Every veterinary nurse and technician wants to give great care. And not just to give great care - but to use more skills, and get more job satisfaction whilst doing it. Join RVN and veterinary technician specialist in small animal medicine, Laura Jones, as she demystifies complex diseases and body systems, breaking them down into small, easy-to-understand chunks that you can use to plan the best possible care for your patients. Every week, in under an hour, you'll get a simple explanation of a different medical condition - along with a list of skills to use, and nursing considerations to apply to your own patients. So if you want to know EXACTLY how to plan amazing nursing care for your medical patients, don't miss an episode!
In episode 76 of the Medical Nursing Podcast, we're chatting all about something that honestly baffled me when I was working in general practice (and in my very early referral nursing days), and that's chylothorax. As far as I was concerned back in 2015, before I lived and breathed medicine, a chylothorax would have been just another patient needing a thoracocentesis. I didn't understand what was causing the disease or its impact on the patient. And aside from them being a respiratory patient and needing monitoring, I had NO idea what nursing actions I could take to make things better - I didn't really know how to help. But when I started learning what a chylothorax was, why it happens, and what we can do to help these patients? That's when I stopped feeling out of my depth, and realised that I CAN make decisions as a vet nurse, and my actions WILL help my patients. So in this episode, I want to share the three essential things you NEED to know about chylothorax - and more importantly, how to turn that knowledge into nursing care that really helps your patient. So next time you're handed a patient with chylothorax, you'll know exactly what to watch out for and exactly how to help them. --- Resources mentioned in this episode:
In episode 75 of the Medical Nursing Podcast, we're talking about a messy, sort of gross, but oh-so-satisfying respiratory disease… Yep, today we're chatting all things pyothorax nursing. Pyothorax is probably the second most common pleural space disease we see. These patients often present in respiratory distress, needing a LOT of nursing support. In this episode, we'll discuss what pyothorax is, the common causes, and the clinical signs, diagnostics, and nursing management - so you can care for these patients confidently. Plus, I'll share the biggest lessons I've learned from (too many!) years of caring for these patients, so you can spend less time learning the hard way, and more time using your skills (and giving great care whilst you're at it). --- Resources mentioned in this episode:
In episode 74, we're diving straight into pneumothorax - what it is, how it presents, and most importantly, how you can help manage it as a veterinary nurse. We see these patients commonly, and they're usually a real nightmare to manage. From big dogs with ruptured pulmonary bullae, to post-RTA patients with continuous air leakage, they're a real test of our nursing skills - but in reality, there's so much we can do to help them. So, let's go through everything you need to know to feel more confident nursing a pneumothorax patient - so that YOU can give better care to yours. --- More free ways to learn with me:
Pleural space disease is a really common cause of respiratory distress in many of our patients, from traumatic pneumothorax patients to pyothorax cats and everything in between. And it's also a very nursing-heavy disease, with many ways we can use our skills to better care for these challenging patients. In this episode (the first in a mini-series on pleural space disease), we'll look at what the pleural space is, why it should be there, and what happens when things end up there when they shouldn't. We'll touch on the common causes, the signs to look out for, and the diagnostic, treatment, and nursing care needs these patients have, so that you can make more of a difference to them in practice. --- Resources mentioned in this episode:
Whether you're managing a patient with aspiration pneumonia, pulmonary oedema or trauma causing haemorrhage and bruising, patients with lung disease can decompensate quickly and need intensive nursing care. Knowing what to look out for and the nursing considerations these patients need is vital - and that's exactly what we're discussing in this episode. We'll be breaking down the different pulmonary diseases we see, the impact they have on our patients, and how we can manage them successfully as nurses and technicians. Plus, I'm sharing six of my all-time top tips to help you care for these patients confidently (whilst using a load of nursing skills). So if you've ever felt unsure about pulmonary pathophysiology or felt like you could do more to help your respiratory patients, this episode is for you. --- More free ways to learn with me:
