Ultrasound scanning for veterinary nurses

This course aims to introduce basic ultrasound as a preliminary imaging tool performed by veterinary nurses in a variety of clinical situations. It will include a revision of anatomy and highlight the importance of patient preparation and positioning.

The practical component of the course will cover scanning for the critical care patient, performing an AFAST® and TFAST® with an emphasis on the role of the veterinary nurse in serial monitoring for subsequent fluid scoring of cases under supervision of a Veterinarian. We will discuss the use of ultrasound in obtaining images of pregnancy, fetal viability and pyometra. This promises to be an interesting course aimed at Veterinary Nurses in small animal clinical setting.

Speaker: Rosie Ellis DVM GPCertDI MSc BA

** Delegates must be able to bring a dog suitable for scanning on the day of the course ** 

€325 per person Booking

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Ultrasound scanning for veterinary nurses


Duration:1 day


Level:9.5


  • 1 day
  • Mon 31 Mar 2025 | 09:00 - 17:00
  • Preparing the patient, client, room, machine and equipment for an ultrasound examination.

  • Understand what machine type you have in your practice, what probes you have available, and which cases they are most useful for.

  • How to set up the ultrasound machine and understand which are the most important settings on the ultrasound machine and what effect they have on the image.

  • Understand the movements and scanning planes of the probe.

  • Be able to understand the language of an ultrasound report.

  • Understand when common artefacts occur.

  • Scanning patients: Indications for abdominal and thoracic focused assessment with sonography for trauma.

  • Probe positions and what to look for.

  • Recognise the abdominal organ systems: liver and gallbladder, spleen, gastrointestinal tract, and urinary tract.