Medical Nursing Podcast | CPD for Veterinary Nurses
Every veterinary nurse and technician wants to give great care. And not just to give great care - but to use more skills, and get more job satisfaction whilst doing it. Join RVN and veterinary technician specialist in small animal medicine, Laura Jones, as she demystifies complex diseases and body systems, breaking them down into small, easy-to-understand chunks that you can use to plan the best possible care for your patients. Every week, in under an hour, you'll get a simple explanation of a different medical condition - along with a list of skills to use, and nursing considerations to apply to your own patients. So if you want to know EXACTLY how to plan amazing nursing care for your medical patients, don't miss an episode!
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98 | A step-by-step introduction to the neurological system for veterinary nurses (ft Zoe Hatfield, RVN, VTS-Neurology)
01/19/2026
98 | A step-by-step introduction to the neurological system for veterinary nurses (ft Zoe Hatfield, RVN, VTS-Neurology)
In episode 98 of the Medical Nursing Podcast, join Zoe Hatfield (RVN, VTS in Neurology) and Laura Jones (RVN, VTS in Internal Medicine) as they chat about the neurological system - how it works, what we need to know as veterinary nurses, and what happens when it goes wrong. Whether you’re revising for an exam, brushing up on your skills ahead of seeing a neurological patient, or just want to get nerdy, you’ll leave this episode feeling more confident about managing neurological cases. --- About Zoe: Zoe qualified as a registered veterinary nurse in 2012. After spending her first year as a RVN working in first opinion practice, she moved to referral joining the University of Glasgow Small Animal Hospital nursing team in 2013. Since joining the nursing team, Zoe has developed her passion for neurology and in 2019 gained the VTS certificate in Neurology. Working within the vet school she enjoys using her extensive experience in neurology to teach and educate students and newer members of staff. She also presents CPD on a wide variety of neurological topics, including at BSAVA Alba, ExcelCPD, VetTrust, AIMVT and BVA Live. --- More free ways to learn with me: 📲 🖥️ 📲 🖥️ --- This podcast does not replace a veterinary surgeon's advice, and its content is provided only for information. A veterinary surgeon must diagnose all conditions, and veterinary nurses and technicians must ensure they work within local legislation and regulating body guidelines at all times. Any products or treatments discussed are for information only and do not constitute endorsements of products or services.
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97 | How to actually do more with your patients as a veterinary nurse in 2026
01/05/2026
97 | How to actually do more with your patients as a veterinary nurse in 2026
Episode 97 of the Medical Nursing Podcast gives you the action steps you need to start actually doing more and using more of your skills as a veterinary nurse. Because while it’s one thing to talk about what needs to change, it’s another to talk about what you can actually do, on shift, with your patients. So today I want to talk about the ways every single veterinary nurse can do more with their medical inpatients, regardless of where you work, your job title, whether you’re qualified or not, or how long you’ve been qualified. My goal is that you’ll leave this episode with a renewed sense of what ‘doing more’ CAN look like, and how to start making that happen in practice - ready to make 2026 your best professional year yet. --- Ways to learn together in 2026: 📲 📲 📲 --- More free ways to learn with me: 📲 📲 🖥️ --- This podcast does not replace a veterinary surgeon's advice, and its content is provided only for information. A veterinary surgeon must diagnose all conditions, and veterinary nurses and technicians must ensure they work within local legislation and regulating body guidelines at all times. Any products or treatments discussed are for information only and do not constitute endorsements of products or services.
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96 | 2025 wrapped! Using our skills as veterinary nurses, being paid for our time, the CMA and veterinary surgeons act, and a big old life update…
12/15/2025
96 | 2025 wrapped! Using our skills as veterinary nurses, being paid for our time, the CMA and veterinary surgeons act, and a big old life update…
Join me for our unofficial 2025 Wrapped! In this episode of the Medical Nursing Podcast we’ll take a look back at what’s happened across the profession this year, what the evidence about our role and skills is telling us, what it actually means for us as veterinary nurses and technicians, and why I’m ending this year feeling more hopeful about our role and more determined for our future than ever. If you’re ready to step into 2026 feeling inspired, valued, and speaking up for your skills, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. --- . --- BRAND NEW ways to learn with me: 📲 📲 --- More free ways to learn with me: 📲 📲 🖥️ --- This podcast does not replace a veterinary surgeon's advice, and its content is provided only for information. A veterinary surgeon must diagnose all conditions, and veterinary nurses and technicians must ensure they work within local legislation and regulating body guidelines at all times. Any products or treatments discussed are for information only and do not constitute endorsements of products or services.