In episode 71 of the Medical Nursing Podcast we're following on from last week's feline focus and taking a look at lower airway diseases in our canine counterparts. We might not see them as often, and they might appear more stable - well, most of the time - but these cases are anything but boring, requiring lots of nursing care, both in the clinic and long-term. Just like our asthmatic cats, it's good quality nursing that makes all the difference, and to give that great care, we need to understand the lower airway diseases we see, and the impact they have on our patients - which is exactly what we're covering in this episode. --- More free ways to learn with me:
In episode 70, we're talking about some of the most difficult patients we see - dyspnoeic cats. Yep, there's nothing like that dyspnoeic cat emergency - they arrive SO stressed, and it feels almost counterintuitive that staying AWAY from them is actually the thing that helps them most in those early stages. The majority of dyspnoeic cats we see have feline asthma - a form of lower airway disease. This disease is pretty misunderstood and is far more complex than ‘just' being asthma, so in this episode of the Medical Nursing Podcast, we're looking at exactly what it is and how to manage these patients confidently and calmly from start to finish. --- Resources mentioned in this episode:
If you've ever seen an overweight Yorkie honking like a goose, then there's a good chance you've dealt with tracheal collapse before. It's a progressive and often challenging condition to manage and can make breathing a real struggle for our patients. But by managing these patients well and providing client education and support, we can make a significant difference to these patients. Plus, in severe cases, there are some cool interventions we can perform - and therefore skills we can use - too! In episode 69 of the Medical Nursing Podcast, we're going to break down what tracheal collapse is, who the patients most at risk are, how to stabilise, diagnose and treat them, and what we can do as nurses to support these cases. --- More free ways to learn with me:
Ever seen a Husky or a German Shepherd with sneezing, nasal discharge and a TON of fungus up their nose?! If so, then you'll know the gross satisfaction that comes with pulling all of that out, and then packing them full of antifungals. Today, we're rounding off our mini-series on nasal disease by diving into a relatively common condition, especially in our large dogs - fungal rhinitis. We'll get prepared for these patients together by discussing what fungal rhinitis is, the patients we see it in, and how we manage it (as well as the skills we can use with these patients as nurses), and, as always, I'll share my tips for nursing these patients confidently. --- More free ways to learn with me:
In episode 67 of the Medical Nursing Podcast we're talking all about a very common, very frustrating, and in my opinion a very under-appreciated condition - chronic rhinitis. Chronic rhinitis is one of those conditions that can easily fly under the radar - we often think lots about nursing our cat ‘flu cats for example, but there are many patients who suffer with chronic nasal disease that can significantly impact quality of life. There's quite a bit we can do to support these patients long term, and to do that well, we first need to understand what chronic rhinitis is, how it affects our patients, and how we treat it, which is exactly what you'll find in this episode. Plus, I'll leave you with 5 key tips to nurse these patients confidently. --- Resources mentioned in this episode:
In this episode of the Medical Nursing Podcast we're talking about a really common, commonly misunderstood and often frustrating disease - feline respiratory disease complex, aka FRDC or cat ‘flu. When I think about those ‘flu cases, I think back to sweating in PPE in a makeshift isolation room in my earlier nursing days, spending countless hours cleaning nasal discharge, creating steam baths outside of kennel doors, and tempting tiny kittens to eat. This is a disease that is MADE for nursing - there is so much we can do to support these patients. And as always, giving that great care starts with understanding what ‘flu is, and how we manage it - which is exactly what's waiting for you inside this episode. --- Resources mentioned in this episode:
Nasal disorders are common in practice, and the nursing care these patients need is vast. From those snuffly cat ‘flu patients who are really miserable, dehydrated and anorexic, to lifelong diseases like rhinitis, there's a lot to think about when managing these patients. In episode 65 of the Medical Nursing Podcast, we'll introduce the common nasal disorders seen, the problems they cause, and the nursing care patients with them benefit from - and then we'll dive deeper into common nasal diseases in the next few episodes. --- Resources mentioned in this episode:
