Author Archives: Amber Tennant

Update to City & Guilds Veterinary Nursing OSCEs

City & Guilds have altered the wording on 4 of the small animal veterinary nursing OSCEs, as below:

Lab 01
Scenario wording changed from ‘Identify the crystals shown in the photographs’ to ‘photograph’.

Lab 07
Wording altered in step 6 to include patient handling: ‘Patient handled and sample collected without causing trauma to the ear’.

Nursing Care 01
Wording altered in step 8 from ‘Close regulator’ to ‘Turn off regulator’.

Supporting Anaesthesia 03
Changes to steps 2 and 4.
Step 2 now includes the selection of a Y-shaped connector: ‘Select wide-bore tubing x2 and Y-shaped connector’.
Step 4 has changed from the Y-shaped connector to: ‘Select APL valve’.

careers in teaching edinburgh

A Career in Teaching: Is it for you?

If you’re a veterinary nurse or veterinary surgeon and have ever wondered about the training and employment opportunities in teaching – why not come along to our free ‘Careers in Teaching’ open evening at our Edinburgh centre on Wednesday 20 July 2016 from 6pm-8pm, and find out more about the options available to you?

As the largest provider of veterinary nurse training in the UK, we are often asked about the challenges and responsibilities that come with a career in teaching. If you’ve always aspired to help the next generation of veterinary nurses to be the very best nurses they can be – but are unsure about whether teaching is the right fit for you – we can help you discover what its really like to be a lecturer, and how to get started if you’re ready to begin a new challenge.

Our open evening will look at training, employment opportunities, what is involved in and out of the classroom – and much more! The evening will start off with a group presentation and will be followed by the opportunity to speak to our lecturers to hear from those with first-hand experience of an exciting and rewarding profession!

To book a place, please fill out our online booking form.

A Career in Teaching: Is it for you?

If you’re a veterinary nurse or veterinary surgeon and have ever wondered about the training and employment opportunities in teaching – why not come along to our free ‘Careers in Teaching’ open evening at our Edinburgh centre on Wednesday 20 July 2016 from 6pm-8pm, and find out more about the options available to you?

As the largest provider of veterinary nurse training in the UK, we are often asked about the challenges and responsibilities that come with a career in teaching. If you’ve always aspired to help the next generation of veterinary nurses to be the very best nurses they can be – but are unsure about whether teaching is the right fit for you – we can help you discover what its really like to be a lecturer, and how to get started if you’re ready to begin a new challenge.

Our open evening will look at training, employment opportunities, what is involved in and out of the classroom – and much more! The evening will start off with a group presentation and will be followed by the opportunity to speak to our lecturers with first-hand experience of an exciting and rewarding profession!

To book a place, please fill out our online booking form at www.caw.ac.uk/iteach

– Ends –

For more information please contact:

Alison German RVN
Marketing Executive
The College of Animal Welfare
Tel: 01480 422060
Email: agerman@caw.ac.uk

Notes to editors:

The College of Animal Welfare is one of the UK’s leading providers of veterinary nurse and animal care training and education; operating from four training centres around the UK.

The College has a well-earned reputation for excellence and has created a number of unique achievements that have created new opportunities for learning.

For more information about The College of Animal Welfare please visit www.caw.ac.uk

BVA urges UK governments to protect the status of vets and vet nurses in Brexit negotiations

Following the EU referendum (23 June), the British Veterinary Association (BVA) is urging UK governments to protect the status of EU veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses who are currently living and working in the UK.

According to statistics from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, almost half of veterinary surgeons registering in the UK qualified from veterinary schools elsewhere in the EU. As such the BVA has written to the Secretary of State, Liz Truss MP, and to Ministers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, requesting an early statement to the effect that non-British EU vets and vet nurses who are currently living, studying or working in the UK will continue to be able to do so in future. BVA is also seeking reassurance for UK veterinary professionals working and studying in other EU member states.

