Veterinary Nursing

Advanced Veterinary Nursing Congress is a one day virtual event that explores advanced professional practice, focusing on advanced veterinary nursing skills and knowledge.

This congress offers 7 hours of evidenced CPD and this year we are welcoming a range of expert industry speakers to deliver lectures.

Jill Macdonald DipAVN (Surgical) RVN FHEA, The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS)

30 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

Veterinary nurses are at the core of veterinary practice, animal welfare and client support; yet their role is still often misunderstood or underestimated. Those wishing to choose a career in animal care may be unaware of the option of becoming a veterinary nurse, or the career opportunities that veterinary nursing offers.

There are many activities we can undertake to help raise awareness of the crucial role of veterinary nurses and create future ambassadors for our amazing profession, and we will look at some of the options available to you.

An introduction to monitoring anaesthesia in small furries! (WEC2024)

40 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

This presentation will cover key learning points, in order to help enable you to:

• Identify normal parameters in small furry species
• Identify risks involved in anaesthetising these species, including hypothermia and how to minimise
• Know how to adapt the use of your multi-parameter to use for anaesthetic monitoring on these species including your capnograph

Avian Anaesthesia – Keeping it safe! (WEC2024)

45 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

Veterinary professionals can often be fearful of avian anaesthesia and whist it is true, they are very different to companion mammals, avian anaesthesia can be carried out both very safely and welfare minded - if we have a good understanding of the anatomy of these ‘living dinosaurs’. This presentation will cover the following key learning points:

• Greater understanding of how birds breathe
• How being well prepared is essential for bird anaesthesia
• How attention to detail is really important and will help to ensure we get a positive outcome

Claire Speight | RSFC2023

50 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

Rabbits are a social species and studies have shown they value the company of another rabbit as much as food. Bonded rabbits will show a range of behaviours, which lone rabbits are unable to participate in.

However, they are also territorial and can cause serious injuries on each other. It is therefore imperative that rabbits are bonded carefully, following specific strategies, in order to achieve a harmonious, long-term partnership.

During the presentation we will learn:

• Why rabbits need a companion
• What makes a good pairing
• Initial bonding steps to be taken
• The bonding process, including positive and negative signs

Libby Kemkaran-Thompson | HNC2022

40 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

Being a leader takes guts.  One of the bravest things you need to do is to learn to trust everyone else!  How do we move from the old model of micromanagement and ‘carrot and stick’ control, towards a more holistic healthier and less stressful way of leading?

Learn the ‘pull vs push’ techniques that actually drop your workload and allow you a deeper connection with your team.

Understand the 4 different brain types and how to target them effectively with communication and focus that inspires rather than motivates.

John Chitty, RSFC2024

55 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

This presentation will cover the following key learning points, to enable you to feel better equipped when dealing with rats and mice within practice:

• Learning to handle rats and mice
• Making the clinic less stressful for rats and mice
• How to medicate rats and mice
• Some common diseases and husbandry issues in rats and mice

Dr Mary Fraser | RSFC2022

30 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

Nursing care plans are central to the process of planning and reviewing the care of our patients. Whilst current vet nursing care plans can be applied to exotics, the individual requirements of small mammals, birds or reptiles don’t always fit in to current models.

A review of the current literature on veterinary nursing care plans was undertaken, and a new model developed for use with exotics, incorporating a plan and checklist that highlight specific areas of relevance for exotics. It is hoped this will encourage more discussion amongst the veterinary team, about the nature of care needed when nursing exotics.

Alice Hewitt | HNC2024

40 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

Time management and delegation are an important part of any leadership role. They’re important for you because they free up your time, allowing you to focus on the things that only you can do. They’re important for your team because they’re a way of demonstrating trust and fairness, as well as ensuring things get done. But they can be tricky skills to learn and feel comfortable using.

During this session, we’ll learn why time management and delegation are so impactful for leaders at all stages, how to do this in practice, and some strategies to help you along the way.

Anna Mercer | RSFC2023

50 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

Ferrets are inquisitive and playful pets but can sometimes be a little misunderstood.

