About this course

Small Animal Practice: Clinical practice at external veterinary clinics that are pre-approved by the NMBU Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

Equine Clinic: A maximum of 5 weeks may, by agreement, be completed at a pre-approved equine clinic.

Practice Abroad: A maximum of 8 consecutive weeks of practice at a clinic abroad is permitted.

It is not possible to combine equine practice with practice abroad within this course.

OSCE(Objective Structured Clinical Examination) examination at the end of the course.

Learning outcome

Provides the student with practical knowledge and real world experience of the running of a clinic and the medical treatment of animals. The main focus of the practice should be on operations and radiography, in addition to test taking, insertion of venous catheters and good hygiene. Students should take part in all areas of work at the clinic, so as to develop good practices.

DYR207 will help the students acquire the skills and knowledge described in the following ACOVENE Competences from ACOVENEs Dossier of European Competences for the Veterinary Nurse :

  • EC 1 Health and safety
  • EC 2 Developing personal performance and maintaining working relationships
  • EC 3 Carry out veterinary reception duties
  • EC 4 Manage clinical environments for procedures and investigations
  • EC 5 Providing emergency first aid to animals .
  • EC 6 Provide and administer nursing care
  • EC 7 Supporting clients in caring for animals
  • EC 8 Perform Laboratory Diagnostic Tests
  • EC 9 Prepare for diagnostic imaging techniques and conduct radiography on animals
  • EC 10 Prepare for veterinary surgical procedures
  • EC 11 Assist the veterinary surgeon during surgical procedures
  • EC 12 Assist in the provision of anaesthetics to animals
  • EC 13 Dispense and administer medication

  • Learning activities

    Practical teaching in the clinic.

    In-person sessions on campus, 2 days.

    Specific learning goals are listed in Canvas.

  • Teaching support

    The students are followed up throughout the clinical period through questionnaires, assessments of evaluation forms, and other relevant documentation.

    All clinical placement clinics must have a designated student supervisor who is responsible for following up the student and the clinical training. The student supervisor must be a Norwegian licensed veterinary nurse with a minimum of one year of professional experience.

    The course coordinator is available by email.

  • Syllabus

    A list over recommended litterature is published in Canvas.

  • Assessment method

    OSCE exam: Objective Structured Clinical Examination

    The OSCE is a practical exam consisting of 10 stations.

    As a rule, the regular OSCE will be held over 2 days with 5 stations per day. The accounting exam is usually held over 1 day with 10 stations.

    Allowed aids: Whatever is placed on the station.

    Duration of examnination: Ca. 2 hours.

    Grading: Pass/fail.

    The student must pass 7 out of 10 stations to pass the exam.

  • About use of AI

    K2 - Artificial intelligence (AI) may be used for language editing when writing clinical records. It is expected that the student independently produces the assignment and identifies relevant sources. The student bears full responsibility for the content submitted.

    Descriptions of AI-category codes.

  • Examiner scheme

    The assessment approach is evaluated by an external sensor.

  • Mandatory activity

    The student must arrange their own internship placement at a private animal clinic before being able to start the course. Information about the process will be provided in advance via email and the course page in Canvas.

    All activities in the course are mandatory and must be approved in order to pass the course. Deadlines for submissions will be published on Canvas.

    Mandatory activities include:

    • Written skills checklists documenting the skills acquired during the internship period.
    • Clinical records.
    • Evaluation forms.
    • Video material must be submitted to document skills progression and the ability to self-evaluate.
    • The student’s well-being will be assessed twice during the external internship period via a digital questionnaire.
    • There will be two in-person gatherings at NMBU Faculty of Veterinary Medicine during the period. Dates will be announced on Canvas.
    • OSCE examination.

    If clinical records or submissions are not approved, the student will have the opportunity to revise previously submitted documents. These must be resubmitted for assessment and approved before the student can sit for the OSCE exam.

    Attendance rules:

    Attendance throughout the entire internship course is mandatory.

    Valid absence is defined as follows:

    • Valid absence includes: the student’s own illness and illness of a child under 12 years old.
    • Other special circumstances, demanding student positions, political engagement, or elite athlete status must be approved in advance by the Study Department in order to be considered valid absence.

    Invalid absence or unacceptable behavior/attitudes in the clinic is not permitted (see rules for suitability assessment).

    Absence must be reported immediately to the relevant clinic (student supervisor).

    The student may use three self-certified sick days for personal illness, a child’s illness, or funerals in the immediate family. There must be at least 14 days between each self-certified sick leave period. Absence beyond these three days must be documented with a doctor’s certificate.

    To obtain valid absence, documentation (self-certification or medical certificate) must be sent to the Study Department VET (studieveileder-vet@nmbu.no) within five working days.

    Repetition of absence:

    • Invalid absence = Must be made up in full.
    • 0-10% valid absence = The course responsible will assess whether the internship must be made up.
    • 11-20% valid absence = Must be made up in full. The student must arrange the repetition with the internship clinic and ensure that the repetition form is completed and submitted to studieveileder-vet@nmbu.no
    • 21% valid absence = Internship course not passed.

    Non-approved mandatory activities = The course responsible will assess whether the internship must be repeated.

    Application for accommodations in internship courses:

    There are no exemptions from internship due to health reasons or other circumstances, but students may apply for accommodations, for example by completing the internship over a longer period of time. Applications and documentation from a doctor/healthcare provider must be sent to studieveileder-vet@nmbu.no.

  • Notes

    Workwear according to current regulations, as agreed with the external clinic in question. Name plate with full name and "veterinary nursing student". Bandage scissors. Nurse watch with seconds hand. Notepad and pencil.

    Stethoscope and thermometer is recommended, but not required.

  • Preferential right

    B-DYR.

  • Admission requirements

    The course is intended exclusively for veterinary nursing students and requires that the student meets the progression requirements described in the study plan.