Unit information: Professional Studies 4 in 2021/22

Unit name	Professional Studies 4
Unit code	VETS36000
Credit points	0
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director	Dr. Slingsby
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	Completion of BVSc 3
Co-requisites	All other units in BVSc 4
School/department	Bristol Veterinary School
Faculty	Faculty of Health Sciences

Description including Unit Aims

This unit is vertically integrated with Professional Studies units in years 1, 2, 3 and 5 and allows continuing development of an understanding of the complex issues and responsibilities associated with being a veterinary professional.

Communication skills - Teaching allows development of effective communication skills in the context of challenging situations where issues such as grief and anger are likely. The concept and practicalities of shared decision making within the clinical team and with clients are also explored.

Professional conduct ethics and law - The RCVS code of professional conduct and specific aspects of veterinary jurisprudence are explored and applied to a range of situations. The specific challenges of becoming a veterinary professional and an awareness of the skills required for the transition to veterinary practice are debated.

Business management - Business models applicable to UK veterinary practice and fundamental business principles such as price setting and profitability are further explored. The requirements of the RCVS practice standards scheme and issues of clinical governance and audit and employment law are discussed.

Study, learning and investigation – critical evaluation skills are further developed in the context of evidence based veterinary medicine (EBVM) through the evaluation of veterinary scientific literature and the development of Knowledge Summaries.

Aims:

• To develop students' understanding of the nature of the relationship owners have with animals and how this affects communication in more challenging situations such as euthanasia and loss

• To develop effective communication skills for challenging situations, such as when owners are angry, distressed, grieving or in conflict

• To develop students' understanding of how collective decisions are made and develop the skills appropriate to this

• To develop knowledge and understanding of the legal requirements attached to veterinary work and the guidelines of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons

• To develop students' understanding of the skills and practicalities associated with the transition to professional life

• To develop basic knowledge and understanding of common veterinary business practice, the requirements of the RCVS practice standards scheme, the concepts of clinical governance and audit and employment law.

• To develop knowledge, understanding and skills in evidence based veterinary medicine (EBVM) through the evaluation of veterinary scientific literature and development of Knowledge Summaries.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Communication skills. Students should be able to:

• Describe the range of attachment people have for animals they care for and discuss the influence that these may have on effective communication with owners or carers of animals
• Describe models of grief and apply these to clinical situations
• Identify the role of shared decision making and negotiation in the veterinary consultation and the skills required to communicate effectively in this context
• Identify their own and peers communication skills in dealing with a range of challenging situations such as when clients are angry, distressed, grieving or in conflict

• Professional conduct, ethics and law. Students should be able to:
• Identify the skills they require to manage the transition to practice post-graduation
• Describe the skills required for professional and ethical negotiation with clients and within the practice team
• Identify how to act ethically and professionally within the law and the RCVS guidelines as described in the RCVS code of Professional Conduct
• Reflect on generic situations requiring ethical and professional consideration of the type observed on EMS placements, and discuss these with tutors
• Reflect on their personal conduct in the light of the RCVS requirements for pre and post graduation

Business Management. Students should be able to:

• Describe the different business models of veterinary practice ownership
• Critically discuss the factors that must be considered when setting fees for goods and services
• Explain and interpret financial statements
• Define the term profitability and calculate profitability ratios
• Describe employee and employer rights and duties as outlined in employment legislation
• Describe what provisions and systems practices need to have in place in order to satisfy the requirements of the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme

Study Learning and Investigation. Students should be able to:

• Reflect effectively on their approach to clinical working conditions and on how they respond to difficult situations
• Examine the scientific evidence underpinning the decision making process in veterinary case management.
• Critically review published veterinary scientific literature and produce a Knowledge Summary

Teaching Information

Lectures

Seminars

Debate

Practicals

Technology-enhanced learning

Reflective journal

Individual and group work on directed self-education (DSE) tasks

Assessment Information

• Written/computer-based exam - 60%
• Directed self-education (DSE) task (Business Studies) - 20%
• Directed self-education (DSE) task (Evidence-based veterinary medicine) - 20%
• ePortfolio reflective journal entry – pass/fail
• ePortfolio reflective journal entry on ethics and professional conduct - pass/fail
• Communication Skills OSCEs – pass/fail

There will be an opportunity to resit the examination during the resit period.

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. VETS36000).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.