Study programme description

The educational goals of the Veterinary Nurse study programme are methodologically based on the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning (EQF). The Framework defines the requirements for learning outcomes for knowledge, skills, responsibility and independence. For Level 6, the learning outcomes required are broad knowledge in a given field of work or a given field of study, including a critical understanding of theories and principles. The syllabi of profile courses outline critical knowledge to be acquired by students. Additional knowledge is acquired by completing the other compulsory courses of the study programme. By completing profile courses, the graduate will acquire basic knowledge in the field of intensive care for companion animals, gain practical knowledge in the field of pathological changes in dead animals and become familiar with necrobiotic processes taking place in the organism; will be able to recognize acute and chronic inflammations and suggest treatment, has knowledge of the characteristics of tumors, developmental anomalies and immune system disorders, is able to identify lesions and pathogenetic mechanisms caused by disease, has knowledge of investigative diagnostic methods; has basic knowledge of parasitic and infectious diseases of companion animals with an emphasis on zoonoses classified according to OIE and WHO; the graduate is also able to recognize basic clinical symptoms in outpatients, knows how to manage veterinary outpatient clinic reception, how to handle patients and clients, knows outpatient laboratory techniques, manages records, course of therapy for individual diseases, manages preventive veterinary health programmes for newborns, adults and the elderly patients and patients with special needs, acquires knowledge in the field of caring for disabled, abandoned and zoo animals and has basic knowledge of the management of care for a hospitalized patient; the graduate will use all this acquired knowledge in outpatient clinics in various professions (working at private veterinarians, diagnostic laboratories), epizootiological and epidemiological activities when protecting animal and human health, as well as in the prevention of parasitic and infectious diseases and environmental protection.

The skills corresponding to level 6 can be characterized as broad skills, sense of innovation required to solve complex and unpredictable problems in a specialized field of study. Together, the skills achieved within individual courses represent an interconnected complex, the result of which are skills needed for successful implementation of competencies. By completing profile courses, the graduate will acquire skills that will enable him to master the practical skills and knowledge necessary for the implementation and completion of imaging methods, including X-ray, CT, ultrasound, health and safety regulations regarding equipment at individual workplaces, to keep records of equipment in accordance with applicable legislation; will have the skills necessary to collect biological samples and perform pathology-related procedures, including maintaining the integrity of samples and preparing shipments for diagnostic laboratories; will have the skills necessary to coordinate surgical plans, prepare the surgery and provide support to the veterinarian - before, during and after surgical procedures; skills needed to monitor patients during and after anaesthesia; skills necessary to provide high-quality nursing care to patients treated or placed in veterinary care. The graduate is proficient in providing advice to animal owners, monitoring health of animals and providing first aid to animals as needed, mastering the skills necessary to perform medical nursing procedures regarding the surgery, internal and reproductive issues, including preparation and handling of patients; knowledge regarding nutritional requirements of animals, skills necessary to provide advice to clients (animal owners) on animal health, behaviour, diseases and animal reproduction, skills needed to administer drugs and infusion giving sets to hospitalized patients, keep records of pharmaceuticals, warehouse management, storage and purchase according to warehouse cards; skills necessary to comply with biosecurity and infection control procedures in the workplace. Generally defined competences for level 6 EKR are - ability to manage complex technical or professional activities or projects, bear responsibility for decision-making in an unpredictable situations or environment, accept responsibility for managing the professional development of individuals and groups. Specific competencies depend on specific job positions.

A graduate of the Veterinary Nurse study programme can work as an assistant in veterinary practice, in animal protection organizations, as an animal charity worker (shelters and quarantine stations), for the pharmaceutical industry, for a veterinary publishing house, as an expert in animal nutrition, in the field of physiotherapy and rehabilitation of animals, as an inspector of animal care, as a scientist, teacher, trainer for companion animals, sales representative for dietary supplements for companion animals, as a laboratory technician, rescuer, adviser in animal husbandry and in zoos, etc.

Job prospects and employability can be assessed only after the first students graduate the study programme.

Information on successful graduates of the study programme will be available only after the first students graduate the study programme.

Feedback regarding the quality of the study programme graduates will be available only after the first students graduate the study programme. Feedback is key to improving the study programme.

The rules for creating study plans for the Veterinary Nurse study programme are based on the general provisions contained in the internal regulation Study guidelines of UVMP in Košice, part A.

• individual parts of the study programme (compulsory courses, compulsory optional courses and optional courses),
• in the study plan, profile courses are marked in bold and with a letter (P).

The subject information sheet for each educational part (subject) contains:

• defined learning outcomes and related criteria and rules for their evaluation so that all educational objectives of the study programme are met,
• determined educational activities used suitable for achieving educational outcomes,
• stated methods by which educational activities are carried out,
• stated prerequisites for the subject,
• stated syllabi for the subject,
• assigned credits for each part based on the achieved learning outcomes and related workload,
• stated persons providing the subject; the subject guarantor is designated,
• places of implementation of the subject (if the study programme is implemented at multiple workplaces).

Information letters of the courses of the study programme are available through the links directly in the study plan:

Study plan

Obtaining 180 credits is a condition for proper completion of the studies (including credits for clinical practice). Other conditions that the student must fulfill to complete the studies, including the conditions of state exams, rules for retaking courses and rules for extension, interruption of studies are listed in the internal regulation Study guidelines of UVMP in Košice, part A.

the number of credits for state exams.

• number of credits per profile courses required for proper completion of the studies/completion of part of the study,
• number of credits for compulsory courses required for proper completion of the studies/completion of part of the study,
• number of credits for compulsory optional courses required for proper completion of the studies/completion of part of the study,

UVMP in Košice has described the rules regarding student evaluation and the possibility of repeating exams in the internal regulation Study guidelines of UVMP in Košice, part A.