In the letters, BVA President Sean Wensley stated:
“I am sure there are many significant issues that your Department needs to consider [and] given the profound personal impact that the uncertainty caused by the referendum outcome is having on some of our members, we wanted to contact you at the earliest opportunity. In the forthcoming negotiations about the future relationship between the UK and the EU, we strongly urge you to make the case for all EU citizens and EU-qualified veterinary surgeons and nurses to have ongoing rights to live, work and study in the UK.”

BVA is working with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) and other bodies to discuss the implications of Brexit for the veterinary professions, and the key issues that should be raised in forthcoming discussions and negotiations. BVA members are being encouraged to share their feedback on BVA’s community forum under the dedicated ‘What do you think ‘Brexit’ could mean for the veterinary profession?’ discussion.

More information can be found on the BVA website.

Health and Fitness tip of the Week: Get your Wimbledon on!

Tennis is a great way to stay fit and have fun. After 15 minutes of a game you start to burn calories; in an hour you can burn over 250 calories. Tennis helps improve your cardio, speed, co-ordination and flexibility.

Did you know playing tennis can burn more calories than cycling? Playing tennis for 3 hours a week can help with your health and fitness levels. The game helps strengthen your leg, arm and upper body muscles which improves your body’s structure.

Tennis can help reduce the chances of heart disease, heart attacks and strokes. Whilst playing you burn fat and your heart rate increases allowing your energy levels to rise.

“Sports do not build character. They reveal it” -Heywood Broun
“For me losing a tennis match isn’t failure, it’s research” – Billie Jean King

World Population Day (11 July 2016)

According to Population Institute calculations, in just under half an hour, the net growth to the population has already increased by over 6,000. This is unsurprising, given that population levels have been rising steadily for thousands of years. Even endless wars, epidemics, natural disasters and man-made hazards have not been enough to halt the trend. However, from the 19th century population levels have been increasing dramatically. Numbers edged towards 7.3 billion people in 2015, and give little indication of slowing.

Positive developments such as improved medical knowledge, revolutionary scientific discoveries and technological advancement in fertility treatment are all partly responsible. An overall decline in death rate shows that illnesses that would once have claimed thousands of lives are now being treated effectively, which is a major achievement and a credit to our ability to work together to resolve massive problems. Social ills such as illiteracy, violence against women and poverty across the world, however, all contribute to limited access to health services and a lack of ability to plan for a family, producing high birth-rates.

As a result overpopulation is stretching the planet’s natural resources and creating profound implications on sustainability and urbanisation. Most severe are the depletion of natural resources and the overuse of fossil fuels producing dramatic changes to the environment and harmful levels of air pollution, but other problems that stem from overpopulation include conflicts and wars, increased unemployment levels and high living costs.

As a means to tackle these threats directly, World Population Day is an annual event observed on 11 July every year, which aims to promote the importance of family planning, gender equality, maternal health, human rights and lifting people out of poverty as the basis of stabilising population levels humanely. In the past the UN has used the day to advance the expansion of health services and women’s education in order to give more people the ability to plan for a family.

For more information about how to get involved this World Population Day, you can visit the UN website.

two puppies ready to be microchipped

Microchipping legislation: Stay up-to-date for £25!

A brand new online refresher course, designed to keep veterinary nurses up-to-date on the latest microchipping requirements, has been launched by The College of Animal Welfare (CAW)!

Designed in response to much confusion around the recent changes in microchipping legislation, the online course will clarify legal requirements, look at notifiable events, give advice on processes for non-functioning microchips, identify UK and European implantation sites and more.

Priced at just £25, this online course provides 12 hours of evidenced Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and is part of an ongoing commitment by the College to provide meaningful and accessible CPD to the veterinary community.

Sally Mitchell, CPD Course Tutor at the College, said “Registered veterinary nurses have a professional responsibility to ensure they are fully aware and knowledgeable about the procedures they are undertaking and the advice they are giving out to clients”. She continued “This course was developed following the recognition that many veterinary nurses were seeking clarification about the changes and how this directly affects their involvement in the process”.

