Nursing Consults
A Proposal to Introduce…
What are Nursing Consults?
Nursing consults are consults run solely by experienced veterinary nurses
They provide client support and education
They bridge a gap between veterinarians and clients. (Please note: Notes are provided below some slides)
Types of consults/clinics which may be offered:
Weight Management Clinics
Dental Clinics
Senior Health Care Clinics
Behaviour Management Clinics
Disease Management Clinics
How are Nursing Consults of benefit to:
Patients?
Clients?
Employees?
The Practice?
Patients will benefit by…
Improved life quality and longevity through better health management
Clients will benefit by…
Receiving a better service – at no extra cost
Having closer interaction with veterinary nurses thereby gaining confidence in their skills
Having a happier and healthier pet
Employees will benefit by…
Being given the opportunity to utilise and display their professional skills
Raising the profile of veterinary nurses and feeling more valued
Furthering their nursing education and experience by providing personal support to clients and pets
The Practice will benefit by…Improving the standard of health care offered to pets
Achieving an improved practice image through practising better veterinary medicine
Making better use of the practice facilities and resources (using nurses to their full potential)Additional revenue received through product sales – as recommended by nurses where necessary
Improved and more efficient use of veterinarians’ time
Ensuring client compliance with vet recommendations through regular contact
As you can see there are many benefits to be gained by adding Nursing Consults/Clinics to the Practice’s list of client services…
The aim of this proposal…
is to impress upon you the importance and necessity of offering Nursing Consults to our clients and their pets. Veterinary Clinics must continually improve the standard of health care which is being provided to animals worldwide. Introducing Nursing Consults is an
excellent way to do just that!
The logistics involved in implementing Nursing Consults/Clinics…
How will they fit into the Practice’s work schedule?
Where and when will they be held?
How long will each consult appointment be?Who is/are the appropriate nurse/nurses to run the clinics?
How will these new services be offered and advertised?
How to implement Nurse Consults/Clinics, a timeline to implementation…
2 clinics will be launched initially –
Weight Management
and Dental Clinics
2 MONTHS OUT
Protocols are written to set standards and so others
have guidance, clinic hand-outs created
1 MONTH OUT Any further training is undertaken and all staff
are made aware of
clinics, advertisement commences
>>>
Implementation timeline continued
COMMENCEMENT of CLINICS!!
3 - 6 MONTHS ON
success of clinics
progressively discussed –
any alterations required?
6 MONTHS ON
Implementation of further
clinics discussed and
actioned >>>
Implementation continued
6 – 12 MONTHS ON – a full range of Nursing Consults in place providing increased health-care services to clients and their pets! (hehe )
Examples of nurse involvement in out-patient care through nursing consults follow… Example 1:
Elderly dog diagnosed with arthritis. Client
requests help with management
Vet prescribes pain relief and use of j/d diet
Vet introduces client to Disease
Management consulting nurse and appointment
booked
Client and pet attend Disease Management Clinic. Nurse provides advice on feeding j/d,
exercise and supplementation with
nutra-ceuticals if recommended by vet. Fortnightly follow-up nurse appointment
made
Attendance at nursing clinic. Dog not doing
well – more painful and unable to settle. Nurse refers client back to vet for review of drugs (or calls vet into consult
and new drugs prescribed). Further clinic appointment
made.
Attendance at nursing clinic. Dog doing much
better on new pain relief. Eating new food
well. Enjoying swimming exercise.Further appointment
made for 4 week follow-up
Example 2:Client enters clinic.
Speaks with
receptionist and
requests advice on
dental care
Receptionist promotes new dental clinic
service. Client very keen and appointment
made.
Client and pet attend
Dental Clinic.
Receptionist introduces client to
consulting nurse
Pet’s health and eating habits
discussed. Examination of mouth reveals
dental disease with extractions
required. Estimate given and client
agrees to go ahead with procedure.
Booked.
Dental procedure performed. Advice on home-care
given. Follow-up appointment made with
Dental Clinic for 1 weeks time
Attendance at Dental Clinic. Patient
progressing well. Extraction sites
healing well. Check on home-care. Advice given on instigating daily
tooth-brushing and the use of dental
chews as treats to keep teeth clean
Follow-up dental appointment made for 2 weeks time, to check
mouth is fully healed/healing well and to discuss progress with
introduction of tooth-brushing. Diarised for
phone contact in 2 weeks and appointment
in another fortnight
In conclusion:The addition of Nursing Consults to the Practice’s repertoire of services will benefit all involved…
It will ensure better health-care is provided to the pets in our care;
It will build rapport with, and bond clients to our clinic; It will utilise the full range of our veterinary nurses’ skills; It will free up veterinarians to perform their more important duties, and finally It will raise the profile of the Practice!
Ultimately EVERYBODY wins!!
If you are not entirely convinced yet, please read the following resources (they will convince you, I’m
sure! )
Jevring, C. Managing a Veterinary Practice, Chapter 9 Preventative Health
Care Programmes. Sweden: W.B. Saunders Company Ltd Ackerman, N. (2012) The Consulting Veterinary
Nurse. West Sussex, United Kingdom: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.