Avian and exotics medicine is still considered a novel field within the veterinary industry; with a lot of medical and surgical protocols being extrapolated from what we know about dogs and cats. Australian native wildlife takes it one step further, with very minimal (if at all) research having been done into species specific anatomy, physiology, drug indications and anaesthesia protocols. So when a Greater Bilby from a zoo needs extensive medical and surgical intervention, the veterinary nurse or technician involved in that case needs to hit the books, use what information is available on the nearest species that share similar physiological traits, and cross their fingers!

To date, readily available information on an in-hospital anaesthetic protocol for the greater bilby is non-existent. While drug options for field sedations exist, for the purpose of doing an exploratory laparotomy we needed to consider a multimodal approach of intravenous and inhalant drugs to achieve a surgical plane of anaesthetic and keep our patient appropriately analgesed.

This poster will take you through a case study of Roni, a two year old male entire Greater Bilby, and his eventual anaesthetic and exploratory laparotomy. It will particularly focus on the research, thought processing and approach to the anaesthetic using the age-old adage of “keep it simple, keep it reversible” and the efficacy of this approach.

Veterinary nursing education in Australia has traditionally seen limited emphasis on scholarship and publication during the course of studies, particularly within the framework of the nationally recognised vocational Certificate IV qualification. To gain insight into the prevailing standard of scholarship, this study delves into the library of the Australian Veterinary Nursing Journal (AVNJ) to assess the quantity and typology of articles produced, as well as the number and qualifications of the contributing authors.

Scholarship is defined by the Australian Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) as activities that improve or update knowledge through teaching, learning, professional practice, and original research.

The online database for AVNJ was accessed for the years 2016 to 2022. A total of 107 articles were assessed; 52% of articles were continuing education focused, 34% were case reports, 2% were research articles with the remainder of articles covering book reviews, opinions pieces and literature reviews. A significant proportion (69.7%) of authors hold credentials surpassing the Certificate IV level. Amongst authors who published multiple articles, 63% possess specialty credentials (Diploma, VTS etc.), while 26% have attained a Bachelor’s and 15% possess both a Bachelor’s degree along with a specialty credential. These initial observations suggest a positive correlation between publications and qualifications beyond the current Australian Certificate IV standard.

These results underscore the potential benefits of encouraging veterinary nurses to pursue higher qualifications and specialisations, which could lead to a noteworthy advancement in veterinary nursing scholarship. Moreover, implementing and fostering a scholarship-oriented approach across veterinary nursing education might contribute to a more robust and dynamic academic landscape in Australia, increasing learning within the workforce, and growth within the profession. Further research in this domain is warranted to comprehend the precise mechanisms through which elevated qualifications foster increased publication in veterinary nursing.

Introduction: When surgery is not always an option, whether it is concern of an anaesthetic risk, due to age, heart conditions, or tumour location, it is reassuring for owners to be able to have a backup plan. This is where Stelfonta comes in. A relatively new and very exciting non-surgical treatment option for removal of non-metastatic, skin based Mast Cell Tumours. In clinic we have treated 4 cases in the space of 2 months, and combined with being a vet nurse and Stelfonta’s high efficacy rate, this has only inspired me to delve deeper and get behind this method of treatment, and share my excitement of this progression in the medicine world.

Method: A poster presentation will be made with details including information on Mast Cell Tumours, how Stelfonta works, how to prepare the patient beforehand, as well as alerting the client on what to expect, treatment side effects, and a short case study behind one of our patients, including photos of the healing process.

Results: With this presentation, I hope to further encourage conference delegates that may not be familiar with this treatment, to have the confidence to be able to go back to their respective clinics, and have a discussion with their veterinarians/practice managers, so they are then able to offer this treatment to their clients.

Conclusion: Trialing anything new can be a scary concept. But with clinical based evidence, support of our reps and working together as an industry, we can only move forward. I’ve been able to see with my own eyes how Stelfonta works and how happy our clients have been with the healing process, and am excited to share it amongst my peers.