Further information on the course can be found at www.caw.ac.uk/refresher

Microchipping legislation: Stay up-to-date for £25!

A brand new online refresher course, designed to keep veterinary nurses up-to-date on the latest microchipping requirements, has been launched by The College of Animal Welfare (CAW).

Designed in response to much confusion around the recent changes in microchipping legislation, the online course will clarify legal requirements, look at notifiable events, give advice on processes for non-functioning microchips, identify UK and European implantation sites and more.

Priced at just £25, this online course provides 12 hours of evidenced Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and is part of an ongoing commitment by CAW to provide meaningful and accessible CPD to the veterinary community.

Sally Mitchell, CPD Course Tutor at The College of Animal Welfare, said “Registered veterinary nurses have a professional responsibility to ensure they are fully aware and knowledgeable about the procedures they are undertaking and the advice they are giving out to clients”. She continued “This course was developed following the recognition that many veterinary nurses were seeking clarification about the changes and how this directly affects their involvement in the process”.

Further information on the course can be found at www.caw.ac.uk/refresher

– Ends –

For more information please contact:
Alison German RVN
Marketing Executive
The College of Animal Welfare
Tel: 01480 422060
Email: agerman@caw.ac.uk

Notes to editors:
The College of Animal Welfare is one of the UK’s leading providers of veterinary nurse and animal care training and education; operating from four training centres around the UK.

The College has a well-earned reputation for excellence and has a number of unique achievements that have created new opportunities for learning.

For more information about The College of Animal Welfare please visit www.caw.ac.uk

gung ho 2016

CAW students and staff raise over £700 for worthy charities!

Students and staff at our Edinburgh centre are thrilled to have raised £784 at Edinburgh’s Gung Ho Event on Saturday 11 June, efforts which have not gone unnoticed by Edinburgh Centre Manager Karen Hibell, who was quick to congratulate those involved: “The College has a proud history of fundraising for good causes and, as always, I’m extremely proud of our staff and students for participating.”

Hosted at The Meadows in Edinburgh, the event saw students and staff participate in a 5k fun run. The money was raised on behalf of Macmillan Cancer Support and Therapet Canine Concern Scotland Trust. Chantelle Thayne, Administration Apprentice at our Edinburgh centre, attended the event, adding: “The fun run was a great way for us to come together as a group and raise money for charities that are sometimes overlooked, but do vital and important work for the community!”

The College of Animal Welfare encourage students to contribute not only to College life, but to the wider community. To this end students hold various fundraising events throughout the year. More information can be found on our website.

CAW students and staff raise over £700 for worthy charities!

Students and staff at The College of Animal Welfare in Edinburgh are thrilled to have raised £784 at Edinburgh’s Gung Ho Event on Saturday 11 June, efforts which have not gone unnoticed by Edinburgh Centre Manager Karen Hibell, who was quick to congratulate those involved: “The College has a proud history of fundraising for good causes and, as always, I’m extremely proud of our staff and students for participating.”

Hosted at The Meadows in Edinburgh, the event saw students and staff participate in a 5k fun run. The money was raised on behalf of Macmillan Cancer Support and Therapet Canine Concern Scotland Trust. Chantelle Thayne, Administration Apprentice at the College, attended the event, adding: “The fun run was a great way for us to come together as a group and raise money for charities that are sometimes overlooked, but do vital and important work for the community!”

The College of Animal Welfare encourage students to contribute not only to College life, but to the wider community. To this end students hold various fundraising events throughout the year. More information can be found at www.caw.ac.uk or by calling 01480 422060.

– Ends –

For more information please contact:
Alison German RVN
Marketing Executive
The College of Animal Welfare
Tel: 01480 422060
Email: agerman@caw.ac.uk

Notes to editors:
The College of Animal Welfare is one of the UK’s leading providers of veterinary nurse and animal care training and education; operating from four training centres around the UK.

The College has a well-earned reputation for excellence and has a number of unique achievements that have created new opportunities for learning.

For more information about The College of Animal Welfare please visit www.caw.ac.uk