Over 250 veterinary nurses graduated this year and members of RCVS Council and VN Council attended the ceremonies, where graduates not only received their degrees, but also their Certificates in Veterinary Nursing.

At each event, an RCVS representative led the graduates as they made their solemn declaration; and Victoria Hedges, RCVS AI Quality Manager, recently led the declaration with graduates from the University of the West of England/Hartpury College. Eighteen students graduated at the event, held in Gloucester Cathedral, with three achieving the FdSc in Equine Veterinary Nursing Science

Ciara Seagar (pictured, with Professor Ron Ritchie, Pro Vice-Chancellor [Partnerships Diversity and Civic Engagement] at UWE) was presented with the Three Counties Equine Hospital Trophy for Top Final Year BSc (Hons) veterinary nurse student.

The next RCVS admissions ceremony for nurses achieving their Level 3 Diplomas in Veterinary Nursing will be held at Belgravia House on 15 January. Nurses eligible to attend will receive their invitations, along with their registration documents, over the next few weeks.

Tasking time

Thank you to everyone who visited our stand at the BVNA Congress in Telford, and tried out some of our new practical examination tasks. Two of the tasks, TP05 patient preparation and NC02 insulin injection, have now been added to the task bank.

 The VN Examinations team has also taken the opportunity to restyle the online versions of the tasks. The scenario and marking criteria are now presented over two pages, ideal for back-to-back printing, and the marking criteria are laid out in the same way as examining mark-sheets, with space for confirming if the student is competent or not.

This feature will assist clinical coaches and tutors during mock examinations. The qualification referencing has also been amended to take into account the RCVS Pre-registration examination for veterinary nurses: ww.awardingbody.rcvs.org.uk/examinations/practical-examinations/osce-stations

Retention fees, please!

Please ensure that you have renewed your RCVS registration/ listing and paid your fees by 31 December, or your name will be removed from the Register/List. If you have not received a renewal notice, it may be because we do not hold your correct contact details – so please contact the Registration Department, on 0207 202 0707, to check.

100 per cent perfect!

In total, 231 students sat our September practical examinations, 219 of whom were sitting the RCVS Level 3 Diploma OSCE examination, and of these, 164 passed. At a pass rate of 75 per cent, this is higher than the results from this time last year, when 64 per cent passed.

One student, Emily Wright, from Macarthur, Bartow and Gibbs in Droitwich, achieved 100% in all of the stations: a rare occurrence! Many congratulations, Emily.

Get involved!

Are you interested in the future of veterinary nurse education and training? Professional conduct? How complaints are handled? Now’s your chance to get involved at the sharp end.

Nominations are now open for two seats on RCVS VN Council, and successful candidates will serve four-year terms. Members will be expected to spend at least six to eight days a year attending Council meetings, working parties and subcommittees (for which a loss-of-earnings allowance is available).

To help those considering standing for election to better understand the role of the RCVS and VN Council, and what will be expected of them if elected, we will hold a special ‘Meet the RCVS Day’ on 10 December. If you are thinking of standing for election to the VNC, you will have the opportunity to meet the College Officers and senior staff, and find out what goes on behind the scenes. For more information, contact Fiona Harcourt at f.harcourt@rcvs.org.uk.

If you can’t make that date, please contact us any way, and we will put you in touch with a Council member who will be happy to help answer your questions.

Or you could watch our video, where you can hear at first hand from some VN Council members what it means to sit on your profession’s governing body – what you have to put in, and what you get out! Visit our YouTube channel on www.youtube.com/rcvsvideos

Each candidate needs to find two proposers – any veterinary surgeon or veterinary nurse, except for those presently on the RCVS or VN Council, may propose one candidate each.

Nomination forms, full instructions and guidance notes are available from www.rcvs.org.uk/vncouncill4 and the closing date for nominations is 5pm on 31 January 2014. 

Veterinary Nursing Journal • VOL 28 • December 2013