In November last year the VN Futures Action Group came together at the College’s headquarters in London to review, update, and brainstorm about the ‘future veterinary nurse’

VN Futures, a joint project with the BVNA, was launched in 2016 to create a blueprint for the future of the veterinary nursing profession, and addresses a whole range of areas such as career progression, leadership, training practices, and One Health.

It is perhaps fair to say that some of VN Futures’ progress, while vitally important, does not immediately make for a punchy headline – the work is ongoing, and this initial rigorous planning stage is critical to ensuring that we are heading in the right direction.

The One Health Working Party, however, was able to garner quite a few punchy headlines when it sent out a press release in October titled: ‘Is smoking killing your pet?’. The press release showcased research from the University of Glasgow which revealed how smoking can affect animals’ health – how cats have increased risk of developing lymphoma, while dogs may develop lung or sinus cancer, and even smaller pets such as birds, rabbits, and guinea pigs may suffer eye, skin and respiratory disease.

It explained how this information can be useful for human- centred medical professionals as well as veterinary nurses – human patients who are struggling to quit smoking may be encouraged to persist by the thought that their smoking may be harming their pets.

Not long after we issued this press release, BBC Breakfast were in touch asking to talk to someone from the RCVS about the dangers of passive smoking for pets. We suggested Liz Cox, Chair of VN Council and the VN Futures Action Group, and before we knew it a reporter and cameraman were setting up in practice (strangely enough, it turned out that Liz had once sewn up the reporter’s dog!). Though it was a quick segment, Liz managed to cover how pets can be at increased risk from secondhand smoke due to their constant close proximity to their owners, as well as their grooming habits which can lead them to ingest more smoke particles, and encouraged owners to think twice before smoking in front of their pets.

Only a few days later we had another interview request for Liz, this time from BBC Radio Wales, and we were off down to their Bristol studio. During the interview they asked about what steps people can take to minimise the risk to their pets, and Liz sug-gested smoking outside when possible, and reminded dog owners that smoking in the car on the way to a weekend walk can also have an affect.

In the meantime, Wendy Preston, Head of Nursing at the Royal College of Nursing, was also invited to appear on BBC Breakfast. She did a fantastic job of explaining how important it is for human-centred nurses and veterinary nurses to work together in One Health projects, especially as nurses are often those best placed to offer holistic care. Patients may feel more comfortable asking nurses questions, and she encouraged anyone with queries about their own health, or their pet’s, to just ask.

This kind of national coverage shows how much people care about their pets, and how much can be achieved with the right message and focus. While some subjects in the VN Futures Action Group may not always attract such a high level of national interest, they are all integral to creating a sustainable, fulfilling veterinary nursing profession.

If you would like to be involved with VN Futures, or have any suggestions, please do visit our website and get in touch: www.vnfutures.org.uk.

VOL 33 • February 2018 • Veterinary Nursing Journal