The changing face of the veterinary nursing community

Abstract

The veterinary nursing profession is undergoing a dramatic shift in the way we approach our knowledge and development. Advancements in communication have enabled the emergence of a global veterinary nursing community where we have instant access to a vast array of information as well as greater connectedness with colleagues around the world. Now more than ever, communication is at the forefront of our development as a profession not only within the wider veterinary community, but also between disciplines. As veterinary nurses become specialized, it is becoming more important for us to skillfully facilitate delivery of patient care across multiple disciplines. In this issue, Liz Branscombe explores how we as a profession can enhance our communication between disciplines by utilizing interprofessional practice (p119–122), a system of integrated care well established by our human healthcare counterparts. Here is an excellent example of how we can look outside our own profession and learn from the wider healthcare community; in doing so, we are tapping a diverse and experienced wealth of knowledge that we can use to improve our own professional practice.