Legal, ethical and professional issues for veterinary nurses

Box 1.The scenarioOne afternoon during a very busy consulting session in a veterinary charity hospital, a seizuring Rottweiler was brought in by the owner. The owner was very distressed and told the receptionist that her dog had been having fits since late morning. Usual procedure in the practice is for the clinics nurse to triage any emergencies that come in and then seek the advice and assistance of a veterinary surgeon to see if further treatment is required. While talking to the owner, the veterinary nurse made it clear that she was not a veterinary surgeon and obtained a history while carrying out an assessment of the animal. The veterinary nurse placed an intravenous cannula while the receptionist went to find a veterinary surgeon. As much room as possible was made to prevent the dog injuring itself, but the violence of the seizures had caused the dog to hit its head in the floor and bite its tongue. The veterinary nurse took it upon herself to administer a rectal diazepam to the dog after obtaining oral consent from the owner. This did not stop the dog's seizures completely, but it did reduce the severity. Shortly afterwards a veterinary surgeon came to assess the dog and was notified of the administration of the rectal diazepam. The dog was admitted and started on intravenous medication.