If you've ever seen an older Labrador struggling to breathe, a Retriever making that distinctive “roaring” noise, or an older dog with noisy breathing and vocal changes, there's a good chance you've encountered laryngeal paralysis. This disease - as the name suggests - affects the larynx, preventing it from opening properly and restricting airflow. In mild cases, it causes noisy breathing and exercise intolerance, but in severe cases, it leads to life-threatening respiratory obstruction. But what else do we need to know about laryngeal paralysis? How can we stabilise these patients in an emergency, treat them effectively, and provide that all-important nursing care? That's exactly what we're covering in episode 64 of the Medical Nursing Podcast. --- Resources mentioned in this episode:
In episode 63 of the Medical Nursing Podcast, we're tackling a big topic and increasingly common problem in practice: Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS). If you've ever worked with a snorty Frenchie, a struggling Pug, or a Bulldog that just can't seem to catch their breath, you'll know first-hand the issues that BOAS can cause. This condition has become increasingly common with the rise in popularity of brachycephalic breeds. And while those squishy faces might be seen as cute, they come with serious anatomical challenges that impact breathing, exercise tolerance, and overall quality of life. But how can we help these patients, and what do we need to know about caring for them? Well, it starts with understanding exactly what BOAS is, why it happens, and how it impacts our patients - which is exactly what we're diving into in this episode. --- Resources mentioned in this episode:
We know that respiratory patients are often very challenging. They tend to be really stressed, and teetering on a knife-edge, balancing their increased demand for oxygen with a disease impacting their oxygenation. And this means that careful handling, supportive care and approaching these patients confidently, the right way, are absolutely essential to give them the best care and avoid complications. In today's episode - the first in a brand new series all about respiratory disease - we'll be laying the foundations, taking a brief journey back to A&P and all of the need-to-know information about the respiratory system. Because when we understand how it's supposed to work, we can better understand what to do when it goes wrong. ---
Gastrointestinal neoplasia is something we see very commonly in practice - but what tumours do our patients get, how do we diagnose them, and how can we support these patients as veterinary nurses? And, of course - what skills can we use in the process? In episode 61 of the medical nursing podcast, I'm joined by Inge Breathnach, a PGCert and VTS holder in Oncology. Together, Inge and I are breaking down exactly how we manage these often challenging patients so you can care for them confidently in practice. ---
Does every constipated patient just need a bit more lactulose?! Not really. There are a TON of different causes of constipation - and actually, it can lead to pretty significant consequences for our patients, like obstipation, megacolon, abdominal pain, vomiting, dehydration, electrolyte abnormalities and much more. Giving great care to these patients includes providing appropriate nutritional support, maintaining hydration, performing enemas where needed, careful monitoring and supportive +/- postoperative care, and client support - all skills we're great at and ones you'll feel confident using after this podcast episode. ---
Ever seen a patient need HUGE amounts of their intestine removed because of an awful foreign body? Or an intusussception? If so, you may well have come across short bowel syndrome before (and if you haven't, bank this info, because you'll likely need it in the future). Short bowel syndrome is a severe disorder that occurs due to massive intestinal resection. These patients can't absorb water, electrolytes and nutrients from their food, causing significant changes in their hydration, electrolyte and nutritional status - amongst many other things. They're incredibly challenging to manage, and they need intensive nursing care - which gives us a LOT of ways to help them, and many skills we can use in the process. In episode 59 of the Medical Nursing Podcast, we're diving into exactly what SBS is, how it impacts our patients, and (most importantly), how we can give them great nursing care. ---
What happens when our patient's pancreas doesn't work properly?! Well - they get exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, aka EPI. This is a disease where the pancreas can't make and release digestive enzymes normally, meaning our patients don't properly digest and absorb nutrients from their food. The result? Polyphagia, weight loss, VERY poor body condition, awful faeces and many vitamin deficiencies amongst other things… but with proper nutrition, prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment, they can do very well. In episode 58 of the Medical Nursing Podcast, we're diving deep into exactly what EPI is, how it affects our patients, and how we can help give great care to these patients as nurses and technicians. ---
In the first of a 2-parter on pancreatic disease, we're talking all about managing pancreatitis patients. Pancreatitis is the most common pancreatic disease we see in practice. These patients are often severely unwell and risk developing complications like SIRS and MODS, and need intensive nursing care. In episode 57 of the Medical Nursing Podcast, we'll look at what pancreatitis is, how it affects our patients, and how we treat it - as well as three things you can do as a vet nurse to give even better care to your own pancreatitis patients. ---