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95 | The essential guide to toxicology part six: how to manage smoke inhalation and fire injury as a veterinary nurse
12/08/2025
95 | The essential guide to toxicology part six: how to manage smoke inhalation and fire injury as a veterinary nurse
In episode 95 of the Medical Nursing Podcast we wrap up our toxicology series with a true emergency and one of the most dramatic, challenging and emotional conditions: inhalation of smoke, thermal and chemical airway injury in our feline and canine patients. Managing fire-injury is so much more than ‘just’ dealing with smoke inhalation, and these patients can be challenging to nurse, since their disease is often much worse than it initially seems. These patients need intensive respiratory support, monitoring and nursing care, which means that as well as challenging to manage, they’re incredibly rewarding, and provide us with lots of nursing opportunities to make a difference. So in this episode, we’ll discuss what happens when our patients become fire-injured, the common complications we see, and the nursing our patients need to recover successfully. You’ll leave this episode feeling much more confident about managing these patients, and with some new skills ready to put to use with your next case. --- BRAND NEW ways to learn with me: 📲 📲 --- More free ways to learn with me: 📲 📲 🖥️ --- This podcast does not replace a veterinary surgeon's advice, and its content is provided only for information. A veterinary surgeon must diagnose all conditions, and veterinary nurses and technicians must ensure they work within local legislation and regulating body guidelines at all times. Any products or treatments discussed are for information only and do not constitute endorsements of products or services.
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94 | The essential guide to toxicology part five: how to manage ingestion of household hazards as a veterinary nurse
11/24/2025
94 | The essential guide to toxicology part five: how to manage ingestion of household hazards as a veterinary nurse
In this episode, we’re nearing the end of our toxicology series with a look at the common household hazards our patients ingest, and how to care for those patients confidently. Household hazards are something we see often - especially in my line of work, where things like caustic chemical ingestion or battery ingestion cause severe GI signs (or worse) needing intensive management. From fluid therapy, to nutrition, to analgesia, GI support and more, our role in caring for these patients cannot be overlooked. Today, we’ll take a closer look at toxicosis from things like household cleaners, corrosive agents, alcohols and essential oils. We’ll discuss the impact they have on our patients, and the nursing support these patients need. --- BRAND NEW ways to learn with me: 📲 📲 --- More free ways to learn with me: 📲 📲 🖥️ --- This podcast does not replace a veterinary surgeon's advice, and its content is provided only for information. A veterinary surgeon must diagnose all conditions, and veterinary nurses and technicians must ensure they work within local legislation and regulating body guidelines at all times. Any products or treatments discussed are for information only and do not constitute endorsements of products or services.
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93 | The essential guide to toxicology part four: how to manage rodenticide and pesticide toxicities as a veterinary nurse
11/17/2025
93 | The essential guide to toxicology part four: how to manage rodenticide and pesticide toxicities as a veterinary nurse
In episode 93 of the Medical Nursing Podcast, we’re continuing our miniseries on toxicology with some of the common pesticide poisonings we see - specifically anticoagulant rodenticide, metaldehyde and organophosphate toxicity. These common pesticides and biotoxins cause severe, often life-threatening signs in our patients, and as veterinary nurses and technicians, we’re often the ones responsible for advising our clients, triaging and stabilising these patients, and providing intensive nursing care as they recover. And to do that well, we need to understand exactly how these toxins affect our patients, the complications and clinical signs they cause, and the treatment and nursing care these patients need. Which is exactly what we’re covering in this episode. --- BRAND NEW ways to learn with me: 📲 📲 --- More free ways to learn with me: 📲 📲 🖥️ --- This podcast does not replace a veterinary surgeon's advice, and its content is provided only for information. A veterinary surgeon must diagnose all conditions, and veterinary nurses and technicians must ensure they work within local legislation and regulating body guidelines at all times. Any products or treatments discussed are for information only and do not constitute endorsements of products or services.
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92 | The essential guide to toxicology part three: how to manage common medication toxicities as a veterinary nurse
11/10/2025
92 | The essential guide to toxicology part three: how to manage common medication toxicities as a veterinary nurse
Today we’re continuing our toxicology mini-series with another group of very common, and often very critical, toxins - human medications. There are a whole host of different medication toxicities we see, and in this episode I’m going to walk you through 4 big ones: paracetamol toxicity in cats, NSAID toxicity in both cats and dogs, inhaler ingestion or overdose, and ingestion of antidepressants and ADHD medications. These patients also need a whole host of nursing support. We’re essential in the management of these cases, where prompt triage and stabilisation is vital, as is intensive monitoring. To do that confidently, we need to understand how each of these toxins impact our patients, and the signs we see as a result - so we can spot them, and care for the patient accordingly - and that’s exactly what you’ll find in this episode. --- BRAND NEW ways to learn with me: 📲 📲 --- More free ways to learn with me: 📲 📲 🖥️ --- This podcast does not replace a veterinary surgeon's advice, and its content is provided only for information. A veterinary surgeon must diagnose all conditions, and veterinary nurses and technicians must ensure they work within local legislation and regulating body guidelines at all times. Any products or treatments discussed are for information only and do not constitute endorsements of products or services.
