Author Archives: Leanne Egland

RCVS puts in place framework for accrediting international VN qualifications

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) can now accredit international veterinary nursing courses and qualifications, following a decision by the Veterinary Nursing Education Subcommittee.

At its March meeting the Subcommittee agreed a framework for accrediting awarding organisations and higher education institutions delivering veterinary nursing qualifications wholly or partially outside of the UK. The changes had already been approved in principle by VN Council members at a meeting in February 2015.

Julie Dugmore, Head of Veterinary Nursing at RCVS, commented: “Although international VN training providers can now apply for accreditation, it would be dependent on them meeting the same stringent criteria as their UK counterparts.

“For example, they would be subject to many visitations to monitor the standards of teaching and the curriculum; their students would need to have a requisite amount of time gaining first-hand clinical experience in training practices; and we would need to be satisfied that their graduates meet the set of skills and competences we expect from all newly-qualified veterinary nurses.”

At the same meeting the VN Education Subcommittee also clarified and formalised the registration rules for veterinary nurses who wish to join the UK Register but who qualified outside both the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA)

Veterinary nurses trained outside the UK will continue to have their qualifications assessed against UK standards. From now on, all non-EU/EEA trained veterinary nurses and some EU/EEA trained veterinary nurses will have to pass pre-registration theory and practical examinations.

Furthermore, all registrants trained outside the UK (including those from EU/EEA countries) will have to come to the RCVS to have their documentation checked and will have the main tenets of the Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Nurses explained to them. Registration will not be confirmed until staff members from the Veterinary Nursing Department are satisfied that the Code has been understood.

Nominations for VN Golden Jubilee Award closes on 24th April

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) is reminding veterinary nurses and veterinary surgeons that they have until the end of this week to put forward nominees for the annual VN Golden Jubilee Award.

The Award is given in recognition of an outstanding contribution to the profession, animal welfare and/or patient care and nominees can be veterinary nurses, veterinary surgeons or lay people. It was launched in 2011 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first RCVS veterinary nursing training course.

Nomination forms need to be submitted by 5pm on Friday 24th April. The principal nominator must be a registered veterinary nurse or veterinary surgeon although the two supporting proposers can be lay people.

The winner will be chosen by a panel of VN Council members and will receive the accolade at RCVS Day – the College’s Annual General Meeting and Awards Day on Friday 10th July.

BSAVA calls on delegates to test their hand washing technique to win great pet fitness prizes

As well as promoting its range of infection control information for practitioners and pet owners at BSAVA 2015, The Bella Moss Foundation is urging delegates to take part in its fun hand washing competition and be in with the chance to win a great pet fitness prize.

The Clean Hands Challenge, sponsored by Vetoquinol, will take place at stand 4 in the ICC, alongside a brand new instructional hand hygiene video produced by leading vets Tim Nuttall and Chris Laurence.

Eager delegates will have their hands sprayed with UV activated dye – taking the place of bugs and bacteria. They will then be asked to wash their hands – seemingly a simple enough task – before being shown, with the aid of a UV wand, how much “bacteria” they were able to remove.

Top-notch hand washers will then be entered into a daily prize draw to win a Tractive MOTION pet activity monitor for their pets and patients.

BMF founder Jill Moss said: “We all think we’re pretty good at washing our hands – and it’s a basic, everyday function for clinicians – but at the same time hand washing can become perfunctory, especially when you are busy. And how often do we really think about whether we’re doing it right?”

The Bella Moss Foundation will be at stand 4 in the ICC, Birmingham from the 9th – 12th April 2015.

For more information about BMF visit www.thebellamossfoundation.com

RCVS news: Director of Education at RCVS retires

Freda Andrews, the Director of Education at the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), will be retiring from the position at the beginning of April after nearly 16 years at the College.

Freda joined the RCVS as Head of Education in September 1999 and became Director of Education in 2013, with strategic responsibility for both veterinary and veterinary nursing education. She leaves the RCVS on Thursday 2nd April.

Nick Stace, RCVS Chief Executive Officer, commented: “We will miss Freda for her professionalism, her encyclopaedic knowledge of all things related to veterinary education and her attention to detail, but she leaves behind a team that is stronger-than-ever and a considerable legacy for the profession as a whole.”

Freda’s responsibilities as Director of Education will now be split between Christine Warman, Head of Education, and Julie Dugmore, Head of Veterinary Nursing.

“I have really enjoyed working with such a fascinating profession and I think that through working very closely with our colleagues in the vet schools, as well as with practising vets, veterinary education has made some significant advances. For example, there is more focus now on communication and professional skills and greater alignment of accreditation standards internationally, to name but two things,” commented Freda.

“I am sad to leave but I know that the future of veterinary and veterinary nursing education has been left in the very safe hands of Christine and Julie and their respective teams.”

Over half of UK Vets treated pets for chocolate poisoning last Easter

UK dog owners are being warned to keep Easter treats away from pets after figures released today from the British Veterinary Association (BVA) showed that over half of UK Vets (54%) had treated at least one case of chocolate poisoning over Easter 2014. Regionally, East Midlands saw the highest average number of cases, with Vets in the area seeing two cases of poisoning each on average.

Chocolate can be highly poisonous to pets, with dogs most commonly affected. Although awareness about chocolate poisoning is increasing amongst pet owners, the BVA figures show that the majority of Vets still see urgent cases because chocolate treats have not been secured out of reach.

