Today, the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA) commences its annual Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month (VNAM) in the campaign’s 20th year. A profession-wide survey led by BVNA has also been launched, to capture vital information to support the association’s work including its ongoing mission to protect the ‘veterinary nurse’ title.

With 2024 encompassing the theme of ‘Progression’, the purpose of VNAM is to raise awareness of the veterinary nursing profession to the public and pet owners, by:

  • Championing the incredible work that veterinary nurses undertake every day
  • Highlighting the vital role of veterinary nurses in upholding animal welfare
  • Showcasing the diverse career paths of veterinary nurses, whether in or out of clinical practice
  • Raising awareness of why the ‘veterinary nurse’ title must be protected in law

In order to spread this message as far as possible, BVNA invites every member of the veterinary profession, alongside the pet owning public, to back the campaign and drive awareness.

More information about VNAM 2024 can be found at the BVNA website here.

Voice of the veterinary nursing profession

Via its VN Profession Survey opened today, BVNA urges student and registered veterinary nurses (SVNs/RVNs) to share their experiences and opinions about working in the profession – as well as those who may be working in similar roles but are not currently on the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) register.

The survey is open until 23:59 on Sunday 30th June 2024. BVNA members will receive an email link directly; the survey can also be accessed here.

The survey seeks to collect information about how veterinary nurses feel about the profession now, including current issues and trends, along with their vision of how it could progress in the future. This vital data will be used to inform stakeholders – such as the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and the RCVS, among others – of the significant value veterinary nurses bring to their teams and to animal welfare. The findings will also influence BVNA’s ongoing activities, its resources for members alongside the wider profession, and its campaigns – including lobbying for legislative change to protect the ‘veterinary nurse’ title.

Message from BVNA President, Lyndsay Hughes:

“BVNA’s annual VNAM campaign provides the perfect platform to celebrate a profession we are all rightly so proud to be a part of. We hope that the appreciation shown for our veterinary nursing colleagues throughout this month will help to give the profession a boost, at a time when we know veterinary teams are working under continually challenging circumstances.

“It’s fantastic to be celebrating 20 years of raising awareness of veterinary nursing via this campaign. We also acknowledge that as our profession continues to evolve and progress, we must continue to drive better understanding amongst the general public. This is especially vital in our continued lobbying for legislative reform, including the long-overdue protection of the ‘veterinary nurse’ title in law. BVNA continues to work tirelessly towards this goal – but we need your help.

“We’ve listened to those within our profession who may feel frustrated that progress towards this much-needed legislative change is slow. To gain as much evidence as we can in support of making this happen, every individual veterinary nursing voice is critical. That’s why we need to hear from you via our survey. You can make a difference – to the work we carry out as an association, and to the future of the veterinary nursing profession.

“The more we educate the public about the pivotal role we have in upholding animal welfare, alongside human health and the environment, the more likely it is that legislation will be introduced to reflect the skilled profession we are today. This year’s VNAM provides the perfect platform for everyone to contribute – by celebrating the impact of veterinary nurses in your workplace, and by completing our VN Profession Survey. We hope to see as many people as possible joining us to champion veterinary nurses everywhere.”