Explore Vet Nursing

Now Only

$389

AUD

35% off

$599 AUD

Quick Facts

Delivery Method Online
Professional Certificate
24hrs Suggested Study Time
3 Months Access
Tutor Support
Study On Any Device
16061 Students

Learn from a practicing veterinarian to prepare you to work in a veterinary office or hospital.

Do you love animals? Have you ever thought about a career as a veterinary assistant? This course, taught by a practicing veterinarian and college instructor, will give you the information you need to prepare for work in veterinary hospitals.

What vaccinations do cats and dogs really need and how often should they be given? What is the best way to control fleas? What do you do if your dog has a cut? What is the best way to deal with an emergency situation involving a pet? This course will answer all these questions and more.

You'll learn about pet nutrition and a variety of health and safety issues. You'll understand how to treat and prevent parasites, including roundworms and heartworms. You'll even learn the facts of life, as it pertains to dogs and cats.

You'll explore current thoughts on spaying and neutering, and how to deal with the very emotional issues of euthanasia, pet loss, and how best to assist clients in a time of need.

Special lessons will target specific aspects of veterinary assistant duties. Did you know that a veterinary assistant needs to dispense medications just like a pharmacist? You'll learn how to interpret medical prescriptions that look like Greek scribbles to the untrained eye.

You'll also understand the hazards of working in a veterinary setting so that you can protect yourself from x-ray exposure, infections carried by animals, and potential damage from teeth and claws.

Veterinary hospitals are small businesses, not just places of medicine, so you will also gain a complete understanding of their economics - how income is generated and where it goes. You will also explore marketing and communication because they are essential factors in making a business successful.

Even if you are already employed in a veterinary hospital, you will find this course invaluable in helping you understand the reasoning behind decisions and recommendations made by veterinarians. And if you're a pet owner, this course will help you better assess the quality of veterinary care your pets receive.

Courses are delivered to you through expertly executed lessons, online instruction and interaction with like-minded students. Our courses are designed to deliver all of the benefits of studying in a classroom whilst giving you the flexibility to study at a time and place to suit your needs. You can access your classroom 24/7 from any device with an internet connection.

This course has a 3 month duration. You'll complete comprehensive lessons, quizzes and assignments before submitting your final exam at the end of the course to achieve your certificate. Courses must be completed within the 3 month access period.

In our first lesson, we'll start way back at the beginning—you'll learn how ancient veterinary medicine evolved into the modern-day practice that you're accustomed to. You'll also learn why a veterinary assistant is just as important to the success of the practice as the veterinarian. In the second component of this lesson, you'll learn all about dog and cat reproduction. You'll learn the normal hormonal cycles and breeding times, and then delve into the benefits of sterilization.

In this lesson, you'll learn how vaccines protect against disease. And just as important, you'll learn why they sometimes fail. We'll take a close look at how often vaccines should be given, why they may be ill-advised, and why vaccinosis is so controversial.

Today, we'll talk about the importance of parasites that can infest both pets and people. You'll see the worms that live in the intestines, and also get acquainted with heartworm, a nasty guy that lives in the arteries. We'll explore how parasites infect people, what they do, and how to prevent their invasion.

Have you ever wondered how to pick the best food for your pet? This lesson will give you the tools to make the right decision, and how best to pass the information on to your clients. We'll also talk about the role of prescription diets in pet health.

This will certainly be the most emotional lesson in the entire course. The topic is euthanasia, and we'll look at it from the perspectives of both the client and the hospital employee. We'll explore the stages of grief that everyone goes through after a loss. You'll also see what the procedure entails, how to help a grieving client, and tools for assisting children with pet loss.

In this lesson, you'll learn why a veterinary hospital can be a dangerous place. You'll see how X-rays, anesthetics, and certain drugs can harm you. You'll finish this lesson with Economics 101, a glimpse into the cash flow of a typical veterinary hospital.

This lesson will help you in a crisis. Designed like a short course in human first aid, this lesson will help you cope with almost any emergency, and we'll discuss ways that some emergencies can be prevented. There's even a segment on cardiopulmonary resuscitation, dog and cat style!

What is the most important parasite affecting our pets? If you answered the flea, you're right. In this lesson, you'll learn all about this parasite. You'll hear about other crawling parasites that also live on or in the skin (mange) and how they can be managed.

