Author Archives: Alison German

RCVS News: Nominations open for prestigious veterinary nursing award

The nomination period for an honour which recognises those who have made an outstanding contribution to the veterinary nursing profession is now open.

Nominations for the Veterinary Nursing Golden Jubilee Award 2014 can be made until 1 May 2014 and this year the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) is looking for nominees who have made an exceptional contribution to the profession, animal welfare or patient care – whether in clinical practice, education, research or politics. Nominees can be registered or listed veterinary nurses, veterinary surgeons or lay people.

Kathy Kissick, Chair of VN Council, explains: “With this award we are looking for someone who can be an excellent ambassador for the veterinary nursing profession; who has made a real and substantial difference to the profession; and who can raise its profile and fight its corner.

“I would urge all those who are passionate about the profession and its future to put forward someone who they think is deserving of this honour.”

The award was launched in 2011 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first RCVS veterinary nursing training scheme. The first recipient of the award was Jean Turner, while Sue Badger received the accolade in 2012.

Click here to visit the RCVS website and download a nomaination form. You can also watch a video featuring Kathy Kissick talking about its importance.

The nominators must be registered/listed veterinary nurses or veterinary surgeons but the two additional proposers can be lay people.

For further information about the award please contact Annette Amato, Deputy Head of Veterinary Nursing, on 020 7202 0713 or a.amato@rcvs.org.uk.

New Tasks on RCVS OSCE Website

Please note that two new tasks have been added to the RCVS Veterinary Nursing OSCE bank and can be used from the July 2014 exams onwards.

This is a total of three new tasks over the past few weeks:

NC02 – diabetic stabilisation
NC24 – clean animal accommodation
TP05 – initial skin prep for surgery

We will be teaching these tasks as part of our OSCE preparation for students.

All OSCE Tasks can be found on the RCVS website.

Tour De Vet – Coming to our Huntingdon centre on 30 May 2014!

We are delighted that Mike Brampton, Head of Thames Medical, and Sam McMillan, well known anaesthetic nurse with Jurox UK, are giving a hands on training sessions in anaesthesia monitoring on Friday 30 May at The College of Animal Welfare in Huntingdon as Mike cycles for charity from Sussex to Stirling!

Mike is donating all his lecturer fees to the charity Canine Partners, who train assistance dogs for people with disabilities.

This will be a practical day – learning about ECGs, pulse oximetry, blood pressure, temperature and capnography and is aimed at qualified or experienced veterinary professionals (vets and nurses).

More information can be found on our website.

BVNA at London Vet Show

The British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA) are delighted to announce for 2014 they will be forming a new partnership with the London Vet Show to offer practical, relevant and inspiring CPD for veterinary nurses.

BVNA will be hosting an advanced nursing stream at the event which last year brought together over 4,000 vet professionals and over 350 exhibitors. The advanced nursing programme has been designed to provide nurses with an opportunity to develop their knowledge and explore evidence based practice and current techniques used in the profession by leading subject experts.

BVNA Members will be able to take advantage of a secured discounted rate available until 31stMay.

For further information and details on the lecture programme please visit BVNA at London Vet Show.

RCVS News: Put questions to the RCVS from the comfort of your home

Veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses will have the chance to put their questions to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) from the comfort of their own homes with a free Virtual Question Time webinar.

The live-audio event, hosted by The Webinar Vet, takes place at 8.30pm on Tuesday 15 April and will give members of the veterinary team the chance to pose questions on the issues they care about to members of the RCVS Operational Board.

The panel will answer questions submitted by the profession on any number of topics. What is covered will depend on the interests of the delegates, but topics are likely to include 24/7 emergency care, changes to the Practice Standards Scheme, protection of the title ‘veterinary nurse’, the new Royal Charter and the College’s plans for a new Fellowship.

Click here to register if you wish to participate in the Virtual Question Time. Questions can be submitted in advance or on the night during the course of the discussion.

For those who are not able to listen live, a full recording of the Virtual Question Time will be available to listen to via the Webinar Vet, and a live summary of the Q&A will be available on the night via Twitter @RCVS_UK, using hashtag #RCVSvqt

RCVS OSCE Task NC02

It has been noted that task NC02 for the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) OSCEs is on the RCVS website.