Chocolate is toxic because it contains theobromine – the level of toxicity is dependent on the type of chocolate, dark chocolate and cocoas powder is most toxic, with smaller dogs and puppies being most at risk.

Vet John Blackwell, BVA President, said:

‘Easter should be a happy time for all the family including loved pets, and BVA urges pet owners to take precautions to ensure that their pet does not become one of the thousands of cases treated for accidental chocolate poisoning, which tragically can sometimes be fatal. The majority of the cases we see are because a pet has accidentally managed to get access to chocolate despite the owner’s best intentions.’

‘If you suspect that your dog has ingested chocolate don’t delay in contacting your vet. The quicker we can offer advice and treatment, the better. Vets will want to know how much chocolate your dog has eaten and what type. If possible keep any labels and have the weight of the dog to hand.’

Make sure you know how to contact your vet out of hours and over the bank holiday weekend when opening hours may be different. Use the RCVS’s ‘find a vet‘ online service to find a veterinary practice in an emergency.

BVNA Congress 2015 – REGISTRATION OPEN

The British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA) has opened registration for its annual congress with a special anniversary deal.

BVNA members who book before the end of July receive a significantly discounted rate of just £50 per day, in recognition of the association’s 50th year anniversary.

The congress is also open to non-members who can join the association to receive the special £50 deal, and still save money over the regular non-member rate.*

The congress, which takes place at the International Centre, Telford, from the 9th – 11th October, offers a packed programme for nurses of all levels, including brand new equine and nurse clinic streams.

BVNA President Fiona Andrew said, “We have over 14 streams of clinical and non-clinical talks with a broad range of topics to appeal whatever the nurse’s area of interest. Both student and diploma level nurses are catered for with a day-long programme for students on Friday, and advanced medicine, surgery and emergency and critical care streams on Saturday and Sunday.”

“Nurses looking for ‘hands-on’ tuition can register for the congress workshops, to include suturing techniques, anaesthesia monitoring, ultrasound, blood pressure measuring and capnography.”

The full congress programme can be found at www.bvnacongress.co.uk

*The special £50 per day rate is available for bookings up until the end of July 2015. Non-members can join from just £32 for students, making a day at congress cost from £82 versus the usual non-member rate of £140.

VN Council Election – Quiz the Candidates

This year the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) asked members of the veterinary nursing profession to submit the one question they would like the VN Council election candidates to answer, as part of ‘Quiz the Candidates.’

Candidates were then invited to choose two of the questions put forward and provide a video of their answers, together with a brief explanation of what they feel would set them apart as a potential member of VN Council.

To watch their video’s of why they should become a member of the VN Council, click on the names below

RCVS Council Election – Quiz the Candidates

This year the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) asked members of the profession to submit the one question they would like the RCVS Council election candidates to answer, as part of ‘Quiz the Candidates.’

To watch their video’s of why they should become a member of the RCVS Council, click on the names below

Student VNs: Present Your Research at BVNA Congress!

Would you like to be a speaker at this year’s British Veterinary Nursing Association’s (BVNA) Congress, raise your professional profile and have 10 minutes in front of the veterinary nursing profession?

As an increasingly popular part of congress, this session provides students and RVNs involved in research an opportunity to present their work at BVNA congress.

BVNA invites the submission of abstracts in the form of:

Posters- on acceptance of your abstract this will involve producing a landscape A0 size poster which will be displayed at the BVNA Congress. You will be required to attend the abstract session to support the applicants that will be presenting. You are then able to enjoy the remainder of the Congress accessing lectures and the commercial exhibition.

and/or

Oral presentation- on acceptance of your abstract this will involve a short 10 minute PowerPoint presentation (questions will not be invited during this session) of your research as well as producing your poster as above. You are then able to enjoy the remainder of the Congress accessing lectures and the commercial exhibition.

Three winners will be chosen and prizes will be awarded in the following categories

Best practitioner/Post VN qualification
Recent graduate/undergraduate
Poster

All winners will have the opportunity to have their research published in the VNJ.

All submissions must be made online by 30th June, all abstracts will be peer reviewed.

Acceptance to present either verbally or as a poster at the BVNA Congress will entitle you to FREE registration on the day of presentation.

For more information on submission guidelines, guidance to writing your abstract and to submit your abstract click here

RCVS news: New video sets out how the RCVS benefits animals and the public

A new video released by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) sets out how the College’s activities benefit animal and public welfare by helping to make the profession the best it can be.

The video, entitled ‘We are here for you’, features interviews with College staff explaining their roles and how what they do aids the profession and ultimately improves animal health and welfare.

Lizzie Lockett, RCVS Director of Communications, explains: “Improving animal health and welfare by advancing the ethical, professional and clinical standards of the veterinary profession is at the heart of all our work, and this video sets out the myriad ways in which we do this.

“Although animal owners may know of us primarily through high-profile disciplinary cases or our process for handling concerns, we do so much more to ensure their experience of using veterinary services is a positive one. For example, we set the standards for and monitor the quality of veterinary education; we hold Registers of those vets and veterinary nurses who are qualified to practise; we set professional standards for vets and veterinary nurses; and we help practices raise their standards through our Practice Standards Scheme. And that’s just a snapshot of our role!”

The video is available to view on the RCVS YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/rcvsvideos).