Did you know that as a hospital employee, any advice you give could end up in a lawsuit? You'll find out how to handle these situations and, related to this, how to maintain client confidentiality. You'll round off your study on client communications with an introduction to client education programs.

As soon as you're hired as a veterinary assistant, you'll be helping to prepare prescriptions. In this lesson, you'll find out how to do this correctly. You'll also learn about your role in keeping accurate medical records. We'll end the lesson with a short course on marketing, taking a close look at some of the best tools you can use to keep old clients and attract new ones.

This lesson is the most cutting edge: Here, you'll learn all about alternative therapies that some veterinarians are applying in their practices, including acupuncture, homeopathy, herbs, and chiropractic care. And when it comes to pet food, is commercial, home-cooked, or raw the best choice? We'll examine the plusses and minuses of each possible diet.

In our last lesson, we'll take a close look at animal behavior. You'll delve into how best to train puppies and kittens, and more importantly, how to share the information with your clients. At the end of the course, you'll see how everything you've learned can be put together for a comprehensive health plan covering everything from behavior, vaccinations, and nutrition to castration, euthanasia, and alternative therapies.

Jeff Grognet

Jeff Grognet has been a companion animal veterinarian for 25 years. He was a pioneer in the field of veterinary assistant teaching, developing his first course almost 20 years ago. The overwhelming success of his veterinary receptionist/assistant ... Read more

Read Jeff Grognet's Profile

Frequently Asked Questions

Once you've made the payment, we'll send you a confirmation email with a link to start your course. Feel free to get started whenever you're ready!

You'll have 3 months access to your course. In that time you are free to study at your own pace. The course duration is 24 hours.

Online learning is a flexible way to study that fits around your schedule, giving you the freedom to learn at your own pace from anywhere in the world. You'll have 3 months to complete the course and can take the multiple-choice questions and final exam whenever it suits you.

If you need help, you can contact us anytime. You can also join the discussion area where you can interact with other students. The discussion area for each lesson is open for the entire duration of the course.

Of course! We offer a 7-day money back guarantee. As long as you haven't completed the course, you can get a full refund within 7 days of enrolling.

We do not offer extensions or transfers for this self-paced course. However, you will have 3 months to complete the course, and if you need to cancel within the first 10 days of enrolment, we offer a money back guarantee.

What people are saying about our courses

I am a volunteer in a Humane Society no-kill facility and this course has been very helpful for me. I am a recently retired RN nurse practitioner so I have a lot of health care education and experience for people and this course provided a lot of practical information for companion animals. It was a pleasure to take this course.

Verified Student

I am in my late 40's, and my mom owned a kennel my whole life, until she passed last year. That being said, I was amazed at the things I remember her doing as I read the lessons, but never really knew exactly why. It was so enlightening. I learned so much that made sense to me, now that I am older. The instructor was very clear, and understanding. My final word is, no matter how long you have been around animals, there is so much to learn in this course. Very well worth your time. Thanks for a wonderful job!

Verified Student

I love this course! The instructor is amazing. He answered all my
questions promptly. I have wanted to be a veterinarian since I was little. I
decided to take this course to see if it was what I really wanted. I wanted
an idea of what was involved and wanted to work with my local vet. I will
definitely recommend both instructor and course to others. Thanks, Dr Jeff!

Verified Student

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The Learning Environment

From the moment that you enrol in the Explore Vet Nursing you will become an integral part of our learning community. You'll find yourself with the freedom to learn at a speed that suits you, on any device, from anywhere in the world. Achieving your career goals no longer has to mean compromising family and work commitments.

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Our Values

Learn At Your Own Pace

We believe in personalised learning. That's why we provide all the tools and support you need to succeed at your own pace. With flexible learning, you'll stay motivated and retain more information. Plus, you can balance your studies with work and family commitments to make your dreams a reality.

We Won't Break The Bank

Education should be accessible to anyone who wants to learn. That's why we offer some of the most competitive prices in the industry with payments plans for just $25 per week. Investing in your future is a smart choice and doesn’t have to break the bank.

Industry-Led Courses

There's no better way to learn than from experts with years of experience in your field. That's why each of our 200+ industry-led courses are designed to give you a real-life perspective on your industry. With our expert mentors, you'll learn from people who have a wealth of knowledge and experience, and who are passionate about sharing it with you.