In episode 56 of the Medical Nursing Podcast we're talking all about protein-losing enteropathy - quite possibly the worst chronic GI disease we see. Though these patients are often severely unwell, they need a LOT of intensive nursing care and that means there are lots of skills we can use in the process. But what is PLE, and how does it affect our patients? Let's take a look. ---
In episode 55 of the Medical Nursing Podcast, we're continuing our gastrointestinal series and diving into chronic enteropathies. These are some of the most common gastrointestinal diseases we see in practice and some of the most misunderstood. Today, though, we're changing that - looking at the types of chronic enteropathies we see, how they affect our patients, and how we diagnose, treat and nurse them. ---
Would we be talking about GI disease if we weren't talking about intestinal foreign bodies?! From strings to balls to bones to toys and pretty much everything in between, we've seen it all - and whilst most of these patients are pretty well on presentation, we know that foreign body patients aren't always smooth sailing. In episode 54 of the Medical Nursing Podcast, we'll get stuck in to the common complications we see with GI foreign bodies, and I'll share my top 4 tips for giving them great nursing care. ---
Today, we're talking about quite possibly the worst GI disease of them all - parvovirus. Yep, these patients are often a winning combination of tiny, horrifically behind on fluids, poorly tolerant of nutrition and dealing with severe gastrointestinal signs. There's a lot we need to do to support these patients, and we're diving into all of it in this episode. ---
In episode 52 of the Medical Nursing Podcast we're talking all about managing GI ulcers. From simple NSAID overdoses to patients with nasty ulcerative chronic GI diseases, we see this disease more often than you might think - and in severe cases these patients can present with marked anaemia from GI blood loss, (even requiring transfusions) or gastrointestinal perforation and sepsis! Today, we're diving in to what causes GI ulceration, the impact it has on our patients, and the four things we can do to give great care to them as vet nurses. ---
Gastric dilation-volvulus (GDV) patients are often a real challenge to nurse. They're often severely unwell on presentation and there is a high risk of postoperative complications. But there are also lots of skills we get to use when caring for these patients! Giving them great care starts with understanding how GDVs occur and their impact on our patients, which is exactly what we'll be diving into in this episode of the Medical Nursing Podcast. ---
In episode 50 of the Medical Nursing Podcast, we're talking about one of the most challenging oesophageal disorders to manage - oesophageal foreign bodies. Patients with oesophageal foreign bodies can vary from being well at the time of presentation to ones with significant, chronic obstructions where patients are significantly unwell at the time of presentation. Removal is risky, and complications like pneumothorax are very real, but by understanding the primary considerations for these patients, we can start preparing for them, minimising complications, and giving even better care. ---
Ever seen a megaoesophagus patient before? These patients can be really tough to nurse - they've often got severe regurgitation and aspiration pneumonia, and alongside assisting with diagnosis and providing nutritional support, need intensive respiratory support too. Giving great care to these patients starts with understanding what megaoesophagus is, the types we see, and how we treat and nurse these patients - which is exactly what we're talking about in episode 49 of the Medical Nursing Podcast. ---
We know that gastrointestinal diseases are amongst the most common diseases we see in practice. And giving great care to these patients starts with understanding how the GI tract works, which is precisely what we're exploring in the first episode of our brand-new series on GI disease. ---
Today is a first for the podcast - we're using a case study to discuss how we can provide even better care to our haematology patients! From performing initial diagnostic tests to running a blood donation and transfusion and everything in between, we'll break it all down in this episode - so you can walk away and give confident care to your own haematology patients. ---
Let me ask you this. Who does the blood transfusions in your practice? The vets? Or the nurses? Yes, it will be us monitoring the patient and collecting the vitals, but who… Calculates the blood? Prepares it? Performs the donations? Cares for the donors? If it's not the nurses, I'm going to suggest it should be - because there's no reason for us not to do all of these things (as long as we run our plan past the vets and ensure they agree before going ahead!) In this episode of the Medical Nursing Podcast we're taking the confusion out of transfusions, so you can confidently care for your haematology patients in practice. ---
