The Veterinary Nurses Council (VNC) celebrated its 10th anniversary at its October meeting.
Kathy cutting the 10th anniversary cake
The VNC grew out of the old Veterinary Nurses Committee and the change in status marked the fact that veterinary nurses were elected to join it – previously only two nurses sat on the VN Committee, one appointed by the RCVS and one by the BVNA.
Since its inception, the VNC has worked in the interests of animals and the public by guiding and supporting veterinary nursing to become a profession that is recognised and accountable within the veterinary team.
“The VNC has achieved outstanding work to initiate and advance the veterinary nurses role as a professional and accountable member of the veterinary team," says VNC chairman, Kathy Kissick RVN. “This has been a significant journey over a relatively short period of time and is all credit to the VNC over the past 10 years.
“The most satisfying element of this progress, both past and present, is the positive impact that a veterinary team that includes professional nursing input will have on animal welfare.
"The future challenges for the VNC will include engaging all veterinary nurses with the practicalities of professional regulation and what it actually means to all ot us, regardless of the role we undertake," Kathy continues.
“In particular, we have would like ‘veterinary nurse’ to become a protected title and will shortly be putting formal proposals on this to DEFRA. We must also continue to be fully engaged with the veterinary profession as colleagues.”
Your chance to make VN history If you would like to be part of the VNC as it moves into its second decade, now is your chance. Nominations are open for two seats on the VNC – 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 Tuesday 15th January. 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. 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 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/vncouncill3 and the closing time and date for nominations are, respectively, 5pm on 31st January 2013.
Online CPD record well received
At the BVNA Congress in October, we showed around 300 veterinary nurses how to use the new Professional Development Record, our free online CPD recording system. It was very favourably received, with veterinary nurses appreciating how easy it is to record many different types of CPD, upload files – such as notes, photos, completion certificates and presentations – and plan CPD using the development plan and diary facilities.
Since the event, another 100 nurses have signed up to use the system. Why don’t you give it a try?
You can sign up in five easy steps:
1. Visit www.vnpdr.org.uk and click ‘Register for CPD’
2. Fill out the simple registration form, for which you will need your VN number
3. Click on the account activation e-mail which will be sent to you (please keep an eye on your spam box!)
4. Log on with your user name and password (which you choose when you register) and start recording your CPD
5. Umm. There isn’t even a step five. It’s that simple!
Meanwhile, the winner of our ‘record breakers, record makers’ competition at the BVNA Congress was Annie Cartwright, RVN, from the Dogs Trust in Loughborough, who scooped a £50 iTunes voucher.
Veterinary Nursing Journal • VOL 27 • December 2012 •