This presentation will help you to gain confidence when nursing the ferret patient in practice. We will cover the follwing key learning points:

• Introduction to the ferret (including husbandry, ferrets as pets, behaviour and anatomy)
• Pre, peri and post anaesthetic considerations when nursing the ferret patient
• Common diseases of the ferret and preventative medicine
• Becoming a ferret advocate and how to make your practice ferret friendly

Chris White, VMG and V4P | HNC2022

45 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

Change is constant, sometimes gradual and progressive, sometimes sudden and radical.

In the veterinary world, as well as having to rapidly adapt to the recent pandemic, we have to help our teams through changes in business ownership and changes in everyday working life as technology, competitive pressures, and new ways of working emerge.

In this session we will look at the nature of change, how to approach it, how people react to it, how to help your people through it, and how to make the change process more effective.

Anne-Marie Svendsen Aylott | HNC2022

50 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

Emotional intelligence skills have been linked to a wide range of benefits – from outstanding leadership to personal happiness. 

They are skills – they can be taught – and there is a clear progression in where you start and how you move from there. 

The session will introduce you to the concepts of emotional intelligence skills, get you started on your journey and give you points as to how you start to utilise them with the people around you.

Dr Anne McBride | RSFC2024

40 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

Research suggests that ownership of dogs and cats can support favourable psychological development in children, especially where there are suitable adult role models. Yet, small mammals, and other taxa, are increasingly chosen as children’s pets. They require less space, time and money - important considerations, especially for families with no garden access. However, this may not mean that children and small pets are a match made in heaven.

In this session we will explore ways to help children and their animals benefit from each other throughout the whole of the animal’s life, which can span several developmental phases of the child.

Sian Baker RVN, SMART Veterinary Clinic Ltd - RC2024

50 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

This presentation will focus on looking at the best ways to successfully manage feline rehabilitation in practice and the main starting points to consider.

We will look at the basics of feline behaviour, home environment and pain presentation. We will then consider how this can impact their rehabilitation management and the ways in which we approach their assessment and treatment (at home and at the practice) so we can look to gain the most successful outcomes.

Cats are not small dogs and this talk aims to highlight this and to arm delegates with simple tips and tools to help target our feline patients treatments more appropriately.

Alice Hewitt BVetMed(Hons) MA PGCertVetEd FHEA MRCVS, Alice Hewitt Coaching

40 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

Successful veterinary practices, whatever their size, rely on teamwork. When everyone works together things run more smoothly, efficiently and safely. Life is less stressful and more enjoyable.

Creating a team that works well together takes time and effort but when you get it right, the rewards are huge.

During this session we will discuss seven simple ways to bring out the best in your team; including communication, training, how to be accessible to and inspire your team, planning for the future and how to praise and reward.

Seven simple things to help you create a positive, productive and happy team.

Hibernation: Let’s dispel myths and legends to face it safely (WEC2024)

45 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

Hibernation is a fundamental moment in the life of a tortoise. There are many points of view on this matter, and the owners could be misguided.

It is therefore important to know how to give owners the right advice and support them, especially if it is their first experience.

Jo Hinde, LagoLearn | RSFC2022

50 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

With the use of case studies, we will look at all aspects of the proactive nursing care of small rodents, including preventative medicine.

1) Understanding of how to Triage and handle small mammals

2) Administration of medicines, how to do it safely

3) Safe anaesthesia of small mammals

Amy Martin | HNC2024

35 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

The RCVS Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) was launched in 2015 and aims to improve the mental health and wellbeing of those in the veterinary team, including students, veterinary nurses, veterinary surgeons and practice managers.

Within this session there will be an introduction to MMI and we will explore how we can work together to thrive as Veterinary Nurses, and as part of the Veterinary team.

Claire Speight, editor of Rabbiting On; the Rabbit Welfare Association’s quarterly magazine | RSFC2022

45 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

How can you make your practice rabbit friendly?

As a prey species, rabbits have different environmental, care and nursing requirements to dogs and cats – this starts in the reception and waiting area and continues through the consulting room, theatre and kennels. Reducing stress and implementing protocols to ensure that care is standardised is imperative. Learn how to advise clients on preventative health care, how to look after hospitalised rabbits and help reduce stress in your rabbit patients, whether or not they are coming in for an appointment or being admitted.