Get The Personal Support You Deserve

At Vibe Learning, we're real people who are dedicated to providing you with personal support every step of the way. Our industry experts are not only professional and knowledgeable but also incredibly passionate about sharing their expertise with you. With their guidance, you'll gain invaluable insights and practical knowledge to help you succeed.

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Explore Vet Nursing

$599

$389AUD

Save 35%

Assisting Elderly Parents

Quick Facts

Delivery Method Online
Professional Certificate
24hrs Suggested Study Time
3 Months Access
Tutor Support
Study On Any Device
2284 Students

Be prepared to handle the challenges you and your parents will face in the coming years, while learning to cherish the transition.

Are your parents in their golden years? Learning how to help parents or other loved ones through their transition can prepare us for our own. This compassionate and comprehensive class will give you the tools, techniques, and insights for this passage. Growing older is a part of life. Some aspects are joyful, some bittersweet, some frustrating, some frightening. You will learn what to expect, what to watch for, how to deal with physical and emotional challenges, and where to find resources to help.

You'll understand the impact of retirement, learn how to choose a nursing home, and be prepared to deal with death. You'll learn about financial and legal considerations, health issues, and family interpersonal relationships. You'll be introduced to special communication skills, observation methods, and coping mechanisms to ease the burden for everyone involved. You'll learn to handle most of the challenges you will face while coming to appreciate and cherish the privilege of the journey.

In our first lesson, you'll learn a few tools and techniques for effective communication that will sustain you as your parents age.

In this lesson, we'll explore ideas that can help you help your parent to maintain his or her zest for life as circumstances change. You'll discover some activities that you might not have thought of before. But you can only suggest that your parents get involved with a new interest. It can be frustrating if they refuse and you have to watch them lose their will to live. My intent is to give you many tools so you can keep trying until something works. If the only behavior you can change is your own, remember that your parent can't help but respond differently to that change. So at least that is in your control. You'll find suggestions on how to make the most of this fact in this lesson.

In this lesson, we're going to talk about ways to change how you think about accumulating things. I'll give you some ideas about what to do with the things you and your parents already have once you decide to free yourselves from the burden of excessive possessions. You'll learn about trusts and gifting away financial assets in Lesson 8—for now, we're talking about artifacts and material possessions, the things that fill your rooms, have to be dusted, insured, provided space, and otherwise cared for. Today you'll learn how to protect yourself from the mind control of advertising in our society of getting and spending. At last, you'll have the awareness to control your own spending habits and help your parents start to unload their lifetime accumulation of stuff.

We often live under the delusion that we're immortal until something, like a death in the family, reminds us of our vulnerability in this world. We may not even think about what would happen to our cat or dog if we got hit by a bus, let alone how we would like our worldly goods distributed. If we think about our health care wishes at all, it's to hope that we do get hit by a bus and don't have to endure a painful or prolonged decline or death. Advance directives are written documents that serve as an individual's instructions regarding disposal of his or her property. In today's lesson, you'll learn what documents you must have, as well as those you should have for yourself and your parents. Today, we'll take a close at each of the important documents, and I'll provide you with tips on how to acquire and prepare them for yourself and your parents with minimum cost and effort. If you're at least 18 years of age, you should have your preferred medical, resuscitation, and funereal instructions officially documented, even if you don't yet have assets to worry about. You'll find out how to address this critical need in this lesson!

Even if you think you know your parents inside and out, you might be surprised by some of the things you don't know. And some of those things may be important to you should a parent have to move to assisted living, become incapacitated, or die. In this lesson, I'll tell you about some of the things you should find out while you still can. In addition to the documents we discussed in Lesson 4, you or your parents may have cash, valuables, investments, pensions, insurance policies, safe deposit boxes, a personal safe combination, and account numbers that will be invaluable to the executor of an estate. Do you and your parents have all those things neatly filed in one place? We'll cover all that and more in this lesson.

You'll learn about practical and material matters in several of the other lessons in this course. In today's lesson, we'll take a different tack. Every emotion that there is to experience can surface at some time when you're involved in the inevitable changes that come with aging. Today, I'll help you learn what emotions to expect in yourself, your parents, your siblings, and others. We'll revisit some of the communication techniques you learned in Lesson 1 as tools for handling feelings that surface. We'll also explore some new applications of pacing and leading, and ways to manage your own emotions.