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91 | The essential guide to toxicology part two: how to manage dietary toxins confidently as a veterinary nurse
10/27/2025
91 | The essential guide to toxicology part two: how to manage dietary toxins confidently as a veterinary nurse
I’m willing to bet that most people listening have seen a dietary toxin case at some point in their career. Dogs especially have a knack for raiding bins, cupboards, and kitchen counters. Thankfully most cases we see are mild, but they can be life-threatening and need intensive monitoring and nursing care. But what happens when our patients ingest these toxins? What signs do we see, and what nursing care do these patients need? Well, it varies depending on the toxin - but it’s often intensive. Today, we’ll focus on three big dietary toxins: chocolate, grapes, and tremorgenic mycotoxins. We’ll talk about how they affect our patients, the signs to look out for, and how to treat and nurse these patients effectively. So you can spend less time on the phone to the poisons helpline, and more time caring for your patients. --- BRAND NEW ways to learn with me: 📲 📲 --- More free ways to learn with me: 📲 📲 🖥️ --- This podcast does not replace a veterinary surgeon's advice, and its content is provided only for information. A veterinary surgeon must diagnose all conditions, and veterinary nurses and technicians must ensure they work within local legislation and regulating body guidelines at all times. Any products or treatments discussed are for information only and do not constitute endorsements of products or services.
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90 | The essential guide to toxicology part one: how to decontaminate poisoned pets as a vet nurse
10/13/2025
90 | The essential guide to toxicology part one: how to decontaminate poisoned pets as a vet nurse
In episode 90 of the Medical Nursing Podcast, we’re starting a brand new mini-series on toxicology. Whether you work in general practice, referral medicine, or out of hours, you’ll encounter these patients often - and spoiler alert: our role is so much more than holding a litter tray under a patient whilst the apomorphine kicks in. Our role in managing toxin ingestion cases is vast, whether that involves providing advice to caregivers who are concerned, monitoring a patient exhibiting active signs of toxicity, or managing critically ill patients on CRIs or receiving ventilation. And with all of this, of course, there are tons of practical skills we get to use in the process. To start things off, this episode will give you all the information you need on toxicology triage and decontamination. We’ll chat through pre-visit advice and how to get the information you need from your caregivers, when these patients should be seen, and what decontamination strategies we have (as well as which toxins to use them with). You’ll leave the episode feeling ready to triage and stabilise your toxicity cases - and then across the next few weeks, we’ll take a closer look at the specific toxins commonly affecting our patients. --- BRAND NEW ways to learn with me: 📲 📲 --- More free ways to learn with me: 📲 📲 🖥️ --- This podcast does not replace a veterinary surgeon's advice, and its content is provided only for information. A veterinary surgeon must diagnose all conditions, and veterinary nurses and technicians must ensure they work within local legislation and regulating body guidelines at all times. Any products or treatments discussed are for information only and do not constitute endorsements of products or services.
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89 | 5 essential tips to help you care for dogs with tetanus as a veterinary nurse
10/06/2025
89 | 5 essential tips to help you care for dogs with tetanus as a veterinary nurse
In this episode, we’re looking at another less common, but really challenging disease to care for - tetanus infection in dogs and cats. The first tetanus case I ever saw was as a locum nurse at an out-of-hours hospital. The vet and I are examining this dog, who was starting to become stiff and had the classic tetanus grin, knowing we needed to refer them ASAP before things got a lot worse. And now that I’m in referral practice, I see the other side of this. I see our ICU nurses working tirelessly to support these patients, using countless skills in the process, and making all the difference in how these patients recover. Caused by the neurotoxin-producing bacterium Clostridium tetani, this disease might be uncommon, but it’s life-threatening, and it needs early recognition, aggressive management, and really intensive nursing to give patients the best chance of survival. But to do that well, we need to understand how tetanus affects our patients, and the interventions they need to recover - and that’s exactly what we’re talking about today. --- BRAND NEW ways to learn with me: 📲 📲 --- More free ways to learn with me: 📲 📲 🖥️ --- This podcast does not replace a veterinary surgeon's advice, and its content is provided only for information. A veterinary surgeon must diagnose all conditions, and veterinary nurses and technicians must ensure they work within local legislation and regulating body guidelines at all times. Any products or treatments discussed are for information only and do not constitute endorsements of products or services.