Nursing Aquatic Patients (WEC2023)

40 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

An overview of nursing aquatic species in practice and further afield, this
presentation will include some practical suggestions and tips; focusing on the
following key learning points:

• Insight in to need for appropriate water for procedures
• Common presentation of aquatic species in practice
• Treatment suggestions
• How to carry out safe anaesthesia in these challenging species

Nursing Care for Hedgehogs (WEC2024)

45 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

The European hedgehog is a species which is sadly in decline and now vulnerable to extinction. As nurses, we can play a critical role in helping this protected species and contribute to the rehabilitation of diseased and injured individuals.

Understanding their ecology is paramount to caring for these patients appropriately, as well as being able to both advise and educate members of the general public on what to do if they find a perceived injured/ill hedgehog.

This presentation aims to give a good grounding on how to triage and care for this species effectively, how to approach a hedgehog nursing care plan, exploring husbandry and feeding behaviour and will offer some specific case examples which may be seen in practice.

Matthew Rendle | RSFC2022

40 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

With the use of case studies, we will look at all aspects of the proactive nursing care of small rodents, including preventative medicine.

1) Understanding of how to Triage and handle small mammals

2) Administration of medicines, how to do it safely

3) Safe anaesthesia of small mammals

Dr Liz Walker BVetMed BSAVA PgCertSAM MRCVS, IntrinsiaVet

35 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

This final presentation of the day aims to leave you feeling positive with methods to cope with stress and build reslience. We look at the following key learning points:

• Recognising the challenges of clinical practice
• Effectively navigating client and colleague interactions
• Effective coping strategies for stress
• Building resilience for a positive future

Chris White | HNC2024

45 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

Managing a team in practice whilst also being managed yourself can be challenging. At times you can feel the positive difference you are making to your team, to patients and clients, and to the performance of the business; but at other times it can feel like an impossible job and a lonely place to be.

It can be a fun game or a cruel game, depending on how the participants approach it. You can see yourself as ‘stuck in the middle’ or as being at the heart creating a great culture and influencing and communicating up and down to move things forward.

This session offers some strategies for fostering productive relationships across all levels, for dealing with ‘difficult’ line managers, and for leading a team whose needs and priorities may conflict with those of ‘the management’.

Helen Silver-MacMahon MSc PSCHF (Dist.), Cert VNECC, Dip AVN (surg), Cert SAN, RVN

45 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

Many of us feel nervous, anxious, or even fearful when facing conflict. Whether it be with family, friend, client, colleague, or boss. What we often forget is that this is an entirely normal response. I am a firm believer that with experience comes the opportunity to reflect and dissect. Through this we can identify the specific actions which ‘trigger’ a response in us. However, given how time poor we all are this reflection time is often overlooked. Resulting in a vicious circle which often ends in avoidance.

In this lecture we take the time to reflect on the various types of interactions or scenarios and why they may result in conflict. We will explore how there may be a different narrative to these situations and by using this alternative narrative, we may be able to find common ground and better outcomes for all involved. You should attend this lecture if:

1. You’ve experienced or are experiencing conflict in the workplace and are unsure why or what to do

2. You know of a friend or colleague experiencing conflict and are unsure how to support them

3. You’re keen to play a bigger role in deciding the outcome of workplace problems.

Preliminary Veterinary Care of British Wild Fauna (WEC2023)

45 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

This presentation is designed to give nurses a good grounding in how best to approach a wildlife admission within veterinary practice. We will cover for the following key learning points:

• The initial first aid of wild fauna
• The importance of the veterinary practice as a first line in wildlife care
• The difference between wildlife and domestic patients and how this can affect our nursing interventions
• The role of the veterinary nurse in being an advocate for wildlife in practice
• Common case examples

Claire Speight | RSFC2024

45 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

There are over 100 recognised rabbit breeds that vary greatly in size, fur type, ear position and length, as well as facial elongation and shape. These man-made

characteristics are far removed from how nature intends rabbits to look and as such, many of these breeds can suffer from health, behaviour and welfare problems.

During this presentation we will look at:

• The breeds and which are predisposed to problems
• Common health problems seen
• Welfare considerations
• Advice to be given to owners of certain breeds to help prevent problems

Rabbit Bloods and Meds (WEC2023)

40 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

This talk will discuss 2 main topics: Blood sampling and common medications including analgesia.

Placing IV cannulas and taking blood samples can be a daunting thought but these top tips including sample sites, local anaesthesia and general stress reduction will help.

