When Things Don’t Go to Plan: Supporting Struggling SVNs with Compassion and Clarity

Supporting student veterinary nurses (SVNs) on placement is one of the most rewarding roles in practice, but it’s not without its challenges. Sometimes, despite everyone’s best efforts, a student begins to struggle. Whether it’s confidence, clinical skills, communication, or personal circumstances affecting performance, it can be difficult for clinical supervisors to know what to do […]

The First 90 Days: How to Help SVNs Settle into Practice and Succeed

Taking on a student veterinary nurse (SVN) is a fantastic opportunity to support the next generation of Registered Veterinary Nurses (RVNs). For many students, their placement is the first real taste of working in a veterinary practice setting. These early weeks are critical in shaping how they feel about the role, the profession, and their […]

Supervising an SVN? What you can and can’t expect from them

Supervising a student veterinary nurse (SVN) is a rewarding responsibility, but it can also raise questions about what’s appropriate to expect at each stage of their veterinary nurse training. Some students come in with a lot of confidence; others may be quiet, cautious, or unsure. Without clear expectations, it’s easy for SVNs to feel overwhelmed […]

What Veterinary Practices Need to Know About RCVS Compliance When Training SVNs

Training student veterinary nurses (SVNs) is a rewarding and impactful way to grow your team and contribute to the profession, but it also comes with responsibilities. For practices registered as Training Practices (TPs) or auxiliary Training Practices (aTPs), staying compliant with RCVS standards is essential not only to maintain your accreditation but to ensure your […]

From Student to RVN: Mapping the SVN Journey in Practice

For many aspiring veterinary nurses, the journey begins long before their first day in practice. Often it starts with a childhood love for animals, or a personal experience that ignited a passion for caring for them. However, whilst enthusiasm is essential, transforming that passion into professional competence is a longer process. It requires not only […]

How to Choose a Veterinary Nursing Course

Choosing the right veterinary nursing course is a crucial step towards building a successful career in the profession. Taking the time to choose the right course will help ensure that your training meets your needs and prepares you for the challenges and rewards of the veterinary nursing profession. With a variety of veterinary nursing courses […]

5 Benefits of Becoming a Training Practice (TP)

In order to train veterinary nurses, veterinary practices have to be approved as either a Training and Assessment Practice (TP) or an Auxiliary Training Practice (aTP) by an Approved Centre (Primary Centre). Becoming a Training Practice offers veterinary practices the chance to grow and strengthen their team in a cost-effective, sustainable way. From developing your […]

Looking to expand your veterinary nursing team? Grow your own veterinary nurse with The College of Animal Welfare

If you’re looking to expand your veterinary nursing team in an affordable way, have you considered taking on a student veterinary nurse? There are student veterinary nurses looking for apprenticeship vacancies and unpaid work placements in practices across the UK. By supporting an SVN, you can gain an extra pair of hands at your practice […]

RCVS consults on new standards framework for veterinary nurse training

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) has initiated a consultation on its standards framework for veterinary nurse training, as part of a regular review process, in order to ensure that the standards remain up-to-date and fit for purpose. The framework, titled “Standards Framework for Veterinary Nurse Education and Training,” outlines the professional values, skills, […]