Our head of veterinary nursing, Libby Earle, has taken early retirement, and left the College during April.
“Libby was instrumental in leading significant developments in the regulation of veterinary nursing and the establishment of national standards for education and training,” said Nick Stace, RCVS CEO “We wish her all the very best for the future,” he added.
Libby held the role of head of veterinary nursing for 14 years; a replacement for her will be considered by the College in due course.
Libby Earle
… Saying hello!
The results of the RCVS Veterinary Nurses Council elections are in, and we will be welcoming a new face to Council at RCVS Day on 5 July – Amy Robinson.
Amy Robinson
Existing Council member, Andrea Jeffery, kept her seat for another four years. Andrea also sits on the RCVS Council and was the first veterinary nurse to do so.
Andrea Jeffrey
The number of nurses voting in the election was 1,329 this year, representing 12.5% of those eligible to vote – up by two-thirds on last year’s figure of 7.5%.
“I am delighted to see such an improvement in the voting turnout,” said VN Council chairman, Kathy Kissick. “At a time when we are trying to convince the Government of the need for new legislation to protect the title ‘veterinary nurse’, its helpful to see an increasing number of nurses engaging with their professional body.”
Amy topped the poll with 725 votes, followed by Andrea who gained 607. The other two candidates. Sue Badger and Helen Tottey, were not elected.
As in previous years, the majority of votes were cast by post, followed by online and text.
Code app coming soon
We shall shortly be launching a Code of Professional Conduct app, which means that the Code for veterinary nurses, and all of the 27 chapters of supporting guidance, can soon be in your pocket!
The free app will be available for iPhones and Android devices, and is in the final stages of testing.
It will allow vets and VNs to search their Codes and supporting guidance, and will update automatically with the latest version of the Code the next time that their smart phones are online.
“The Code itself is relatively short and we hope that most RVNs have a grasp of the principles; but it’s the addition of the supporting guidance, which contains lots of useful advice on issues from clinical governance to whistle-blowing, that should make this app really useful,” said Lizzie Lockett, RCVS head of communications.
“Having an up-to-date copy in your pocket should take some of the stress out of making decisions, and it may sometimes even be useful to show a client, as part of discussions about a direction that treatment or advice is taking.”
Keep an eye on www.rcvs.org.uk/codeapp.
We have also recently added the facility for website users to compile a single PDF of the Code and supporting guidance via www.rcvs.org.uk/code, which is stamped with the date that it is 'printed'.
• VOL 28 • June 2013 • Veterinary Nursing Journal