Analgesia is vital and we will cover a range of different types to enable you to understand the important pharmacokinetics of each and allow you to take a polypharmacy approach to your treatment plans.

Other common medications such as antibiotics and prokinetics will be delved in to as we look at their potential indications and administration routes.

Livia Benato | RSFC2024

55 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

This presentation will cover the following key learning points:

• How pain management in rabbits has improved greatly in the last 20 years
• Optimal pain assessment is a key factor in rabbit pain amelioration
• The Bristol Rabbit Pain Scale is a multifactorial pain scale specific for rabbits, similar to those available for cats and dogs
• The knowledge of common painful conditions and available analgesic drugs helps to ameliorate pain where possible

Rosie Bescoby, ASAB | RSFC2022

60 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

Rabbits began to become domesticated only around 1,400 year ago and the domestic bunny retains the same instincts and needs as their wild counterparts. Whilst pet rabbits’ flight instinct is inhibited compared to wild rabbits, they remain a prey species and humans an apex predator. This consideration should influence how we keep domestic rabbits in terms of companionship and their home environment, as well as how owners interact with them on a daily basis and how veterinary staff handle rabbits and meeting their needs when hospitalised.

Jess Woolrich | HNC2024

45 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

This presentation will cover the following key learning points:

• Learn how to conduct effective interviews and onboarding sessions. Consider how compassionate communication can help select you the right applicant for the role.
• Consider how connecting through communication can increase staff retention
• Learn how to have difficult/challenging conversations using compassionate communication during your 1:1 meetings and appraisals.
• Hear about how the recognised tool of “Non-violent communication” can help you in everyday conversations as a Head Vet Nurse.

Reptile Factfile: The ABC’s of Dealing with Reptiles in
Practice (WEC2023)

50 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

Reptile medicine is becoming more developed by the day; but the gap
between specialist niche practices and typical GP practices appears to be
getting bigger. Where the default before was barely anybody knew, now we
have some who know a lot, and many who know very little.

My role is to continue to demystify the idea that reptile medicine and
application is *that* difficult and this presentation aims to arm you with some
basic skills, know-how and explanations to feel more prepared and confident
with reptile work.

Carly Tonner | RSFC2024

50 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

In this session, we will delve into comprehensive pre, peri and post-anaesthesia protocols for small rodents. There will be emphasis on the critical importance of monitoring these delicate creatures throughout the anaesthesia process. The goal of this presentation is to increase confidence for veterinary professionals, when dealing with a variety of small rodent species, taking into account their specific requirements along the way.

Claire Hodgson, BVCIS | HNC2022

45 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

We all want to be able to provide the best support possible to our colleagues when returning following a period of absence, especially when it is associated with illness. It can be hard to know where to start and easy to worry you might get it wrong.

This lecture will help you better understand how to support and prepare both the individual and your workplace for a return to work, what the legal and HR considerations are and what resources may be available to help you make any accommodations in order to maximise success and help ensure that the whole team thrives.

While the focus will be on health related absence much can be extrapolated to any return following prolonged period of absence.

Debbie Robinson | HNC2024

40 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

Trust lies at the heart of a functioning, unified team. Without it, teamwork is impossible. If the members of the team do not trust each other, then they cannot be totally honest with each other.

Respect and civility in its simplest form, is about how we treat each other at work. In high pressured veterinary environments, behaviours of disrespect and incivility can unfortunately, become common place.

When a team or a practice’s environment is characterised by interpersonal trust and a culture of respect, team members feel free to collaborate and feel safe making changes, which ultimately enables them to implement continuous quality improvements.

Silvia Janska & Jessica May - Flexee Ltd | HNC2022

30 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

34% of vet nurses in the UK currently work flexibly, approximately double wish to work flexibly, and more then 50% find it difficult to arrange this with their employer. 

There are a few core aspects that are at play when arranging flexible working. It needs to work for the individual, as well as for the team and the business. Fairness of opportunity is key. 

However, the current reactive approach to flexible working requests means the employee needs are either not met, or are unsustainable long-term - meaning we might work flexitime, but still feel the work-load is the same as before reducing hours for example. 

Rota management is another headache when discussing flex work. Yet about 20% of vet practices are making flexible working work. So, what are they doing?