In the past, it was the norm for family to absorb whatever additional burdens came with the declining health and abilities of elders. Community and government services were limited or nonexistent. That's no longer the case. You are not alone, and the good news is that there are services available no matter what financial situation you or your parents are in. In this lesson, we'll explore what's available, where to find it, and the levels or progression of help that you may need over time. You'll also learn how to tell when to move from one level to another. After that, we'll go over some strategies for handling that moment when you introduce the idea of getting help to your parents. This can be a delicate matter, so it's best to be prepared. Issues of self-esteem and layers of emotion may arise when your parents find that they just can't do all the things they used to. I'll teach you to be on the lookout for this as we explore finding help.

The home care services you learned about in Lesson 7 can postpone a move to assisted living quarters, but there may come a time when it's no longer feasible for your parents to stay in their current home. You'll learn how to discuss the idea of a move with your parents, and ascertain their preferences, fears, and concerns. There are now several possibilities for increased care or services other than your home or a nursing home. I'll describe some common ones in this lesson. We'll explore the options progressively, from fully independent living to full-care nursing. We'll also talk about downsizing, as well as relocation and other services that you may need. Finally, you'll learn to choose wisely if sudden illness or impairment strikes, making a progressive approach impossible.

Today you'll learn the five symptoms that reveal when it's time for your parent to move to a nursing home. Selecting a nursing home is one of the most important decisions you can make. I'll give you criteria and a checklist for selection that will serve you well whether you find yourself in a sudden crisis or just ahead of a parent being released from hospital. You'll be able to use the information in this lesson to enhance your confidence in selecting assisted living or other residence options.

When the time comes to move your parent to a nursing home, your behavior can make a big difference in how well he or she accepts the change. You'll have to face the emotions of your parent and other family members, and control your own. The communication skills based on neurolinguistic programming (NLP) that you have learned in previous lessons will serve you well: pacing and leading, gaining and maintaining rapport, and using disassociation to control emotion. In today's lesson, I'll give you some more tips for applying your skills during this stressful time.

In this lesson, I invite you to consider death as a life event, another rite of passage in the ever-flowing river of existence. I'll share much of my own experience with my mother's death, and some thoughts that friends and students have shared with me. What you learn will serve you well if you're dealing with the impending death of a loved one. If you aren't yet facing it, the information in this lesson will help prepare you for that eventuality. You'll learn practical tips to help the dying person, and a few more to help you cope. You'll be encouraged to conquer your fear and reluctance enough to be fully present when death is imminent, and this will free you for a profound experience.

In Lesson 11, we talked about ways to handle the experience of a loved one dying. I urged you to choose to be fully present for that experience. In this, our final lesson, we'll address what to expect after the death. You'll become familiar with various theories about grief. We'll also cover some tips on handling issues that might arise. Finally, I'll offer you encouragement and suggestions for getting closure on this life experience, and ideas for getting on with the living.

Marsiea Warren

Marsiea Warren has trained and coached people in the public and private sectors for over 25 years. She holds a Master's degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Alabama in Birmingham. She is a Certified Master Practitioner of Neurol... Read more

Read Marsiea Warren's Profile

Frequently Asked Questions

Once you've made the payment, we'll send you a confirmation email with a link to start your course. Feel free to get started whenever you're ready!

You'll have 3 months access to your course. In that time you are free to study at your own pace. The course duration is 24 hours.

Of course! We offer a 7-day money back guarantee. As long as you haven't completed the course, you can get a full refund within 7 days of enrolling.

What people are saying about our courses

A very timely course in this day and age when the number of elderly is increasing at record levels. I had been searching for information on a variety of elder care issues for quite some time and this course provided me with answers to my questions in one place. With my parents entering their golden years, I needed a roadmap to guide me with helping them through the aging process. This course was that roadmap.

Verified Student

Excellent and informative class. I only wish I had taken it several years earlier. Some problems dealing with my parents may have been avoided. I will use this material again and again. It's very valuable.

Verified Student

Excellent course, and it could not have come at a better time in my life. I feel I got an enormous amount of direction and information! I would highly recommend it to others!

Verified Student

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The Learning Environment

From the moment that you enrol in the Assisting Elderly Parents you will become an integral part of our learning community. You'll find yourself with the freedom to learn at a speed that suits you, on any device, from anywhere in the world. Achieving your career goals no longer has to mean compromising family and work commitments.