries, we have identified an additional experience opportunity that would help improve animal welfare in the form of small animal dentistry. A number of clients have enquired about our ability to provide dental work in ePosters their pets, an experience that would benefit students, pets and clients alike. The necessary reduction in student numbers to facilitate a safe learning and working environment has enabled closer working with each student, meaning more frequent opportunities to provide feedback at the coalface of learning. We plan to continue with these smaller student groups for the incoming final year cohort.

• Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item
• Status: Unpublished
• Refereed: No
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Eynon, Mr Paul Andrew
• Authors: Eynon, P. A.
• Subjects: L Education > L Education (General); S Agriculture > SF Animal culture > SF600 Veterinary Medicine
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 The Author
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced with the permission of the Author

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