Carly Seymour VTS (Anesthesia and Analgesia), DipAVN, CertVNECC, A1, CC, RVN

45 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

It can be difficult transitioning from RVN to Head RVN, and taking on all the additional responsibilities that come with the role.

We will look at how you can make the transition into a leadership role as smoothly as possible and how you can be a good role model and leader for your team. This will include an overview of leadership styles, along with advice from some of Carly's own experiences.

Avian Patients (WEC2023)

50 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

This presentation will cover what you need to know and think about when a bird is booked in at clinic.

We will cover; species, husbandry, clinical presentations, handling, blood sampling and anaesthesia.

Matthew Rendle | RSFC2023

40 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

Dental disease is sadly still very common and causes are multifactorial and complex.  It is important to review and nurse each case as an individual; being mindful of the owner’s knowledge, understanding and wishes - but the priority must be managing the individual’s welfare.

In this presentation, we will discuss aspects of how to nurse these rewarding cases well. We will cover the following key points:

• Prevention
• Assessment and diagnostics
• Treatment options and plans
• Quality of life assessments and managing owners

Jo Hinde-Megarity | RSFC2023

45 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

Rabbits are the UK’s third most popular pet and as such, it is vital we know how to look after them correctly.
This presentation will cover a range of common conditions and it will cover topics such as general stabilisation, GI stasis, urinary issues, and Flystrike.

This should leave you with a greater understanding of each condition; including spotting symptoms, helping to create treatment plans and working with owners to ensure optimum husbandry and preventative healthcare is provided.

What’s Up Doc? – Top Tips for Rabbit Patients

45 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

This session provides a selection of top tips across a broad range of rabbit subjects for use in clinical and rescue settings for both domestic and wild rabbits. As a prey species, we need to take a different approach to their care and be able to understand the subtle ways in which they communicate.

Topics include stress reduction techniques, handling restraint and kennelling options, triage tips, pain scoring, commonly presenting issues and more! This is designed to give you as many top tips as possible to give you a better understanding of rabbits and how to nurse them.

Abigail Edis | RSFC2023

45 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

Whilst guinea pigs are also herbivorous small mammals and have similar gastrointestinal systems and similar diets to lagomorph species, they have many differences in their husbandry needs and common illnesses seen.

This presentation will talk through the common differences in caring for guinea pigs and why they are often medical mysteries when it comes to seeing them in practice.

We will also discuss some of the common presentations and the probably often underdiagnosed diseases these species are prone to developing. This will ultimately help us to educate owners more effectively and recognise signs of illness in guinea pigs when presented with one.

Key learning points:

• Understand why guinea pigs are not the same as rabbits when it comes to husbandry
• Be confident at educating owners on the husbandry and care in these species and what to watch out for when recognising signs of illness at home.
• Know what the common and sometimes underdiagnosed conditions in the species are and their typical clinical signs and treatments.

Wildlife and Exotics Congress is a one day virtual event that explores the care of wildlife and exotic species in veterinary practice.

This congress offers 6 hours of evidenced CPD and we will be welcoming a range of expert industry speakers to deliver lectures on the care of exotic and wildlife species.

New for 2025 - this event now has two live streams allowing you to choose between the wildlife or exotics talks depending on your interests. What's more, all delegates will get access to the recordings of both streams - giving you an additional four lectures to watch after the event!

Liz Somerville, Digital Marketing Ltd

Liz Daniels, Custard PR

45 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

Love it or loath it, social media is an integral part of any practice’s marketing strategy and is here to stay.

In this session we will give you some practical tools and top tips to develop your practice’s social media strategy, set yourself some goals and show how best to plan and schedule your content.

We understand that practice life is busy and time is precious, so we’ll share some top tips on how to implement your social media strategy in practice and get your team on board and involved, and show you what metrics to track to hit your practice’s goals.

Gemma Barmby - Vet Dynamics | HNC2022

30 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

The job of a head veterinary nurse is a complex multi layered role requiring you to wear many different hats often simultaneously. It is stressful and busy and highly rewarding.

In our session we will be exploring some tips and tricks on juggling your managerial and clinical workloads by learning:

• how to prioritize your priorities
• how to manage your distractions
• how to plan your days for maximum efficiency
• how to say no