UVMP in Košice addresses the conditions for recognition of studies or parts of studies in the internal regulation Study guidelines of UVMP in Košice, part A.

• possibilities and procedures for participating in student mobility in the internal regulation Study guidelines of UVMP in Košice, part A and in the internal regulation Directive on the basic rules and principles of the KA1 project - higher education within the ERASMUS+ programme at UVMP in Košice, the mobility window is set for the 2nd year (third or fourth semester of study),
• Code of Ethics in the internal regulation Disciplinary procedure for Students of the University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, in the internal regulation Code of ethics for Employees of UVMP in Košice, in the internal regulation Student Code of Ethics of UVMP in Košice,
• rules applicable to students with special needs in the internal regulation Study guidelines of UVMP in Košice, part A.
• the procedures for submitting suggestions and appeals by the student are specified in the Directive on handling complaints at UVMP in Košice as well as the Study guidelines of UVMP in Košice.

The academic year schedule and the current timetable are always listed at the beginning of the academic year. The academic year schedule is available in document Study Guide Book at the UVMP in Košice study-guide-book-at-the-uvmp-in-kosice.pdf and on the UVMP´s website https://www.uvlf.sk/en/information-for-students/academic-year-schedule. The current timetable is available on the UVMP´s website https://www.uvlf.sk/en/information-for-students/timetables.

The members of the committee for the preparation of the study programme in Veterinary Nurse are:

• Lucia Olešová (5th year of study, study programme General Veterinary Medicine) e-mail: lucia.olesova@student.uvlf.sk,
• Dominik Schön (5th year of study, study programme General Veterinary Medicine), e-mail: dominik.schon@student.uvlf.sk.

The members of the UVMP Accreditation Committee are:

• Dominik Borčík (5th year of study, study programme General Veterinary Medicine), e-mail: dominik.borcik@student.uvlf.sk,
• Norbert Emödi (4th year of study, study programme Pharmacy), e-mail: norbert.emodi@student.uvlf.sk.

Assoc. prof. Dana Marcinčáková, DVM, PhD., e-mail: dana.marcincakova@uvlf.sk; tel. no.: +421 917 355 747.

Michaela Paulíková, Ing. (michaela.paulikova@uvlf.sk).

Lectures, seminars, practical exercises, laboratory exercises and other pedagogical activities per individual study courses of the Veterinary Nurse study programme are held at the UVMP in Košice in lecture halls, libraries and seminar rooms of UVMP in Košice. The university has built fully furnished and modern laboratories. The list of buildings and rooms used for the above activities is shown in the table attached below. All buildings are located in the UVMP campus.

All literary resources for study outlined in the syllabi are available either in print or electronic form, all information databases purchased and licensed by the university are widely available to students.

UVMP in Košice also provides distance learning for all courses via the MOODLE and MS Teams platforms. Each student can access manuals either in electronic form or in the form of video instructions.

When ensuring activities that have a high societal significance, especially in practical terms, the participation of contractual partners is expected, including those managed by the State Veterinary and Food Administration of the Slovak Republic, as well as private veterinarians, municipalities and cities, animal shelters.

UVMP in Košice provides its students with a wide range of opportunities for all-round enjoyment in all the above areas:

• provides students with adequate social security, regulated in the internal regulation Scholarship Regulations of UVLF in Košice,
• sports enjoyment of students is offered through the elective subject of physical education, as well as sections (canoeing, archery, equestrian and vaulting) of TJ Slávia UVLF, the "Rector´s Cup" competition in sports cynology, and a run around the dormitories,
• cultural and social enjoyment is offered to students through cultural and social events organized by the university and student clubs (matriculation ball, student breakthrough ball, sixth-grade banquet, welcome picnic for freshmen, traditional event Veterinary Days, St. Nicholas grill party, publication of student magazines ARDO and Fx News),
• in the premises of student dormitories, students regularly have the spiritual service of the University Pastoral Center Košice available.

Students of the Veterinary Nurse study programme are guaranteed the opportunity to participate in mobilities. The entire agenda containing instructions and conditions for applying for mobility, conditions and rules of participation as well as rules for recognizing mobility as part of the study plan is covered by the vice-rector for education MVDr. Martin Tomko, PhD., (+421 918 413 553; martin.tomko@uvlf.sk) and the organizational unit managed by him, which is the UVMP Mobility Department (Mario Segurado Benito; +421 917 171 108; mario.segurado@uvlf.sk). Mobilities and internships are regulated in Art. 41 of the internal regulation Study guidelines of UVMP in Košice, part A and specific requirements are stated in the internal regulation Directive on basic rules and principles of the project KA1 - higher education within the ERASMUS+ programme at UVMP in Košice.

These are outlined in Art. 1 and Art. 2, part A, II. part Organization of studies - the internal regulation Study guidelines of UVMP in Košice.

They are outlined in Art. 3 and Art. 4, part A, II. part Organization of studies - the internal regulation Study guidelines of UVMP in Košice.

Students of the UVMP in Košice have the opportunity to anonymously evaluate the quality of teaching in the Academic Information System, where they evaluate the quality of a specific subject and the quality of the teachers who provide that subject. They have sufficient time for the evaluation, and this evaluation is carried out once a year after the end of the relevant academic year.

Feedback regarding the Veterinary Nurse study programme are not available, as it is a newly created study programme. In general, feedback is very important as it allows for the implementation of concrete measures to improve the quality of the study programme.

There is no feedback from graduates for the time being as the Veterinary Nurse study programme is a newly created study programme.