It been removed for some time, but is live on the RCVS (but not C&G) system.

For those RCVS students sitting their examination this weekend IT IS NOT BEING USED – the task states This OSCE will not be used in March 2014

For C&G students please note:- RCVS changes do not automatically relate to C&G changes.

There are three more tasks likely to go live soon, as four were proposed at BVNA last year. These are likely to have the same statement and only be live from Summer 2014 for RCVS students. The RCVS endeavours to give 3-4 months lead time on new tasks, consequently there can be overlaps with task releases and exam windows.

We will be teaching the new tasks to the appropriate groups for Summer OSCEs and beyond.

How do you rate your learning experience at CAW?

A national survey is currently being carried out across the UK to gauge what learners think of the college/training provider they are studying at.

This is your chance to have a say about the quality of teaching you experience and the support you are given – your views really do matter!

Your course tutor will provide you with all the details you need to complete the online survey including the college code number and your own personal login number.

Thank you in advance.

RCVS Veterinary Nurse Council Election Candidates Announced

In the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Veterinary Nurse Council elections, five candidates have put themselves forward – an increase of one from last year. They are:

• Amanda-Jane Erne
• Tammy Ford
• Hilary Orpet
• Amber Richards
• Megan Whitehead

Kathy Kissick, Chairman of VN Council, says: “I’m really pleased there is an increase in VN candidates this year, especially on the back of the marked increase in VN turnout that we saw in last year’s elections. With all the changes continuing to face the VN profession, I can’t stress enough how important it is for all veterinary nurses to get involved in our Council elections and I’d like to wish all five candidates the best of luck!”

In a slightly later start to the voting period this year, ballot papers and candidate details for the election will be posted on 19 March 2014, and all votes must be cast, either online or by post, by 5pm on Friday, 25 April 2014.

In the meantime, the RCVS is inviting all voters to think about the one question they would like to put to the candidates and submit it in time for this year’s ‘Quiz the Candidates’, to be broadcast by the Webinar Vet on the evening of 20 March.

All questions received will be put to the candidates, who will each then answer two questions of their choice, as well as explaining what they consider sets them apart as a potential Council member. VN Council candidates will deliver their answers live at 8pm.

Questions (one per person) should be submitted to the RCVS by 12 March via its dedicated election websites, available soon at www.votebyinternet.com/vetvote14 or www.votebyinternet.com/VNvote14

On twitter using the hashtag #VNvote14

Or by email to VNvote14@rcvs.org.uk

Training Practice Helpdesk

One of the services that The College of Animal Welfare offers to its Training Practices is a dedicated telephone helpdesk, where a whole wealth of information is easily accessible.

You can speak directly to a member of the administration team to discuss any TP questions, issues or queries you may have. The helpline details are:

Tel: 01480 422062
Email: tphelpdesk@caw.ac.uk

The telephone helpline is open from 8.30am – 4.30pm Monday to Friday, however, outside of office hours, please email.

BVNA Invite Clinical Abstract Submission for Congress

BVNA are inviting the submission of abstracts concerning current research and clinical development in veterinary nursing practice or educational innovations in veterinary nursing education. All abstracts will be peer reviewed and following acceptance may be given the opportunity to present verbally or as a poster at BVNA congress 2014. Successful applicants will receive free registration to BVNA congress and therefore as the presenting author you must be in attendance during the allocated presentation session to answer questions from delegates from 9am on Friday 10 October. BVNA will notify those accepted for either verbal presentation or as a poster by Friday 29 August.

All successful applicants will receive free registration to BVNA congress and three winners will be chosen to win £100 worth of book vouchers kindly sponsored by Elsevier.

Prizes will be awarded in three categories:
• Best Post-Graduate| Undertaken during a post-graduate study period or post BSc qualification
• Best Undergraduate|Undertaken during an undergraduate study period
• Best Poster|All posters will be considered

For further instructions, an application form and submission details please visit the BVNA website.