Sleeping Soundly: Anaesthesia & Analgesia for VNs

6 hours of in-person CPD for veterinary nurses & All other veterinary professionals welcome too! 

In Person Event: Sleeping Soundly: Anaesthesia & Analgesia for VNs

Venue: Reaseheath College & University Centre, Nantwich, CW5 6DF

Times: 9:30 – 17:00 (arrival from 9:00)

Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

Kindly sponsored by Pioneer and Improve International:

Event Running Order:

09:00 – 09:30	Arrival
09:30 – 10:30	Locoregional techniques – the only true analgesic Michelle Moran RVN VNCertECC VTS Anesthesia & Analgesia
10:30 – 11:30	Monitoring anaesthesia – demystifying blood pressure & capnograms Liza Ebeck RVN NCert Anaesth. CVLM
11:30 – 11:45	Break
11:45 – 12:45	How to optimise using CRI’s during the peri-operative period Michelle Moran RVN VNCertECC VTS Anesthesia & Analgesia
12:45 – 13:30	Lunch
13:30 – 14:30	Anaesthesia in Sighthounds: Navigating Unique Physiological Challenges for Safer Outcomes Rebecca Meagan RVN CertVNECC CertAVN (anaesthesia)
14:30 – 15:30	Understanding ECG’s – what the waveforms mean Liza Ebeck RVN NCert Anaesth. CVLM
15:30 – 15:45	Break
15:45 – 16:45	Anaesthetising the Brachycephalic Patient: Managing the Challenges from induction to Recovery Rebecca Meagan RVN CertVNECC CertAVN (anaesthesia)
17:00	Close

Speakers:

Speaker: Michelle Moran RVN VNCertECC VTS Anesthesia & Analgesia
Schedule: Locoregional techniques – the only true analgesic (09:30-10:30) and How to optimise using CRI’s during the peri-operative period (11:45-12:45)

Michelle has been qualified for almost 19 years and has worked within various practice settings during this time including charity, emergency and exotics. She currently works at NWVS and has been here as an anaesthesia nurse for almost 9 years.

Michelle gained her VTS in A&A during this time and has since written course material for various CPD companies and spoken at national conferences.

Session: Locoregional techniques – the only true analgesic (09:30-10:30)

Synopsis:

How to perform local analgesic techniques for the peri-operative and post-operative period for a more stable anaesthetic and recovery. Locoregional techniques involve truly blocking the nociception response to pain therefore allowing us to use minimal other anaesthetic agents to keep the patient in a stable plan of anaesthesia. In this talk, we will look at the most common techniques you can employ into practice and your everyday caseload that will hopefully allow you to improve your anaesthesia and recovery in your patients.

Learning Points:

1. Understand pain physiology
2. Learn the drugs that can be used in local block techniques
3. How to perform local blocks

Session: How to optimise using CRI’s during the peri-operative period (11:45-12:45) 

Synopsis: 

Anaesthesia can be challenging in lots of cases and especially where locoregional techniques cannot be employed. Using anaesthesia or analgesia CRI’s throughout can provide a more balanced approach and help stabilise the patient and provide a good level of analgesia keeping plasma concentrations of the drugs stable throughout the anaesthetic period. In this talk, we will look at the different drugs that can be used and the calculations alongside so you feel confident to do this back in practice when the case may arise.

Learning Points:

1. Refresh your knowledge on the different drugs & their receptors that they target
2. Understand which cases they can be used in and why
3. Learn how to calculate the correct dosages and dilutions and feel confident in  doing so

Speaker: Liza Ebeck RVN NCert Anaesth. CVLM
Schedule: Monitoring anaesthesia – demystifying blood pressure & capnograms (10:30-11:30) and Understanding ECG’s – what the waveforms mean (14:30-15:30) 

Liza qualified in 2001 in general practice and has spent most of her career working in University Vet Schools within the surgical, anaesthesia and cardiology departments. She made a move to first opinion in 2022 as a Head Nurse but followed her heart back to referral nursing in 2023 joining an independent cardiology referral practice in Cheshire. Liza was proud to achieve her NCert Anaesthesia in 2021 and Certificate in Veterinary Leadership & Management in 2023, she is currently preparing to undertake the VTS in Cardiology in 2026.

Session: Monitoring anaesthesia – demystifying blood pressure & capnograms (10:30-11:30)

Synopsis:

This lecture will cover gas flow rates, capnograms and how to interpret these in low flow anaesthesia aims for sustainable anaesthesia practice. We will also discuss the underlying mechanisms behind blood pressure generation and maintenance by the patient and how to troubleshoot problems under general anaesthesia.

Learning Points:

1. Be able to recognise different abnormal capnograms
2. Understand how to use the capnogram to monitor lower flow fresh gas provision
3. Understand what comprises blood pressure
4. Have confidence in trouble shooting problems maintaining blood pressure under general anaesthesia

Session: Understanding ECG’s – what the waveforms mean (14:30-15:30)

Synopsis:

This lecture will cover the conduction system, how the ECG is made and how to interpret an ECG along with recognising abnormal beats. We will also cover how to recognise some of the more common (and urgent!) arrhythmias.