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88 | Alabama rot in dogs: how to spot it quickly and care for your patients confidently
09/22/2025
88 | Alabama rot in dogs: how to spot it quickly and care for your patients confidently
In this episode, we’re chatting about a condition that’s been on our radar for a few years now, and is both incredibly challenging and frustrating to manage - and that’s cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy, or as it’s better known, Alabama rot. CRGV first appeared in the UK in 2012, and we’ve seen cases pop up every year since. It’s difficult to predict, still poorly understood and comes with high morbidity and mortality rates. However, as nurses and technicians, we play a vital role in identifying it early, educating our clients, and supporting our patients throughout their hospitalisation. And we’ll be chatting all about how to do just that throughout today’s episode. --- Resources mentioned this episode: 📲 --- BRAND NEW ways to learn with me: 📲 📲 --- More free ways to learn with me: 📲 🖥️ 📲 🖥️ --- This podcast does not replace a veterinary surgeon's advice, and its content is provided only for information. A veterinary surgeon must diagnose all conditions, and veterinary nurses and technicians must ensure they work within local legislation and regulating body guidelines at all times. Any products or treatments discussed are for information only and do not constitute endorsements of products or services.
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87 | Metabolic bone disease in dogs and cats: 4 quick tips to help you care for these patients
09/15/2025
87 | Metabolic bone disease in dogs and cats: 4 quick tips to help you care for these patients
In this episode, we’re chatting about a disease that - if you’re lucky - you won’t see often, but unfortunately, one that’s on the rise - and that’s metabolic bone disease. There are a few causes of metabolic bone disease, and we’ll focus mainly on the most common one today, which is nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism. This disease is frustrating, unbelievably sad, and completely preventable - and we play a huge role in caring for patients with it. We’ll also touch on renal secondary hyperparathyroidism, which many of us will have seen in our CKD patients - so you can advise your clients confidently, and make dietary recommendations that truly meet the patient’s needs. So whether you’re on the way to a shift, heading home after a busy day in the hospital, relaxing with a cup of coffee or walking the dog, let’s spend the next 20-30 minutes getting nerdy together. --- Resources mentioned in this episode: 📲 --- BRAND NEW ways to learn with me: 📲 📲 --- More free ways to learn with me: 📲 🖥️ 📲 🖥️ --- This podcast does not replace a veterinary surgeon's advice, and its content is provided only for information. A veterinary surgeon must diagnose all conditions, and veterinary nurses and technicians must ensure they work within local legislation and regulating body guidelines at all times. Any products or treatments discussed are for information only and do not constitute endorsements of products or services.
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86 | How to ACTUALLY use your skills when caring for dogs with IMPA
09/08/2025
86 | How to ACTUALLY use your skills when caring for dogs with IMPA
When I worked in general practice, I had no idea IMPA was even a thing. Until I started in referral as a brand new medicine nurse, and suddenly had a very lame, very pyrexic black labrador to care for. I was completely confused why we were seeing a lameness case - until we tapped the joints, found inflammation, and I learned just how much damage the immune system can do. My patient needed a LOT of nursing - recumbency management, potent analgesia and a lot of supportive care. And through looking after him, I learned just how vital nurses are in managing this condition. In today’s episode, we’ll cover: What IMPA is and how it develops The signs we tend to see in patients with it How we accurately diagnose and differentiate IMPA How we successfully treat and manage it The skills we can use to support these patients - both in the hospital, and long-term. So if you’re ready to do more to support your IMPA patients, episode 86 has got you covered. --- BRAND NEW ways to learn with me: 📲 📲 --- More free ways to learn with me: 📲 🖥️ 📲 🖥️ --- This podcast does not replace a veterinary surgeon's advice, and its content is provided only for information. A veterinary surgeon must diagnose all conditions, and veterinary nurses and technicians must ensure they work within local legislation and regulating body guidelines at all times. Any products or treatments discussed are for information only and do not constitute endorsements of products or services.
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85 | Tick-borne disease in dogs: what do vet nurses NEED to know?
09/01/2025
85 | Tick-borne disease in dogs: what do vet nurses NEED to know?
In episode 85 of the Medical Nursing Podcast, we’re finishing our infectious disease series with a group of diseases that are increasingly common but often overlooked, and that’s tick-borne disease. I had NO idea what these were when I worked in general practice. The first time I ever heard of it was when a dog from a nearby rescue centre we worked with had a bleeding disorder, and the vet mentioned Ehrlichia. I had no idea what it was, but the patient needed a lot of care. Tick-borne disease is on the rise, and there’s a good chance you’ll see it - particularly if you work in first opinion practice, internal medicine, emergency and critical care, or rescue and rehoming settings. When I say tick-borne disease, I’ll cover four main conditions. These are: Borrelia burgdorferi, which causes Lyme disease Anaplasma phagocytophilum Ehrlichia canis And Babesia species, most commonly Babesia canis In the episode, we’ll look at what each of these diseases causes, how they present, how we test for and treat them, and - most importantly for us - what we can do as nurses and technicians to care for these patients. --- BRAND NEW ways to learn with me: 📲 📲 --- More free ways to learn with me: 📲 📲 🖥️ --- This podcast does not replace a veterinary surgeon's advice, and its content is provided only for information. A veterinary surgeon must diagnose all conditions, and veterinary nurses and technicians must ensure they work within local legislation and regulating body guidelines at all times. Any products or treatments discussed are for information only and do not constitute endorsements of products or services.
