Experience of designing and implementing a care plan in the veterinary environment
Abstract
The adoption of nursing care plans (NCP) within veterinary nursing has provided significant opportunity for movement away from the ‘traditional’ medical model, towards a more holistic approach of nursing. NCPs provide guidance for veterinary nurses to implement nursing theory and the nursing process. Current literature regarding NCPs within the veterinary environment provides evidence for their positive effect on animal care. However, published material on this subject is limited within the veterinary workplace. Unfortunately the lack of appreciation for the benefits of using NCPs within the human nursing field continues to influence the general opinion towards the use of these documents in the veterinary field.
The NCP discussed in this article was initiated a week after admission of the patient, therefore allowing excellent opportunity for comparison of the nursing interventions and care to be made prior to and following the introduction of the NCP. The views and comments of all the nursing staff involved with this patient and the NCP have also been considered.
Veterinary nursing has progressed immensely over the last half century (Pullen, 2006), gaining increased recognition. In 1991 amendments were made to Schedule 3 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 which enabled veterinary nurses (VNs) to be recognized by law (Pullen, 2006). The movement away from the previous ‘hand-maiden’ image is undisputable and VNs of today fulfil a respected role, and veterinary surgeons depend on them for their practical and knowledgeable support in the successful care of animals.
The profession continues to progress forward and follows closely in the footsteps of its human nursing counterparts. It is no longer acceptable to practice along the lines of tradition and justify protocol by ‘we have always done it this way’ (McSherry et al, 2002: 2). Medical nurses have acknowledged the importance of their role in maintaining an up-to-date evidence base in their profession (Smirnoff et al, 2007). Similarly, VNs are beginning to recognize that best practice needs to be specific to the veterinary field, incorporating expertise, experience, as well as clinical judgement. The veterinary nursing evidence base is currently relatively limited and much information has been transferred from medical research. This is rapidly improving due to advanced training courses, such as the Graduate Diploma in Professional and Clinical Veterinary Nursing offered by the Royal Veterinary College. This course encourages and emphasizes the need for evidence-based practice. The successful initiative for the peer-reviewed veterinary nursing journal The Veterinary Nurse provides opportunity for VN research to be shared within the profession.
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