· Anesthetising ferrets can be a stressful task for even the most experienced nurse.
· A stressed ferret may have reduced renal and gut perfusion, tachycardia, and hypertension.
· Developing a stress-free anaesthetic protocol can make the process much safer and less frightening for everyone involved.

HOUSING
· On admission ensure ferret is in a secure carrier in a darkened room away from the smell, sight, and sound of other patients.

HANDLING
· Ferrets can be handled, with ease with a small amount of restraint.
· Stress-free techniques such as burrito wrapping in a towel limits movement and provides a sense of comfort.
· EMLA cream is a topical anaesthetic cream and should be applied to skin 20 minutes before venipuncture or iv canulisation.

BLOOD SAMPLING
· For Jugular access, dorsal recumbency while Burrito wrapped is best.

FASTING
· Fast for 2-4 hours, any longer can cause hypoglycaemia.

IV CANULISATION
· Use a 24ga Canula via the Cephalic vein,
· Burrito wrap and hold in sternal recumbency.
· Ferrets have very tough skin so a cut down will be necessary.

HYPOGLYCEAMIA
· Ferrets are prone to disorders that involve glucose homeostasis.
· Use a glucometer to ensure blood glucose levels are appropriate prior and perioperatively.
· If necessary, a 5% glucose solution should be used.

PREOXYGENATION
· A face mask with restraint can cause stress, an oxygen cage is best.

INTUBATION
· Under anaesthetic ferrets will still have jaw tone.
· Intubate with a Laryngoscope and hold jaws apart using a piece of IV Tubing cut to purpose.

NORMAL BIOLOGICAL VALUES
· It is essential to know your patients’ normal values.
· HR-180-250 b/m
· RR 33-36 b/m
· Temp 37.7c to 40c

IV FLUIDS
CARE WITH VOLUME
· Standard fluid rate 10ml/kg/hr
· For short anaesthetics use incremental injection so not to over infuse.

MONITORING
· Multiparameter Pet MAP is ideal. Monitoring BP, SPO2, HR, RR and Capnography
· Blood pressure cuffs are best place around the tail.
· The non -haired feet are best to attach the SP02 probe to.
· Reminder the Nurse should manually take the primary monitoring.
· Caution Jaw tone is only lost when deeply anesthetised.

RECOVERY
· Position in sternal recovery,
· Administer pain relief ASAP.
· Food should be offered as soon as awake to prevent hypoglycaemia.

As the Vet Nursing and Technician roles change, and with registrations looming, what do vets see in their future when working with Nurses and Technicians? How can we as practicing medical professionals gain their trust and do the work we are trained for, all while supporting our fellow professionals through what may be a period of drastic change?

The aim for this poster presentation is to create a survey for Vets, asking them what they see the nursing/technician profession becoming, and what we can do to assist them in the transition from unregulated to regulated. What are their fears? Why are they hesitating? What can we do as Nurses and Technicians to help them transition to a more collaborative environment?

Speaking to Vets in clinic, they are concerned about the legal repercussions - who will be responsible at the end of the day? Where is the line between nursing and veterinary medicine? How do I keep track of who is trained and who isn’t?

This poster will present the results from the survey as a poster, that is easy to digest, and may assist Vets in feeling supported and more confident in their collaboration with their staff. I will also include stats from other jurisdictions where registration and title protection for nurses and techs already exists (eg, the UK, WA, etc) highlighting the successes and downsides of stricter regulations for those practicing.

These findings may be useful in getting Vets ‘over the line’ and help the VNCA target their efforts in reassuring Veterinary professionals that good change is happening.

This survey is aiming for at least 100 responses to the survey, but a larger data pool will definitely make this a more useful survey. It is also understood that the target audience for this survey may not include those who would respond to a survey of this kind, so engaging those who wouldn’t otherwise engage will be a challenge.