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84 | Canine brucella infection: what’s the REAL risk to vet nurses?
08/25/2025
84 | Canine brucella infection: what’s the REAL risk to vet nurses?
In episode 84 of the Medical Nursing Podcast, we’re chatting about a rare but often controversial disease - canine brucellosis. And before you hit pause thinking ‘that’s great, Laura, but I’ll never see that’ - let me gently stop you there. Even if you’re not seeing brucella cases, there’s a good chance you’ll be testing for it. It’s a disease gaining more and more attention in veterinary medicine, particularly with the rise of travelling dogs and international adoption from endemic countries. And if you see a positive result on your in-house test, it comes with a very long list of clinical, legal, ethical, and personal considerations, which can be really challenging to deal with. So in this episode, we’re going to cover: What brucellosis is and how it affects our patients Where the current evidence stands on testing and treatment The real risks to human health What you need to do when you suspect or are managing a brucellosis patient And how to advocate for safety while still giving great care --- Resources mentioned in this episode: 📲 --- BRAND NEW ways to learn with me: 📲 📲 📲 --- More free ways to learn with me: 📲 📲 🖥️ --- This podcast does not replace a veterinary surgeon's advice, and its content is provided only for information. A veterinary surgeon must diagnose all conditions, and veterinary nurses and technicians must ensure they work within local legislation and regulating body guidelines at all times. Any products or treatments discussed are for information only and do not constitute endorsements of products or services.
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83 | The top 3 things every vet nurse needs to know about caring for kennel cough
08/18/2025
83 | The top 3 things every vet nurse needs to know about caring for kennel cough
In episode 83 of the Medical Nursing Podcast, we’re talking all things CIRDC - canine infectious respiratory disease complex - or to use its old name, “kennel cough”. We see these patients super commonly - but it’s not always a case of ‘just’ a bit of kennel cough. That name undersells how complex, contagious (and at times serious) this disease can be. In this episode, we’re going to look at what CIRDC actually is, the different pathogens that can cause it, and the signs we see in patients with it - as well as the nursing care these patients need, and the skills we can use when delivering that care. So if you’re ready to give even better care to these patients, this episode is for you. --- BRAND NEW ways to learn with me: 📲 📲 📲 --- More free ways to learn with me: 📲 📲 🖥️ --- This podcast does not replace a veterinary surgeon's advice, and its content is provided only for information. A veterinary surgeon must diagnose all conditions, and veterinary nurses and technicians must ensure they work within local legislation and regulating body guidelines at all times. Any products or treatments discussed are for information only and do not constitute endorsements of products or services.
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82 | The five most vital considerations when caring for dogs with distemper virus
08/11/2025
82 | The five most vital considerations when caring for dogs with distemper virus
Today we’re talking all about a disease I hope you never see (because it’s awful) - but one that’s hard to spot and even harder to nurse - canine distemper virus. Thankfully, due to vaccination, it’s rare - but we do see it, and when we do, it’s a real challenge. To care for these patients confidently, and stop the spread of this incredibly contagious disease, we first need to understand it - and that’s what I’m here for today. In the next 20 minutes or so, we’ll discuss what distemper virus is, how it progresses and the impact it has on our patients, as well as how we spot it early, test for it, and - most importantly - give patients with it the best care we can. So if the only time you’ve seen distemper mentioned is in your college notes or when discussing vaccinations - listen on, because I’ve got you covered. --- BRAND NEW ways to learn with me: 📲 📲 📲 --- More free ways to learn with me: 📲 📲 🖥️ --- This podcast does not replace a veterinary surgeon's advice, and its content is provided only for information. A veterinary surgeon must diagnose all conditions, and veterinary nurses and technicians must ensure they work within local legislation and regulating body guidelines at all times. Any products or treatments discussed are for information only and do not constitute endorsements of products or services.
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81 | The top 4 things you need to do to care for patients with leptospirosis
08/04/2025
81 | The top 4 things you need to do to care for patients with leptospirosis
Let’s face it - lepto is basically everywhere, and it’s often frustrating to manage. These patients aren’t straightforward to care for, and the PPE and barrier nursing only makes it more challenging. There’s a lot we can do to support these patients, though. So if you’ve ever found yourself caring for a lepto patient and wondering what you can do to REALLY help them, seen one go south and want a bit of a confidence boost, or you feel like you want to do more to care for these patients than administer treatments and tick boxes on a hospital sheet, then this episode is for you. In episode 81 of the Medical Nursing Podcast, we’ll look at what lepto is, how it affects our patients, the common complications we see and how we diagnose and treat it - and, most importantly, the top 4 things YOU need to be doing as a nurse or technician when caring for a leptospirosis patient. --- Resources mentioned in this episode 📲 --- More free ways to learn with me: 📲 📲 🖥️ 📲 🖥️ --- This podcast does not replace a veterinary surgeon's advice, and its content is provided only for information. A veterinary surgeon must diagnose all conditions, and veterinary nurses and technicians must ensure they work within local legislation and regulating body guidelines at all times. Any products or treatments discussed are for information only and do not constitute endorsements of products or services.
