A bleeding nightmare: The nurse's guide to anaemia and coagulopathies
Tracks
Stream One - Plaza Terrace
| Wednesday, March 25, 2026 |
| 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM |
| Plaza Terrace |
Overview
Laura Jones
Speaker
Laura Jones
Veterinary Internal Medicine Nursing
A bleeding nightmare: The nurse's guide to anaemia and coagulopathies
Abstract
When a patient presents pale, bleeding, or bruised, it’s the nursing team who are responsible for much of their care. Anaemia and coagulopathies can be life-threatening but are also varied and complex, with causes ranging from congenital disease, to toxin ingestion, trauma and immune-mediated disease. This session will guide you through the common bleeding disorders we see, the clinical signs these patients present with, the diagnostics performed, and our role as veterinary nurses in treating and supporting bleeding patients - so you can care for your own patients more confidently.
Learning Outcomes:
● Differentiate between the main causes of anaemia and coagulopathies in dogs and cats.
● Recognise the clinical signs and emergency priorities in patients with
suspected bleeding disorders.
● Perform diagnostic tests to identify common bleeding disorders, including blood smear evaluation.
● Apply practical nursing techniques for monitoring, supportive care, and
minimising haemorrhage.
Learning Outcomes:
● Differentiate between the main causes of anaemia and coagulopathies in dogs and cats.
● Recognise the clinical signs and emergency priorities in patients with
suspected bleeding disorders.
● Perform diagnostic tests to identify common bleeding disorders, including blood smear evaluation.
● Apply practical nursing techniques for monitoring, supportive care, and
minimising haemorrhage.
Biography
Laura started her nursing career in 2007 at a small GP clinic and became a Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN) in 2010. Over the years, she gained experience in first-opinion, surgical referral, and emergency clinics. In 2015, she joined the internal medicine team at a new referral centre as deputy head medicine nurse. This role sparked her passion for internal medicine, and in 2019, she earned her Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) qualification in Small Animal Internal Medicine.
To share her knowledge, Laura created Veterinary Internal Medicine Nursing, a platform offering CPD to registered and student nurses through a website, podcast, and social media. She also lectures internationally, has written for peer-reviewed journals, and launched the Medical Nursing Academy in 2023—a learning platform for nurses passionate about internal medicine.
Despite her many achievements, Laura continues to work as a practicing RVN, dedicated to providing excellent care for her patients and supporting fellow nurses.
