Medical Nursing Podcast | CPD for Veterinary Nurses

Today we're revisiting a disease really close to my heart - chronic kidney disease. And while we've chatted about CKD on the podcast before - all the way back in 2024 - this year, in 2026, a LOT has changed.
We've now got new tests, brand new treatments, and new guidelines to follow. The IRIS guidelines, treatment recommendations, and iCatCare guidelines have all had a brand new refresh for 2026 and the way we support these patients - and their families - is getting a major upgrade.
So in this episode, we're chatting all about how to nurse CKD the right way. We'll recap what CKD is, why it happens, and then look at the treatment and nursing these patients need - and where our skills fit into it all.
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Resources mentioned this episode:
📲 2026 IRIS staging guidelines: https://www.iris-kidney.com/s/IRIS_staging_guidelines-2026.pdf
📲 2026 iCatCare CKD guidelines: https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X261466553 
📲 iCatCare CKD caregiver guide: https://icatcare.org/resources/cat-carer-guide-managing-chronic-kidney-disease-in-cats.pdf
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Looking for medical nursing CPD?
📲 Get unlimited CPD inside the Library Club: http://vimn.thrivecart.com/libraryclub/
📲 Snag a webinar from the on-demand library: https://www.veterinaryinternalmedicinenursing.com/veterinary-education-webinar-library 
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More free ways to learn with me:
📲 Grab the show notes and references from today's episode: http://www.veterinaryinternalmedicinenursing.com/podcast 
📲 Follow me on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/vetinternalmedicinenursing 
🖥️ Learn more about medical nursing: http://www.veterinaryinternalmedicinenursing.com 
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This podcast does not replace a veterinary surgeon's advice, and its content is provided only for information. A veterinary surgeon must diagnose all conditions, and veterinary nurses and technicians must ensure they work within local legislation and regulating body guidelines at all times. Any products or treatments discussed are for information only and do not constitute endorsements of products or services.

In episode 125 of the Medical Nursing Podcast, we're talking all about our senior patients - a huge proportion of the patients registered with us, yet a small number of the patients we routinely see (unless there's a problem).
We know these patients are at risk of significant chronic disease - which is often subclinical - and they benefit enormously from our skills as veterinary nurses and technicians.
So that's what this episode is all about. We're going to talk about why our senior cats and dogs deserve so much more of our attention than perhaps our clients may perceive, the diseases they're at risk of and why, what the research shows about screening, and - most importantly - what you can start doing in your own practice to support these patients.
If you want to build new nursing skills with your senior patients, have confident discussions with your clients about senior health, or brush up on what to look out for when seeing seniors, you'll find it all in this episode.
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Resources mentioned in this episode:
📲 DISHAA Tool: https://www.purinainstitute.com/science-of-nutrition/advancing-brain-health/cognitive-dysfunction-syndrome
📲 LOAD Questionnaire: https://my.elanco.com/au/insights-centre/the-liverpool-osteoarthritis-in-dogs
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Looking for medical nursing CPD?
📲 Get unlimited CPD inside the Library Club: http://vimn.thrivecart.com/libraryclub/
📲 Snag a webinar from the on-demand library: https://www.veterinaryinternalmedicinenursing.com/veterinary-education-webinar-library 
---
More free ways to learn with me:
📲 Grab the show notes and references from today's episode: http://www.veterinaryinternalmedicinenursing.com/podcast 
📲 Follow me on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/vetinternalmedicinenursing 
🖥️ Learn more about medical nursing: http://www.veterinaryinternalmedicinenursing.com 
---
This podcast does not replace a veterinary surgeon's advice, and its content is provided only for information. A veterinary surgeon must diagnose all conditions, and veterinary nurses and technicians must ensure they work within local legislation and regulating body guidelines at all times. Any products or treatments discussed are for information only and do not constitute endorsements of products or services.