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80 | Care for parvo and panleukopenia patients confidently with these simple steps
07/28/2025
80 | Care for parvo and panleukopenia patients confidently with these simple steps
In episode 80 of the medical nursing podcast we’re taking a long, hard look at two of the worst infectious diseases we see - parvovirus in dogs, and its not-so-distant cousin, panleukopenia virus in cats. These patients are often critically ill and need a great deal from us as nurses and technicians. In this episode, we’ll explore exactly how these diseases impact our patients and the nursing care and treatment they require, so that you can care for these patients with confidence. --- Resources mentioned in this episode: 📲 --- More free ways to learn with me: 📲 🖥️ 📲 🖥️ --- This podcast does not replace a veterinary surgeon's advice, and its content is provided only for information. A veterinary surgeon must diagnose all conditions, and veterinary nurses and technicians must ensure they work within local legislation and regulating body guidelines at all times. Any products or treatments discussed are for information only and do not constitute endorsements of products or services.
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79 | The step-by-step guide to managing feline infectious anaemia confidently as a vet nurse
07/21/2025
79 | The step-by-step guide to managing feline infectious anaemia confidently as a vet nurse
We see anaemia in cats pretty frequently, but it isn’t always down to things like IMHA or haemorrhage. There are infectious causes as well, and we need to be aware of them as veterinary nurses and technicians, so we can care for our patients well (and confidently!) and advise our clients accordingly. The main one we think about in cats is feline infectious anaemia, aka haemoplasmosis - and that’s exactly what we’ll be discussing today. This disease is more common than you might think, with up to 27% of cats testing positive - and many of these patients presenting with severe anaemia requiring prompt treatment and nursing care. So if you’ve ever felt a little unsure when managing an anaemic cat, wondered why your vet is treating anaemia with antibiotics, or felt like there must be more you can do to help these patients, we’ll dive into it all in this episode. --- Resources mentioned in this episode: 📲 --- More free ways to learn with me: 📲 🖥️ 📲 🖥️ --- This podcast does not replace a veterinary surgeon's advice, and its content is provided only for information. A veterinary surgeon must diagnose all conditions, and veterinary nurses and technicians must ensure they work within local legislation and regulating body guidelines at all times. Any products or treatments discussed are for information only and do not constitute endorsements of products or services.
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78 | How to REALLY understand, recognise and successfully care for patients with FIP
07/14/2025
78 | How to REALLY understand, recognise and successfully care for patients with FIP
In episode 78 of the Medical Nursing Podcast, we’re discussing a topic that has undergone significant changes in the last few years: feline infectious peritonitis, or FIP. When I started nursing, FIP was my LEAST favourite disease. I hated it - seeing so many young, gorgeous cats suffering so much with nothing we could do about it. I remember being told in practice that every FIP cat needed euthanising, because there was no point trying to do anything else. However, now that treatment options exist, we’re seeing many more cases, and with that, we’re using a lot more of our nursing skills when caring for them. To nurse these patients confidently (and well!), we need to understand what FIP is, how it impacts our patients, how we recognise and diagnose it, and how we can make a difference to these patients as nurses and technicians. So, whether you’re heading into a shift, listening in wards whilst preparing your patient’s treatments, relaxing with a cuppa or walking the dog, let’s spend the next half an hour breaking down FIP together. --- Resources mentioned in this episode: 📲 --- More free ways to learn with me: 📲 🖥️ 📲 🖥️ --- This podcast does not replace a veterinary surgeon's advice, and its content is provided only for information. A veterinary surgeon must diagnose all conditions, and veterinary nurses and technicians must ensure they work within local legislation and regulating body guidelines at all times. Any products or treatments discussed are for information only and do not constitute endorsements of products or services.
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77 | How FeLV and FIV actually affect your patient - and the exact care they need
07/07/2025
77 | How FeLV and FIV actually affect your patient - and the exact care they need
Patients with infectious diseases can be challenging to care for, especially when we’re juggling critical conditions while not being able to get as close to our patients as we’d like. In episode 77 of the Medical Nursing Podcast, we’re demystifying two of the most common feline infections we see - feline leukaemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus, aka FeLV and FIV. If you’ve ever found yourself nursing a stray cat with suspicious bite wounds, or you’ve had a patient test positive on a SNAP test and thought ’What now?’ this episode is for you. We’ll discuss what these diseases are, how they differ, and how they impact our patients, as well as the nursing care and client education that affect our patients’ quality of life - so you can spend less time feeling unsure about their disease, and more time focusing on giving great care. --- Resources mentioned in this episode: 📲 --- More free ways to learn with me: 📲 🖥️ 📲 🖥️ --- This podcast does not replace a veterinary surgeon's advice, and its content is provided only for information. A veterinary surgeon must diagnose all conditions, and veterinary nurses and technicians must ensure they work within local legislation and regulating body guidelines at all times. Any products or treatments discussed are for information only and do not constitute endorsements of products or services.
