E-LEARNING COURSES

See below for a full outline of our comprehensive end-of-life care e-learning course.

A certificate of completion will be provided upon successful course completion.

Comprehensive End-of-Life Care Training Program

$499 + HST

Our Comprehensive End-of-Life Care Training Program was designed to elevate the knowledge and skill set of Registered Veterinary Technicians. Our course consists of six modules and assignments along with helpful templates and world class resources ensuring the highest standard of care.

Our modules include:

Introduction To End-of-Life Care
The Unique Challenges Faced by RVTs Providing End-of-Life Care
Compassionate Communication Strategies
Navigating End-of-Life Care Challenges
Optimizing your End-of-Life Care Kit
Helping Families Know When it's Time

TAOG01

Introduction to End-of-Life Care

This module will teach participants about the modern expectations of a family saying goodbye to their pet. It will help you develop a better understanding of why a good death matters and teach you how to create a more meaningful experience for everyone involved.

The Introduction to End-of-Life Care module covers the following subjects:

Review how the human animal bond has evolved over the centuries.
Discuss modern expectations that families have for their pets end-of-life care.
Learn the steps to creating a meaningful experience.
Touch on ways to support our own emotional well-being.
Learn what burden transfer is and how to help avoid it.
Review the factors that lead to a family's end-of-life care decision.

TAOG02

The Unique Challenges Faced by RVTs Providing End-of-Life Care

Although all professionals benefit from additional end-of-life care training, RVTs have a learning gap that is different from that of a Veterinarian. For this reason, it is important that RVTs receive tailored training that takes this into account.

This module was designed to help you identify and navigate common challenges faced by RVT's providing end-of-life care.

The Unique Challenges Faced By RVTs Providing End-of-Life Care module covers the following subjects:

Discuss the importance of following guidelines surrounding supervision and delegation.
Discuss tips for building the DVM’s confidence in your ability to perform end-of-life care.
Develop a plan to ensure the family has confidence in your abilities.
Learn how to answer the question “Are you a Vet?”
Review things about end-of-life care you didn't learn in school.
Discover the importance of having the DVM create thorough protocols outlining when and how to deviate from the sedation protocol

TAOG03

Compassionate Communication Strategies

The way we communicate during end-of-life care is VERY different from the way we communicate with clients on a daily basis. We must learn this “new language” to better serve families on the hardest day of a pet owner's life.

This module was designed to help you develop your end-of-life care communication skills. Compassionate communication improves the end-of-life care experience for the patient, the family, and the Care Provider.

The Compassionate Communication Strategies course covers the following subjects:

Learn how judging a family's decision for End-of-Life Care creates communication barriers and increases our risk for burden transfer and burnout.
Develop an understanding of how to convey compassion as you communicate with a grieving family.
Learn about phone and email communication etiquette surrounding End-of-Life Care
Learn the do’s and don'ts of End-of-Life Care Communication
Explore the role body language plays in EOL Care communication and learn the do’s and don'ts of body language
Develop strategies for navigating End-of-Life Care communication challenges

TAOG04

Navigating End-of-Life Care Challenges

Families now have higher expectations than ever for their pet's End-of-Life Care experience.

This module is designed to help students navigate the challenges that arise during End-of-Life Care appointments and improve the experience for the patient, the family, and themselves.

The Navigating End-of-Life Care Challenges module covers the following subjects:

Discovering the difference profound sedation makes for the patient, family, and care provider.
Basic sedation protocols for End-of-Life Care.
Learning when to deviate from standard protocols.
Effective oral sedation options.
Learning when to involve the family.
Discovering how to achieve muzzle-free sedation for all patients.
Tips and tricks for distracting patients for sedation.
What to do when you can't secure a vein.
Common reasons a patient won't fall asleep and what to do.
Seizures: what to do when a patient has a seizure and how to reassure the family.
Handling aggressive patients you weren't prepared for.
Respiratory distress, patient handling, and family education.
Edema in the limbs.
Reassuring the nervous family.
Handling an angry family member.

TAOG05

Optimizing Your End-of-Life Care Kit

It is very important to have everything you need during an end-of-life care reservation. Creating a designated bag or kit ensures that you remain organized and prepared to handle any situation that may arise.

The Optimizing Your End-of-Life Care Kit module covers the following subjects:

Things to consider when picking a bag/kit.
Basic supplies you can't do without.
How to pre-make intra-organ injection packages.
Supplies that you'll want extra's of.
Additional resources to keep in your bag/kit.

TAOG06

Helping Families Know When it's Time

One of the biggest struggles a family has as their beloved pet approaches the end of their life is knowing when it's time. It's the responsibility of the veterinary team to empower families with the knowledge and resources they need to be able to monitor their pets comfort and overall quality of life.

The Helping Families Know When it's Time module covers the following subjects:

What is a quality of life assessment.
Learn how to use quality of life scales.
Discover the importance of having a family track their pets good days and bad days on a calendar.
Helping families use a pain scale.
The importance of quality over quantity.
Creating a bucket list
Helpful resources for a grieving family