Cancer frequently affects our veterinary patients and in recent years chemotherapy has become more commonly utilised treatment. General practices are increasingly prescribing and administering chemotherapy drugs. Chemotherapy drugs are toxic to cells (cytotoxic) interfering with the normal cell life cycle which results in cell death. Cancer cells are targeted by these drugs however they are not specific for cancer cells and healthy tissue can be affected. Chemotherapy drugs are also carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic and abortifacient. It is important that these drugs are handled safely. Personnel handling of chemotherapeutic drugs have been found to have increased risks of infertility, early pregnancy loss or urinary excretion of these drugs. This webinar will discuss the safety precautions necessary for handling chemotherapy agents and will focus on the recent consensus guidelines produced by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) in January 2018 to raise awareness of risks and how we can reduce the exposure within clinics. If time permits, common side effects (neutropaenia, thorombocytopaenia and gastrointestinal side effects) caused by chemotherapy will be explained as well as precautions for handling such patients.

This webinar will aid in gaining insight into the world of emergency triage and treatment of common poisons and toxicities seen around Australia. A thorough knowledge in triage, clinical presentations and treatment of these cases will help nurses recognize symptoms and the knowledge in how to treat accordingly in a timely manner. When it comes to poisons and toxicities – time is everything.

Cardiac emergencies require urgent attention, and delay of treatment to these patients may cause fatalities. Understanding how the condition will affect the patient is key to understanding treatment efficacy and the importance of the nurse’s role within the management of these patients. This webinar will take an in-depth look at emergency management and treatment of common cardiac emergencies that present to the ER. Specific topics will include congestive heart failure, arrhythmia's, and pericardial effusion. During this one-hour session, top tips and deeper understanding of pathophysiology, clinical symptoms, treatment and nursing considerations will be addressed. A comprehensive focus on ECG interpretation and introduction to ultrasound techniques through case studies will help the nurse with case management.