BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN VETERINARY NURSING
WORK PLACEMENT MANUAL
STUDENT NAME:
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EMPLOYER:
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ACADEMIC SUPERVISOR:
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WORK SUPERVISOR:
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Introduction
This document serves as a guide to the content, purpose and procedures for undertaking
the work placement and it applies to all of the parties involved - the Student, the Work
Supervisor (employer) and the Academic Supervisor (Dundalk Institute of Technology).
For the success of the work placement it is important that there is a partnership between
the employer, the student and the Institute. This partnership approach ensures that the
placement is properly supervised, evaluated and is academically relevant for the student.
 General Information Regarding Placement
 Context
The placement is considered an integral part of the course programme and as such is a
continuing learning process in which the student learns to apply the knowledge gained
through the academic programme, in the workplace.
Students are encouraged to avail of all opportunities in their work placement to explore
and develop a better insight into the profession of Veterinary Nursing.
Furthermore, the placement facilitates the development of practical and communications
skills/competencies required to make a meaningful contribution in the workplace and in
the field of Veterinary Nursing. In this context therefore, it is essential that the placement
contain those elements that will facilitate this learning/development.
 Essential Elements
 Students who participate in this Work Placement programme will, without
exception, be registered as full-time students on the B.Sc. in Veterinary Nursing
at Dundalk Institute of Technology.

Employers will be Veterinary Clinics and Hospitals registered on the Veterinary
Council of Ireland Premises Accreditation Scheme. It is also desirable that these
practices have in their employment a designated Veterinary Surgeon or Senior
Veterinary Nurse who is responsible for the training of student or trainee
Veterinary Nurses.

Employers are responsible for the Health and Safety of the student nurse while
he/she is in their employment. They should also present the student with a
workplace induction, including a Health and Safety induction. Students should be
asked to read and sign the workplace Safety Statement.

The student should be in attendance in the workplace for at least 35 hours per
week during their period of work placement.

Payment of the student is at the discretion of the employer. It is not necessary to
pay first and second year students while on placement. However, it is desirable
that 3rd year students are paid, as the placement occurs during the academic
summer holiday period.

DkIT’s Insurance Policy indemnifies employers involved in work placements on
behalf of the Institute. The policy only operates to indemnify the employer in the
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event of personal injury to the student. The indemnity to employer only operates
on the basis that the employer takes all reasonable precautions to prevent
accidents to students.

Professional Indemnity Insurance for the student must be provided by the
employer’s policy.
 Aims and Structure of the Work Placement
The aim of the work placement is to introduce the student to a structured work
environment and to develop an understanding of the organisation, procedures, and
practices current in the organisation. It is also an opportunity for the student to gain the
essential practical skills, which are not achievable through the academic component of
the programme.
It is important, therefore, that the student be provided with adequate opportunities within
the work placement to experience a range of the activities carried out by the host practice
and to contribute in a positive way to those activities.
The practical arrangements for the work placements will include: 
Appointment of a Work Supervisor (e.g. Veterinary Surgeon or Senior Veterinary
Nurse).

Appointment of an Academic Supervisor.

A formal introduction/induction to the workplace by the work supervisor.

The maintenance of a Skills List by the student, which will be signed by a
registered Veterinary Surgeon or Veterinary Nurse in the practice.

A formal assessment by the Institute conducted on the basis outlined in this
document.
 Learning Outcomes
At the end of the work placement the student will be expected to: 1. Describe and outline the nature of the work environment and of the demands that
such an environment makes on an individual
2. Contribute constructively as a member of veterinary practice team
3. Identify the communication and personal skills necessary to work within such an
environment, including communicating with clients and colleagues.
4. Be able to link and apply the skills and knowledge learned during the course to a
work environment.
5. Be able to carry out some of the tasks listed in the Skills List, either under
supervision or independantly.
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6. Apply the analytical / health and safety protocols and regulatory obligations of
their employer.
7. Accept responsibility for their own work, reflect on their own practices and
behave ethically in a work environment.
The student will be expected to reflect on these outcomes during the course of the work
placement, to gather information that will enable them to analyse the placement and the
practice in the context of these outcomes and to produce the reports required for
assessment during and at the end of the placement.
 Placement Assessment
The following are guidelines regarding the various elements of the assessment:
Skills List
The student will participate in or execute a variety of practical tasks during the course of
the work placement. The required tasks are listed in Skills List provided by the Institute.
The student must demonstrate satisfactory completion of all elements of each task. It
may be necessary for the student to carry out the task on more than one occasion to
demonstrate ability. When the tasks are satisfactorily completed, they must be signed by
a Registered Veterinary Nurse or Veterinary Surgeon. All tasks on the list must be
completed by the end of the programme. The list will be validated by the Academic
Supervisor but will not be formally assessed.
 Student Case Reports (60% of marks)
Students will be required to complete a number of case reports during each placement.
These will describe all aspects of specific cases experienced during the placement,
including interactions with the patient, client and veterinary surgeon. Templates for the
case reports will be provided by the Institute. The Work Supervisor will be required to
authenticate the reports, which must be submitted to the Institute within two weeks of the
placement finish.
 Employer Assessment (40% of marks)
This will be an assessment by the employer of the quality of work, attitude and
commitment of the student.
It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the Work Supervisor prepares and signs the
End of Placement Employer’s Report. The student should then retain this report and
submit it to the Academic Supervisor.
 Feedback on Placement
Once marking has been completed it is intended that there will be a meeting between the
student and the Academic Supervisor to provide overall feedback on the placement.
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 Responsibilities
For the successful operation of each student placement, it will be necessary to appoint a
Work Supervisor and an Academic Supervisor.
 Work Supervisor
The role of the Work Supervisor is to ensure that the placement process is carried out as
planned.
The work supervisor’s Responsibilities include the following:

