Categories by overall mean self-assessment score of contained items

The scientific bases of clinical practice

A: Knowledge of underpinning basic science (normal structure and function, cellular and biochemical mechanisms, pathophysiology of disease and pharmacology)

B: Knowledge of underpining animal management and husbandry

C: Knowledge of veterinary clinical medicine (clinical pathology, medical and surgical management of disease)

D: Ability to search for scientific information from a variety of sources

E: Ability to critically appraise scientific information

Ethics and animal welfare

A: Knowledge of underpinning ethical principles and their application in veterinary medicine

B: Knowledge of animal welfare principles and their application in veterinary medicine

C: Knowldege of how to access relevant animal welfare laws

D: Knowldege of how to access animal ethics committees for research purposes

Biosecurity and population health

A: Knowledge of population health and epidemiological principles

B: Management of veterinary public health and zoonotic diseases

C: Ability to recognise a serious infectious and/or notifiable disease

D: Ability to take appropriate action in response to the diagnosis of a serious infectious and/or notifiable disease

Clinical skills

A: Knowledge of and ability to perform a clinical examination (includes basic handling skills)

B: Knowledge of and ability to perform clinical diagnostics (collection and interpretation of pathology samples, diagnostic imaging)

C: Knowledge and ability to perform basic surgical skills

D: Knowledge and ability to anaesthetise patients and provide appropriate pain management

E: Clinical diagnostic reasoning ability (generation of differential diagnoses list, decision making, prioritisation of diagnostic testing)

F: Clinical case management (creation of treatment plan and follow up strategy)

G: Ability to manage emergency and critical care cases

H: Knowledge of preventative healthcare and ability to make appropriate preventive health recommendations

Personal and professional development

A: Ability to communicate effectively with clients

B: Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues

C: Ability to work collaboratively with a team

D: Awareness of professional responsibilities and knowledge of current veterinary legislation

E: Understanding of how clients diversity and individual circumstance can impact health care

F: Understanding of the finantial aspects of case management

G: Understanding of the impact of charging appropriately on organisational profitability

H: Ability to generate appropriate cost estimates for services

I: Ability to solve problems and think critically

J: Awareness of own limitations and ability to seek help where required

K: Awareness of career options and ability to develop a personal career plan

L: Awareness of the importance of life-long learning

M: Ability to maintain a work life balance