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76 | Three essential things you need to know about chylothorax (to help you give great nursing care)
06/16/2025
76 | Three essential things you need to know about chylothorax (to help you give great nursing care)
In episode 76 of the Medical Nursing Podcast, we’re chatting all about something that honestly baffled me when I was working in general practice (and in my very early referral nursing days), and that’s chylothorax. As far as I was concerned back in 2015, before I lived and breathed medicine, a chylothorax would have been just another patient needing a thoracocentesis. I didn’t understand what was causing the disease or its impact on the patient. And aside from them being a respiratory patient and needing monitoring, I had NO idea what nursing actions I could take to make things better - I didn’t really know how to help. But when I started learning what a chylothorax was, why it happens, and what we can do to help these patients? That’s when I stopped feeling out of my depth, and realised that I CAN make decisions as a vet nurse, and my actions WILL help my patients. So in this episode, I want to share the three essential things you NEED to know about chylothorax - and more importantly, how to turn that knowledge into nursing care that really helps your patient. So next time you’re handed a patient with chylothorax, you’ll know exactly what to watch out for and exactly how to help them. --- Resources mentioned in this episode: 📲 --- More free ways to learn with me: 📲 🖥️ 📲 🖥️ --- This podcast does not replace a veterinary surgeon's advice, and its content is provided only for information. A veterinary surgeon must diagnose all conditions, and veterinary nurses and technicians must ensure they work within local legislation and regulating body guidelines at all times. Any products or treatments discussed are for information only and do not constitute endorsements of products or services.
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75 | 4 things I wish I'd known earlier about caring for pyothorax patients
06/09/2025
75 | 4 things I wish I'd known earlier about caring for pyothorax patients
In episode 75 of the Medical Nursing Podcast, we’re talking about a messy, sort of gross, but oh-so-satisfying respiratory disease… Yep, today we’re chatting all things pyothorax nursing. Pyothorax is probably the second most common pleural space disease we see. These patients often present in respiratory distress, needing a LOT of nursing support. In this episode, we’ll discuss what pyothorax is, the common causes, and the clinical signs, diagnostics, and nursing management - so you can care for these patients confidently. Plus, I’ll share the biggest lessons I’ve learned from (too many!) years of caring for these patients, so you can spend less time learning the hard way, and more time using your skills (and giving great care whilst you’re at it). --- Resources mentioned in this episode: 📲 (if you need the password, it’ll be sent to you when you join the #medinerd email list!) --- More free ways to learn with me: 📲 🖥️ 📲 🖥️ --- This podcast does not replace a veterinary surgeon's advice, and its content is provided only for information. A veterinary surgeon must diagnose all conditions, and veterinary nurses and technicians must ensure they work within local legislation and regulating body guidelines at all times. Any products or treatments discussed are for information only and do not constitute endorsements of products or services.
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74 | Caring for pneumothorax patients: how to use your skills as a veterinary nurse
06/02/2025
74 | Caring for pneumothorax patients: how to use your skills as a veterinary nurse
In episode 74, we’re diving straight into pneumothorax - what it is, how it presents, and most importantly, how you can help manage it as a veterinary nurse. We see these patients commonly, and they’re usually a real nightmare to manage. From big dogs with ruptured pulmonary bullae, to post-RTA patients with continuous air leakage, they’re a real test of our nursing skills - but in reality, there’s so much we can do to help them. So, let’s go through everything you need to know to feel more confident nursing a pneumothorax patient - so that YOU can give better care to yours. --- More free ways to learn with me: 📲 🖥️ 📲 🖥️ --- This podcast does not replace a veterinary surgeon's advice, and its content is provided only for information. A veterinary surgeon must diagnose all conditions, and veterinary nurses and technicians must ensure they work within local legislation and regulating body guidelines at all times. Any products or treatments discussed are for information only and do not constitute endorsements of products or services.
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73 | The step-by-step guide to managing pleural space disease as a vet nurse
05/26/2025
73 | The step-by-step guide to managing pleural space disease as a vet nurse
Pleural space disease is a really common cause of respiratory distress in many of our patients, from traumatic pneumothorax patients to pyothorax cats and everything in between. And it’s also a very nursing-heavy disease, with many ways we can use our skills to better care for these challenging patients. In this episode (the first in a mini-series on pleural space disease), we’ll look at what the pleural space is, why it should be there, and what happens when things end up there when they shouldn’t. We’ll touch on the common causes, the signs to look out for, and the diagnostic, treatment, and nursing care needs these patients have, so that you can make more of a difference to them in practice. --- Resources mentioned in this episode: 📲 --- More free ways to learn with me: 📲 🖥️ 📲 🖥️ --- This podcast does not replace a veterinary surgeon's advice, and its content is provided only for information. A veterinary surgeon must diagnose all conditions, and veterinary nurses and technicians must ensure they work within local legislation and regulating body guidelines at all times. Any products or treatments discussed are for information only and do not constitute endorsements of products or services.
