Enrollment is closed.

Tuition: $126 ($113 early bird special if enrolled by July 18, 2023) * Students currently enrolled in an AVMA accredited or CVMA approved Veterinary Technician Program may be eligible to receive a 50% discount off the regular rate for this course (upon verification of student status). Prices are listed in US dollars.

Course Information:
This course will cover all the basic components of an arterial blood gas beginning with the physiological integral processes and leading up to scenarios involving some of the pathologies encountered with alterations in acid/base status. This will include arterial oxygenation, carbon dioxide, pH, sodium bicarbonate and base excess. The confusion and mystery of reading an arterial blood gas will be unraveled as we build upon knowledge offered during the course in an effort to provide excellent patient care. Case-based scenarios will be posted on the message boards requiring the participant to interactively discuss the cases and application of interventions for the management of acid/base status. There will be interactive activities in the class library for the participants to enhance their learning experience throughout the course.

• Describe the physiological process regulating the acid/base status of patients.
• Recognize the main components of blood gas values.
• Describe the buffering systems of the body.
• Practice and evaluate some introductory blood gas examples.
• Discuss and evaluate with the veterinarian the cause and effect of physiological and metabolic dysfunctions on arterial blood gas results.
• Discuss the pathogenesis of metabolic acidosis and alkalosis.
• Recognize common causes and diagnostics of both metabolic acidosis and alkalosis.
• Describe normal respiratory physiology.
• Discuss respiratory acidosis and alkalosis.
• Interpret sample blood gas results and discuss possible interventions.
• Interpret arterial blood gas resultss
• Discuss some of the differences seen with venous and arterial blood gas values.
• Apply interventions, based on collaboration with the veterinarian, for the correction of potentially life-threatening acid/base alterations.

RACE Accreditation: This program has been approved for 6 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval. (20-1049998)

Week 2 (Real Time Session August 15): Pathogenesis of Metabolic Disorders
In this session, we will discuss and evaluate the cause and effect of physiological and metabolic dysfunctions on arterial blood gas results and go over the pathogenesis of metabolic acidosis and alkalosis. We will also discuss common causes and diagnostics used in these cases.

Week 3 (Real Time Session August 22): Pathogenesis of Respiratory Disorders
In this session, we will discuss normal respiratory physiology, respiratory acidosis, and alkalosis. We will interpret sample blood gas results and discuss possible interventions.

Week 4 (Real Time Session August 29): Fine Tuning the Art of Interpreting Arterial Blood Gases
In this session, we will practice interpreting arterial blood gas results, discuss some of the differences seen with venous and arterial blood gas values and learn to apply interventions, based on collaboration with the veterinarian, for the correction of potentially life-threatening acid/base alterations.

Successful completion (scoring 80% or better) on the end-of-course test is required to earn a certificate of completion for the course. To learn more about the requirements for earning a CE certificate, please refer to Receiving Your CE Credit and Course Completion Certificate.

*To ensure participants are ready and prepared for classes, enrollment will close on August 8, 2023 at 5 pm ET (USA) or when the maximum number of participants is reached.

1. Enrollment qualifications: VIN CE courses are open to VIN member and non-member veterinarians. Veterinarians enrolling in a VSPN CE course must be a VIN member. Veterinary support staff must be a VSPN member to enroll in a VSPN CE or a VIN CE course open to VSPN member enrollment.
2. Each enrollee must be able to receive emails from @vspn.org and @vin.com addresses. Email is our major form of communication with participants; personal emails are highly recommended rather than clinic/hospital email addresses.
3. For further assistance call 800-846-0028 ext.792 or email VSPNCE. Please include the course title, your full name, and contact information in your correspondence.