Anticoagulant rodenticide toxicity is one of the most common toxicities reported in dogs and can cause severe bleeding if not identified and managed quickly. These patients often present as emergencies and can require intensive treatment and nursing care - and how to deliver that care is exactly what we'll be diving into in this episode of the Medical Nursing Podcast. ---
Got a young patient who just won't stop bleeding from their microchip site, vaccine site, or gingiva after deciduous tooth loss? There's a good chance they have a coagulopathy. We see two types of coagulopathy in practice - congenital and acquired - and it's those congenital ones we're discussing today. It's important we pick up on these as soon as possible in the patient's life, to prevent severe haemorrhage at the time of neutering or during other procedures. Identifying congenital coagulopathies starts with understanding what they are, and how they impact our patients - which is exactly what you'll be able to do after this episode. ---
Picture this: you're on the admit shift on a Tuesday morning, and your next patient is a 6-month-old Doberman for routine neutering. Is there anything you'd be particularly worried about before surgery? Is there anything you'd discuss with the client or any tests you'd speak to your vet about? Dobermans are a classic breed affected by von Willebrand's disease, which is a disease that sits somewhere between thrombocytopenia and coagulopathy. If they have it, bleeding is a very real risk. Thankfully, if we know beforehand, we can implement strategies to manage the patient's disease and prevent severe haemorrhage. That starts with understanding von Willebrand's disease and how it works, which is exactly what we're covering in this episode of the Medical Nursing Podcast. ---
Picture this. You're working the Saturday morning shift, you're wrapping things up ready to close, and your vet brings through a patient from consults. The patient is a 6-year-old cocker spaniel, and they've got a history of lethargy and exercise intolerance, progressing to melena, haematuria and bruising in the last 2 days. You examine them with the vet and find they're dull, tachycardic and have bounding pulses. What's going on, and most importantly, what are you going to do about it? Well - they have some kind of bleeding disorder, and based on these signs, there's a good chance they have very low platelet levels. But why does this happen, and how can we support these patients? We'll dive into all of that in this episode. ---
When I say ‘IMHA', what comes to mind? For me, it's the most challenging case I have ever cared for: a patient who had such severe anaemia that their jaundice made them neurological, earning them a few days on a propofol CRI due to seizures. Whilst not every IMHA case is like this—thankfully—these patients do need intensive nursing care and monitoring, and with this, there are many skills we can use when caring for them. But to do that, we first need to understand IMHA, how it affects our patients, and how we manage it—exactly what we're covering in this episode. ---
Anaemia is probably the most common haematologic disease that we see - so it's vital we understand why it occurs, how it affects our patients, and what we need to do when nursing these patients. In episode 40 of the Medical Nursing Podcast, we're chatting all about what causes anaema, how we classify it, what changes we see in our results, and how we treat these patients - so that you can provide the best possible nursing care. ---
How often do you look at blood smears in practice - and how confident do you feel looking at what you see? Blood smears are an excellent skill for us to learn as nurses - there's no reason we can't look at these, identify normal and abnormal cells, and perform cell counts! It's not ‘just a vet's job', and the only way to feel more confident knowing what you're looking at is to look at more and more smears and get comfortable with what's normal and what isn't. But before we start looking at smears, we need to know what cells we're looking at and refresh ourselves on what they do - exactly what we're covering in this episode of the Medical Nursing Podcast. ---
Ever seen a patient present with collapse, disorientation and seizures which resolves almost immediately? There's a good chance they could have insulinoma - a pancreatic tumour causing sudden hypoglycaemia. So how do we treat and nurse these patients - and what complications do we run into during and after surgery? We're discussing it all in episode 38 of the Medical Nursing Podcast. ---
Ever heard of a pheochromocytoma before? Nor had I before I walked into referral… but in all honesty, they're some of the riskiest cases we see. These can be scary, as they randomly secrete sometimes large volumes of adrenaline and noradrenaline - causing life-threatening tachycardia and hypertension. They're especially challenging cases when it comes to surgery - and we'll chat all about why that is, and how we manage these cases, in this episode of the Medical Nursing Podcast. ---