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72 | 6 top tips to help you nurse patients with lung disease confidently
05/19/2025
72 | 6 top tips to help you nurse patients with lung disease confidently
Whether you’re managing a patient with aspiration pneumonia, pulmonary oedema or trauma causing haemorrhage and bruising, patients with lung disease can decompensate quickly and need intensive nursing care. Knowing what to look out for and the nursing considerations these patients need is vital - and that’s exactly what we’re discussing in this episode. We’ll be breaking down the different pulmonary diseases we see, the impact they have on our patients, and how we can manage them successfully as nurses and technicians. Plus, I’m sharing six of my all-time top tips to help you care for these patients confidently (whilst using a load of nursing skills). So if you’ve ever felt unsure about pulmonary pathophysiology or felt like you could do more to help your respiratory patients, this episode is for you. --- More free ways to learn with me: 📲 🖥️ 📲 🖥️ --- This podcast does not replace a veterinary surgeon's advice, and its content is provided only for information. A veterinary surgeon must diagnose all conditions, and veterinary nurses and technicians must ensure they work within local legislation and regulating body guidelines at all times. Any products or treatments discussed are for information only and do not constitute endorsements of products or services.
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71 | The step-by-step guide to managing lower airway disease in dogs as a veterinary nurse
05/12/2025
71 | The step-by-step guide to managing lower airway disease in dogs as a veterinary nurse
In episode 71 of the Medical Nursing Podcast we’re following on from last week’s feline focus and taking a look at lower airway diseases in our canine counterparts. We might not see them as often, and they might appear more stable - well, most of the time - but these cases are anything but boring, requiring lots of nursing care, both in the clinic and long-term. Just like our asthmatic cats, it’s good quality nursing that makes all the difference, and to give that great care, we need to understand the lower airway diseases we see, and the impact they have on our patients - which is exactly what we’re covering in this episode. --- More free ways to learn with me: 📲 🖥️ 📲 🖥️ --- This podcast does not replace a veterinary surgeon's advice, and its content is provided only for information. A veterinary surgeon must diagnose all conditions, and veterinary nurses and technicians must ensure they work within local legislation and regulating body guidelines at all times. Any products or treatments discussed are for information only and do not constitute endorsements of products or services.
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70 | The step-by-step guide to managing feline asthma as a veterinary nurse
05/05/2025
70 | The step-by-step guide to managing feline asthma as a veterinary nurse
In episode 70, we’re talking about some of the most difficult patients we see - dyspnoeic cats. Yep, there’s nothing like that dyspnoeic cat emergency - they arrive SO stressed, and it feels almost counterintuitive that staying AWAY from them is actually the thing that helps them most in those early stages. The majority of dyspnoeic cats we see have feline asthma - a form of lower airway disease. This disease is pretty misunderstood and is far more complex than ‘just’ being asthma, so in this episode of the Medical Nursing Podcast, we’re looking at exactly what it is and how to manage these patients confidently and calmly from start to finish. --- Resources mentioned in this episode: 📲 📲 --- More free ways to learn with me: 📲 🖥️ 📲 🖥️ --- This podcast does not replace a veterinary surgeon's advice, and its content is provided only for information. A veterinary surgeon must diagnose all conditions, and veterinary nurses and technicians must ensure they work within local legislation and regulating body guidelines at all times. Any products or treatments discussed are for information only and do not constitute endorsements of products or services.
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69 | 4 things you can do to provide better care to dogs with tracheal collapse
04/25/2025
69 | 4 things you can do to provide better care to dogs with tracheal collapse
If you’ve ever seen an overweight Yorkie honking like a goose, then there’s a good chance you’ve dealt with tracheal collapse before. It’s a progressive and often challenging condition to manage and can make breathing a real struggle for our patients. But by managing these patients well and providing client education and support, we can make a significant difference to these patients. Plus, in severe cases, there are some cool interventions we can perform - and therefore skills we can use - too! In episode 69 of the Medical Nursing Podcast, we’re going to break down what tracheal collapse is, who the patients most at risk are, how to stabilise, diagnose and treat them, and what we can do as nurses to support these cases. --- More free ways to learn with me: 📲 🖥️ 📲 🖥️ --- This podcast does not replace a veterinary surgeon's advice, and its content is provided only for information. A veterinary surgeon must diagnose all conditions, and veterinary nurses and technicians must ensure they work within local legislation and regulating body guidelines at all times. Any products or treatments discussed are for information only and do not constitute endorsements of products or services.
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