The British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA) has released the preliminary results of their survey, which was open between 26 September and 31 December 2022. The survey’s purpose was to provide an overview of how those within the veterinary profession feel about this issue, plus how it may or may not affect them, their patients and the public. Members of the public were also surveyed separately, to provide more detail on the current understanding of the role of the veterinary nurse among the general public, and how they feel about the potential use of unqualified staff.
The ‘Protect the Title’ surveys were completed by over 12 000 respondents - 8302 members of the veterinary profession, and 3926 members of the public. The preliminary results showed that 97% of respondents support the BVNA’s campaign for statutory protection of the title ‘veterinary nurse’. This support is a vital step in the protection of the title, and although this is only applicable to UK registered veterinary nurses it provides an example, a blueprint even, for veterinary nurses worldwide that are not recognised or do not have their title protected.
What is important is that all parties must engage throughout the process. This is not just the veterinary associations (such as the BVNA and the British Veterinary Association) but individuals as well. Veterinary nurses, veterinary surgeons and everyone working in practices need to get behind this campaign - don’t leave it up to someone else.
Why is it important that the title of veterinary nurse is protected? As a profession, we are able to expand into the role of advanced practitioner nurses (through additional qualifications), so the title needs to be protected. The teaching framework for the advanced veterinary nurse practitioner is already in place, but a change in legislation is also needed. Protecting the title is the first step to expanding the role and we need to make sure that it happens.
A more worrying area highlighted in the survey was that 48% of respondents said that they knew someone working in practice who was described as a veterinary nurse, by either themselves or others, without that individual being registered with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. This figure needs to be considered with caution, as ten respondents could all be highlighting the same one person, rather than ten different people working as non-registered veterinary nurses. We need to actively encourage these people to gain their qualifications and to register. Competence at practical skills is only one element of being a registered veterinary nurse - when you start learning all the underpinning knowledge, it can almost be shocking how little you had understood about the importance of the theoretical element of the role. I worked in veterinary practice while still at school and university, and helped monitor anaesthesia, did reception work and answered the telephones, within the remit of the Veterinary Surgeon’s Act. After university I had the opportunity to gain my veterinary nursing qualification and it made me realise the importance of using qualified registered veterinary nurses in practice. We need to support people working in these roles who are currently unregistered and help them to either qualify or to find other roles within the practice.
Protecting the title not only protects registered veterinary nurses, it also protects the employer, the pet owner and most importantly the pet. Pet owners do not go into veterinary practices and ask to see the staff’s qualifications - they assume that the person monitoring their pet’s anaesthesia is qualified to do so. Protecting the title goes a long way to ensuring that this is happening.