In episode 124 of the Medical Nursing Podcast, we're finishing our endoscopy series with a less common, but by no means less important, procedure - lower urinary tract endoscopy, AKA cystoscopy.
This is a relatively uncommon procedure - I'd never seen one outside of referral practice - but just like our other endoscopic procedures, there are tons of ways we can put our nursing skills to good use, and do more to support patients during urinary investigations.
So in this episode that's exactly what we'll do. Over the next half an hour or so, we'll look at what urinary endoscopy actually involves, the common indications for it, how to prepare, handle and maintain the equipment we use, and - most importantly - the nursing considerations when supporting your urinary patients.
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Looking for medical nursing CPD?
📲 Get unlimited CPD inside the Library Club: http://vimn.thrivecart.com/libraryclub/
📲 Snag a webinar from the on-demand library: https://www.veterinaryinternalmedicinenursing.com/veterinary-education-webinar-library 
---
More free ways to learn with me:
📲 Grab the show notes and references from today's episode: http://www.veterinaryinternalmedicinenursing.com/podcast 
📲 Follow me on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/vetinternalmedicinenursing 
🖥️ Learn more about medical nursing: http://www.veterinaryinternalmedicinenursing.com 
---
This podcast does not replace a veterinary surgeon's advice, and its content is provided only for information. A veterinary surgeon must diagnose all conditions, and veterinary nurses and technicians must ensure they work within local legislation and regulating body guidelines at all times. Any products or treatments discussed are for information only and do not constitute endorsements of products or services.

Rhinoscopy is a procedure with a lot going on, and that's why I think our role in it is underrated.
When I worked in GP, my role assisting with scopes was basically set up, cleaning, and anaesthesia. That was it. And we didn't have the luxury of multiple nurses, so often I was juggling trying to monitor my patient AND helping the vet with holding the head, biopsy collection, scope troubleshooting and whatever else they may need.
We had a rhinoscope, but it was rarely used. Most of the time, we'd just look at the back of the nose with our bronchoscope, or fish out a grass blade with a spay hook - and that was it.
I didn't realise how much I could do to support these patients as a vet nurse - and in reality, there are SO many skills we can use while caring for these patients.
In episode 123 of the Medical Nursing Podcast, we'll look at what those skills are, and just how much our patients benefit from our support throughout their procedure (and beyond). We'll talk about what happens during a rhinoscopy, the equipment used and how it is managed, and the most important considerations when nursing these patients - before, during, and after their procedure.
You'll leave the episode ready to assist with these procedures confidently, with new skills to put to use. 
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Looking for medical nursing CPD?
📲 Get unlimited CPD inside the Library Club: http://vimn.thrivecart.com/libraryclub/
📲 Snag a webinar from the on-demand library: https://www.veterinaryinternalmedicinenursing.com/veterinary-education-webinar-library 
---
More free ways to learn with me:
📲 Grab the show notes and references from today's episode: http://www.veterinaryinternalmedicinenursing.com/podcast 
📲 Follow me on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/vetinternalmedicinenursing 
🖥️ Learn more about medical nursing: http://www.veterinaryinternalmedicinenursing.com 
---
This podcast does not replace a veterinary surgeon's advice, and its content is provided only for information. A veterinary surgeon must diagnose all conditions, and veterinary nurses and technicians must ensure they work within local legislation and regulating body guidelines at all times. Any products or treatments discussed are for information only and do not constitute endorsements of products or services.

Lower airway endoscopy, aka tracheobronchoscopy or just bronchoscopy for short, is  - if I'm honest - the procedure I find the scariest in practice.
And to me, that's probably the biggest reason why I think our role in it as veterinary nurses and technicians is underrated.
My goal with this episode is that you leave it feeling completely confident with bronchoscopy cases - both from an anaesthetic support point of view, and when handling and assisting with the scopes themselves. 
We'll cover the indications for these procedures, the ins and outs of the scopes we use, how to collect samples from the lower airway, and a few hints and tips to run these cases successfully as a vet nurse - because we really can have a central role in managing them.
So if you're ready to use more of your skills supporting these patients, you're in the right place.
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Looking for medical nursing CPD?
📲 Get unlimited CPD inside the Library Club: http://vimn.thrivecart.com/libraryclub/
📲 Snag a webinar from the on-demand library: https://www.veterinaryinternalmedicinenursing.com/veterinary-education-webinar-library 
---
More free ways to learn with me:
📲 Grab the show notes and references from today's episode: http://www.veterinaryinternalmedicinenursing.com/podcast 
📲 Follow me on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/vetinternalmedicinenursing 
🖥️ Learn more about medical nursing: http://www.veterinaryinternalmedicinenursing.com 
---
This podcast does not replace a veterinary surgeon's advice, and its content is provided only for information. A veterinary surgeon must diagnose all conditions, and veterinary nurses and technicians must ensure they work within local legislation and regulating body guidelines at all times. Any products or treatments discussed are for information only and do not constitute endorsements of products or services.