Today on the medical nursing podcast, we're talking all about parathyroid disorders - diseases of the parathyroid gland affecting calcium balance within the body. Though we don't see these as commonly as other endocrine diseases, it's still really important we understand these disorders - especially hypoparathyroidism, which can cause life-threatening hypocalcaemia. By the end of this episode, you'll feel more confident caring for these patients. ---
If I say ‘hypothyroid', what comes to mind? For me, it's a vision of a quiet little mini schnauzer, with hair loss and awful skin - but the reality is hypothyroidism causes a LOT more changes for our patients. To understand how we treat and nurse our hypothyroid dogs, we first need to understand hypothyroidism and its impact on our patients—which is exactly what you'll find waiting for you in this episode of the Medical Nursing Podcast. ---
We've all seen those older cats who come in with the body condition score of a hat-rack and an appetite that rivals ours at the end of a busy shift. Yep, that's right - they're hyperthyroid. Hyperthyroidism is the most common endocrinopathy seen in cats, so we know we will be treating and nursing these patients very commonly. But to do that effectively, we need to understand what hyperthyroidism is and how it affects our patients. And that's exactly what we'll be discussing in this episode of the Medical Nursing Podcast. ---
Addison's, aka hypoadrenocorticism, isn't called ‘the great pretender' for nothing. In fact, it's often missed until the patient presents in an Addisonian crisis. These patients often need intensive nursing care and treatment, especially if they present as an emergency. But to deliver that care, we first need to know what Addison's is, how it affects our patients, and how we treat it—which is exactly what we're chatting about in this episode. ---
In this week's episode of the Medical Nursing Podcast we're chatting all about hyperadrenocorticism - aka Cushing's disease! This is one of the most common endocrine diseases we see in dogs - and we even sometimes see it in cats - and nurses are heavily involved in the investigation and treatment of these patients. So what is Cushing's disease, and how do we treat and care for these patients? Let's find out… ---
Today, we're talking all about the other diabetes - diabetes insipidus. It might have the same name as ‘traditional' diabetes, but the two diseases are very different. It's nothing like diabetes mellitus - and as nurses, we must understand the difference between the two conditions. In this episode of the Medical Nursing Podcast, I'll explain exactly what diabetes insipidus is, what changes it causes to our patients, and how we diagnose, treat, and care for them. ---
Have you ever seen one of those diabetic cats that, try as you might, just WILL NOT respond to treatment? Well, if the answer's yes, there's a good chance your patient is one of many cats with acromegaly! This disease affects around 25% of ALL cats with diabetes - and whilst it can be cured, it's not a quick or easy fix. The good news? We can give these patients a TON of intensive nursing care during their treatment and recovery - and we're diving into that in today's episode of the Medical Nursing Podcast. ---
DKA patients vary from patients with mild ketosis and dehydration all the way to collapsed, severely unwell patients in shock, with marked acidosis and needing intensive nursing care. However these patients present, one thing remains true - there is a LOT of nursing care we can provide. But to do that, we need to understand how DKA works and what care our patients need - and that's exactly what we're diving into in this episode of the Medical Nursing Podcast! ---
Ever felt unsure about giving advice to diabetic cat clients? Felt confused about what to feed? Or wondered why we tend to use specific types of insulin for our cats? Felt boggled by the new oral treatments available and how they work compared to insulin? Well, in today's episode of the Medical Nursing Podcast, I'm diving DEEP into feline diabetes - so you'll leave this episode with all your questions answered. ---
In today's episode of the Medical Nursing Podcast, we're diving into diabetes mellitus in dogs! Diabetics are some of the most common endocrine patients we see, and the good news is they benefit from SO much nursing care - but to give the best care we can, we need to understand how diabetes affects our patients, the signs we see, and how we manage it. If you want to feel more confident advising your diabetic pet parents and really feel like you understand canine diabetes, this episode is for you. ---
Today I'm VERY excited, because in this episode of the Medical Nursing Podcast we're starting a brand new series, all about the endocrine system. If hormones give you a headache and you just can't quite make sense of all of those glands, you'll leave today's episode with a much clearer understanding of how this fascinating system works. ---
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