What are you planning?
Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month (VNAM) in May was originally launched by BVNA in 2005 as a National VN Day. This then progressed into National VN Week and in 2012 onto the annual monthly campaign it is today.
The campaign has always had the same message throughout; join us in spreading the word about the importance of the role of the veterinary nurse and the provision of responsible pet care to the general public.
Each year we see a steady increase of veterinary practices, colleges and related industries throughout the UK getting involved. Last year’s campaign saw some excellent events being arranged, including school roadshows, a careers evening, some amazing waiting room displays and more!
There are some great resources that can help you promote VNAM within your practice. BVNA packs can be downloaded by registering via our website
Included in our packs will be a template press release for you to adapt and send to your local press. It can be a great way to increase footfall into the practice especially if you promote a special offer just for May! We are also encouraging nurses to contact local radio and TV stations to highlight the variety of their role both in practice and in the community.
2018 Best Event Winner
Help spread awareness of all the amazing things that vet nurses do by creating a clinic display board or holding an open evening. How about attending a local fete, country show or pet show? Or providing a talk to local schools and clubs? This can be a great way to raise public awareness of the importance of vet nurses and get exposure for your clinic too. If you are a nurse that is not working in practice, don’t worry, this year’s theme is all about the different roles a RVN can do – both in clinic, in education and in industry! We welcome everyone to take part in VNAM as it helps showcase the many roles available to RVNs.
2018 Best Selfie Runner Up
You will find your FREE copy of the official VNAM poster enclosed within this issue of the VNJ
The theme for this year’s VNAM is ‘Where can your RVN qualification take you?’ We are asking nurses to share their stories using messages, photos and videos on the VNAM Facebook page showing the different roles they perform – be that in clinic, education or industry, highlighting the possible options for career progression for RVNs. Also, help spread awareness of all the amazing things that vet nurses do by creating a clinic display board, holding an open evening, give a talk on local TV or radio. Please share your experiences via social media and more!
Don’t forget to enter our competitions to win some fabulous prizes too:
Category A – Best Display Board Category B – Best Event/Social Media Event Category C – Best Pet Selfie/Social Media Post
Make sure you follow the VNAM Facebook page as we will be posting regularly from now until June. These posts are perfect for sharing on your clinic’s pages and in newsletters. You can also share them on your personal page to make sure all your friends know what makes veterinary nurses so amazing and the value that we bring to the veterinary profession.
https://www.facebook.com/VeterinaryNursingAwarenessMonth/
Be sure to add our new Twibbon to your Facebook and Twitter profile pictures for May. This simple image sits over the top of your existing photo and shows your support for the campaign.
https://twibbon.com/Support/vnam2019
Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month is your chance to reach out to a wider public audience and to educate people about what you do. Veterinary nurses need recognition for the profession so let’s get out there, have fun and make it happen!
We look forward to seeing all your efforts this year, be sure to share them with us so that we can help highlight all your hard work.
#whatVNsdo #VNAM19
Veterinary Nursing Journal • VOL 34 • April 2019