As developments towards statutory regulation for veterinary nurses continue to gain momentum, 2013 looks set to be an exciting year for the profession. Would you like to be part of it?

Nominations are now open for the Veterinary Nurses 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).

If you are not sure what being a Council member entails, why not join us for a special ‘Meet the RCVS Day’ on Tuesday 15th January, where you will have the opportunity to pose your questions, and find out what goes on behind the scenes at Belgravia House. Please contact Fiona Harcourt for more information, at f.harcourt@rcvs.org.uk.

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

Nomination forms, full instructions and guidance notes are available from www.rcvs.org.uk/vncouncil13 and the closing time and date for nominations respectively are 5pm on 31st January 2013.

New Year’s resolutions?

If your New Year’s resolution involves developing your skills and knowledge in a particular area, then the online Professional Development Record (PDR) is your perfect planning partner.

It includes a Development Plan tool that allows you to set yourself CPD objectives and success criteria, plan activities to meet them, and outline how you will put the plan in place. You can also upload files and notes, and then record the CPD once it’s been completed. So there is no excuse not to be organised!

And although such planning could help you secure CPD budget, these days CPD is not all about expensive courses or qualifications. Of the 22 CPD activities suggested by the RCVS, the vast majority can be carried out free of charge. Why not harness your New-Year enthusiasm and organise a series of practice lectures, or set up a study group with your colleagues?

The PDR is free to use and can be accessed at www/vnpdr.org.uk. Click ‘register for CPD’ and follow the simple instructions. Details can also be found on the 2013 CPD Record Card, which RVNs will receive during December and January. 

Clinical governance help

Clinical governance is now part of the Code of Professional Conduct for both veterinary nurses and veterinary surgeons. But what does it entail?

If you are heading to the joint Veterinary Practice Management Association/Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons Congress (Heythrop Park, Oxon, 24th-26th January), then RCVS Veterinary Investigator and former Senior Practice Standards Inspector Pam Mosedale’s talk on clinical governance will help.

Pam will unravel what clinical governance means, and what you can do in practice to meet the RCVS requirement (1.15pm, Friday). Please come and chat to us on the stand, too!

Veterinary Nursing Journal • VOL 28 • January 2013 •