To meet the student in the first instance

To ensure that the student undergoes the appropriate induction process

To ensure the student understands the health and safety and customer care policies
of the organisation

To assign work to the student and oversee the performance of the assigned work

To assist the student in the development of practical skills as listed in the Skills
List.

To authenticate the student case reports.

To act as a first reference point for the student in times of difficulty

To meet with the Academic Supervisor and the student during the placement to
discuss the student's work assignment and progress and to deal with any problems
that may arise

To complete an End of Placement Report and assess the student on the basis of a
number of listed criteria.
It is hoped that these would be implemented in the context of regular meetings with the
student, once a week if possible, meetings with the academic supervisor during their visit
to the work place, and meeting with personnel within the practice as appropriate.
 Academic Supervisor
The role of the Academic Supervisor is to liaise with the Work Supervisor to oversee the
quality of the learning experience during the placement.
The Academic Supervisor’s responsibilities include the following:

To ensure that the student fully understands what is expected from him/her during
work placement and to provide the student with contact information.

To familiarise the student with the various documents (Skills List, Case Reports,
Employer’s Report) that are required on completion of the Placement.
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
To contact the student and Work Supervisor during the Placement starting to ensure
that the placement content contributes to the progressive development/learning of the
student and that the work being carried out is meaningful.

To visit the student on at least one occasion during the placement and arrange a 3way meeting with the student and the Work Supervisor to discuss progress in relation
to achieving learning objectives. This meeting should take place within two weeks of
the commencement and two weeks of the end of the placement. A second visit
should be carried out if problems arise.

During visitation of the student, to liaise with the Work Supervisor in relation to:


Student Progress
The learning aspects of the placement
 Any other appropriate matter
To oversee the assessment process (the completion of the associated documentation).

To assess the Student Case Reports.

To liaise between the work placement and the Institute both for the employer and the
student.

 Role of Student
Each student must demonstrate the highest standards of personal and professional
conduct at all times during placement with the host organisation while at the same time
carrying out assigned duties to the highest quality.
The student’s responsibilities include the following:
 To make him/herself familiar with the contents of this manual.

To make him/herself familiar with and comply with the practice’s policies and
procedures.

To respect the confidentiality of the practice’s clients.

To agree a work plan with the work supervisor

To participate in a 3-way meetings between the work supervisor and academic
supervisor.

To take responsibility for achieving optimum results from the placement.

To strive to achieve the general learning outcomes for the placement programme.

To complete the Case Report sheets and submit them to the academic supervisor
within two weeks of the placement finish.

To ensure that the Skills List is signed by a Registered Veterinary Nurse or
Veterinary Surgeon in the practice.
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 Difficulties while on Work Placement
If the student is experiencing any concerns with his/her placement, it is their
responsibility to contact firstly the Work Supervisor to discuss how the particular
situation may be dealt with. If the Work Supervisor is of the opinion that a visit from the
Academic Supervisor at this point is necessary it will be arranged. However, only if the
student is unable to satisfactorily solve a problem, will the Academic Supervisor
intervene.
Students should keep in mind that open communication between all parties is crucial to
solving problems that may arise. Often simple resolutions are made by talking through a
problem with the Work Supervisor or the Academic Supervisor.
 Failure to Complete a Placement
It is the student’s responsibility to advise the Academic Supervisor of any change of
circumstances during Work Placement.
Students who do not fulfil the conditions of the Work Placement Programme to the
satisfaction of the Employer and/or Dundalk Institute may fail the relevant Work
Placement Module of their course of study. In the event of this occurring, the student
must source and complete an additional work placement.
 Guidelines on Sick Leave
The student should check the organisation’s sick leave policy with the work supervisor.
Students are responsible for notifying the practice if they cannot attend due to illness.
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BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN VETERINARY NURSING
WORK PLACEMENT
END of PLACEMENT EMPLOYER’S REPORT
(to be completed by Work Supervisor & returned to DkIT)
Student Name:
_______________________________________
Practice Name:
_______________________________________
In this report please include such items as the quality of the student’s work, the
commitment, punctuality and general attitude of the student while on work placement in
your organisation
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Please rate the student’s performance under the following headings:
(4 excellent, 3 good, 2 fair, 1 poor)
Attendance & Punctuality
Clinical skills
Appearance
Animal Handling
Co-operation with employer
Level of interest
Co-operation with co-workers
Initiative
Communication with Clients
Overall quality of work
Total Marks_________________
Students must achieve a minimum total score of 20 marks in order to pass the work
placement module.
Supervisor’s Signature: _________________________
Date: _______________
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