Postgraduate Course: Non-Technical Skills for Safer Veterinary Care (VESC11269)
Course Outline
| School | Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
| Course type | Online Distance Learning |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | Non-technical skills are described as the "cognitive and social skills that complement technical skills to achieve safe and efficient practice" (Mitchell and Flin, 2008).
In this course we will explore the evidence base relating to non-technical skills in healthcare and specifically the veterinary setting. Participants will also acquire strategies and tools that can be practically applied in the veterinary care setting.
|
| Course description |
Research across many safety- critical industries has found that whilst technical skills are necessary, many causes of adverse events in human healthcare derive from non-technical aspects of performance, rather than lack of technical expertise. Therefore, to maintain high levels of performance adequate attention needs to be paid to understanding and training in non-technical skills.
Through understanding the non-technical skills required in the veterinary setting we can implement strategies that make it easier for people to 'do the right thing', therefore reducing potential error and improving patient care.
While many of the examples and scenarios that will be presented relate to veterinary anaesthesia, this course is suitable for all those working in the veterinary sector.
The course will cover :
- Introduction to Human Factors and Non-technical skills (including lessons from aviation and human healthcare );
- Communication and communication tools such as briefings, handovers, checklists , debriefs, appropriate assertiveness, and concepts such as 'non-violent communication' and 'calling it out with compassion';
- Situational awareness, decision-making and problem-solving;
- Teamwork, task management and prioritisation, leadership;
- Managing stress, coping with fatigue, resilience, the concept of 'learning from everything', debriefs, error and excellence.
|
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2024/25, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
|
Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Flexible |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
98 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Assessment 1: Reflective diary over five weeks of course material; approx. 250-300 words per weekly post. (50%)
Assessment 2: Essay (approx. 2000 words) (50%)
|
| Feedback |
- Feedback from discussion board questions linked to weekly learning and specialist literature.
- Questions e.g. embedded within recorded lectures enabled through media create.
- Feedback on first 2 weeks of reflective diary where appropriate.
- Summative feedback from assessments.
|
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate an extensive knowledge and critical understanding of the importance of non-technical skills in the veterinary setting.
- Apply a critical understanding of non-technical skills identified as important in all safety critical industries and how these can influence future veterinary clinical practice and decision making.
- Critically review specialist literature, consolidate, and extend knowledge and thinking in non-technical skills, including a review of tools which support the use of NTS and prevent errors in clinical veterinary practice.
|
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Veterinary,Non-Technical Skills,Teamwork,Communication |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Stephen Greenhalgh
Tel: (0131 6)50 6571
Email: Stephen.Greenhalgh@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Stephen Mitchell
Tel: (0131 6)51 7112
Email: stephen.mitchell@ed.ac.uk |
|
|
University Homepage