Learning Points:

1. Understand what comprises the normal ECG complex
2. Recognise and classify abnormal beats
3. Understand how to interpret an ECG
4. Recognise common arrhythmias

Speaker: Rebecca Meagan RVN CertVNECC CertAVN (anaesthesia)
Schedule: Anaesthesia in Sighthounds: Navigating Unique Physiological Challenges for Safer Outcomes (13:30-14:30) and Anaesthetising the Brachycephalic Patient: Managing the Challenges from induction to Recovery (15:45-16:45)

Rebecca Meagan RVN CertVNECC CertAVN (Anaesthesia) qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2017 from Myerscough College. She has extensive experience working in ECC hospitals and in referral anaesthesia and theatre nursing. Between 2021 and 2023, Rebecca achieved her CertVNECC and CertAVN (Anaesthesia) and is currently studying towards an MSc in Advanced Veterinary Nursing, specialising in anaesthesia. Alongside her clinical work, Rebecca delivers in-house CPD training across the UK through VetriNurse CPD, specialising in Anaesthesia, Multiparameter Monitoring, and CPR, supporting veterinary teams in developing their knowledge and practical skills.

Session: Anaesthesia in Sighthounds: Navigating Unique Physiological Challenges for Safer Outcomes (13:30-14:30)  

Synopsis: 

This training session explores the unique anaesthetic considerations required for sighthound breeds, focusing on their distinct physiology and how it impacts anaesthetic safety. Delegates will learn about key pre-operative considerations, including patient assessment, drug selection, and the importance of recognising hepatic enzyme differences that can delay drug metabolism. The session covers intra-operative management, highlighting cardiovascular sensitivity, thermoregulation, and tailored anaesthetic monitoring protocols. Post-operative care will address recovery risks, including prolonged sedation and pressure injury prevention.

Learning Points:

1. Understand the impact of sighthound physiology—including low body fat and altered hepatic enzyme activity—on anaesthetic drug choice and metabolism.
2. Identify breed-specific cardiovascular and thermoregulatory risks and apply strategies to manage these during anaesthesia.
3. Implement effective anaesthetic monitoring techniques tailored to sighthounds to detect and address complications early.
4. Optimise pre-op planning and post-op care to reduce recovery delays and improve overall patient safety and comfort.

 

Session:  Anaesthetising the Brachycephalic Patient: Managing the Challenges from induction to Recovery (15:45-16:45)

Synopsis:

This training session focuses on the unique challenges of anaesthetising brachycephalic patients, addressing their anatomical and physiological vulnerabilities. Delegates will explore essential pre-operative considerations, including airway assessment, fasting protocols, and managing gastrointestinal risks such as regurgitation and aspiration. The session will cover intra-operative strategies for securing and maintaining the airway, recognising and responding to respiratory compromise, and applying vigilant anaesthetic monitoring. Post-operative care will emphasise safe extubation, oxygen support, and close observation during recovery.

Learning Points:

1. Recognise the anatomical and physiological risks associated with brachycephalic breeds, including airway obstruction and gastrointestinal reflux.
2. Develop tailored pre-operative plans that minimise stress, optimise airway management, and reduce aspiration risk.
3. Apply effective intra-operative techniques for airway security, ventilation support, and close anaesthetic monitoring.
4. Implement vigilant post-operative care with a focus on extubation timing, oxygen supplementation, and early detection of respiratory distress.

BVNA Advocate: Joy Shutt BSc (Hons) RVN C-SQP DipNCS (RVNCons) Joy is part of a team of BVNA Advocates, organising CPD for veterinary nurses, both online and in her part of North Wales.  She is the Head Nurse and Nurse Clinic Lead in a first opinion practice, with a diploma in veterinary nurse consulting.  She enjoys everything cats and maintains her practice’s silver level Cat Friendly Clinic accreditation. Joy also writes for veterinary publications and is a veterinary nurse course assessor for Colourful CPD. Outside of nursing, Joy runs a Facebook group “North Wales Schnauzers” who meet for regular walks and support the charity Schnauzerfest. As well as Frank her miniature Schnauzer, Joy has a rescue cat and three Royal Pythons.

Staffordshire BVNA Advocate:  Emma Hall GradDipVN, NCert(AnBeh),VNCertECC, CertDent, CertVNES, CA-SQP, A1, IOSH,  Recover Rescuer Certified, RVN Emma started her veterinary nursing career in 1996 at a busy mixed practice. She progressed through her SVN training, qualified then took on the head nurse role, then surgery manager to her current role of Group Nursing Manager for a group of 5 practices. Throughout her career Emma always has a thirst for knowledge and has collected many post grad certificates and loves to pass her new found knowledge onto her team. Emma has been a Clinical Coach since 2006 and loves to see the students’ confidence and skills grow.

If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us; cpd@bvna.co.uk

Cancellation Policy

BVNA CPD Courses and Events Cancellation Policy.pdf

Please note that CPD certificates are no longer emailed to attendees. BVNA members are able to log their CPD within their BVNA profile and details on how to do this can be found here; CPD