There is an inherent risk to any patient undergoing anaesthesia, and monitoring patients perioperatively requires significant technical skill. In order to safeguard animal health and welfare, registered veterinary nurses (RVNs) are central to safe anaesthesia.

From anaesthetic induction to recovery, RVNs will utilise their significant breadth of theoretical knowledge combined with practical skill, in order to deliver excellent standards of patient monitoring and care. RVNs actively advocate for their patient, and indeed vets will often rely on RVNs’ expertise and experience. With an underpinning detailed understanding of anatomy, physiology, pharmacology and pain management, RVNs are able to identify potential issues quickly and effectively – ensuring appropriate action can be taken to stabilise the patient.

There is public trust in the veterinary nursing profession. In 2022, the BVNA ‘Protect the Title’ survey identified that 92% of public respondents felt it was ‘very important’ that their pet is cared for by an RVN. This trust is built upon RVNs being properly qualified, regulated, and accountable for their actions.

Consequently, BVNA considers that it is not acceptable for lay persons, who are unregulated and have no professional accountability, to be involved in anaesthesia monitoring. This is unacceptable from an animal health and welfare perspective, and would likely be totally unacceptable to clients if they were aware.

In future legislative reform, BVNA promotes the protection of some tasks for RVNs (and student veterinary nurses under supervision), including anaesthetic monitoring. This is crucial to safeguarding animal welfare by ensuring that technically skilled nursing tasks are only carried out by appropriately qualified individuals, plus to provide future opportunities to enhance the RVN role.

Working towards future reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act, BVNA is currently championing the veterinary nursing profession in a key stakeholder group alongside the UK Government Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

More information can be found below:

BVNA ‘Protect the Title’ campaign: https://bvna.org.uk/project/bvna-protect-the-title-campaign/

BVA and BVNA response to RCVS Legislative Reform consultation https://www.bva.co.uk/media/4038/response-to-rcvs-legislative-reform-consultation-final-11-march-2021.pdf

BVNA Guidance on ‘Maximising the RVN role under current legislation’: https://bvna.org.uk/project/maximising-the-rvn-role-under-current-legislation/