One of the marks of a true profession is that its members accept a code of conduct, and the introduction by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) of the Guide to Professional Conduct for Registered Veterinary Nurses (RVNs) in 2007 was a milestone on the path towards veterinary nurses achieving professional recognition. However, this guidance now needs to be updated to reflect the development of our professional role, and to make sure its content, format and presentation meet the current and foreseeable needs of both the veterinary team and of the animal-owning public.
Therefore the RCVS is consulting both veterinary professionals and animal owners about a draft new Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Nurses and I urge veterinary nurses to please read the draft and send the RCVS your comments before the consultation closes on 21 October. The new Code, once approved and introduced, will become the benchmark for veterinary nurses' professional conduct, against which RVNs will be measured in any hearings held into serious professional misconduct by the recently-introduced VN Disciplinary Committee: it is important that you tell us what you think.
This draft was drawn up by a group consisting of four RVNs and a veterinary surgeon member of RCVS Council, and has been approved for consultation by the VN Council (a similar exercise having been undertaken to produce a new draft Code for veterinary surgeons). We now need views from the wider veterinary nursing profession to make sure it reflects the issues that relate specifically to the role of veterinary nurses in practice, and recognizes our unique position in the veterinary team.
Underpinning both these new Codes is a need to make sure that guidance is clear to the professions and to the public; for example, by using consistent language to distinguish what must be done from what is advised. A similar format and style is proposed for both Codes. It would therefore be particularly useful to know if veterinary nurses think these two Codes should be combined.
The draft VN Code is a shorter document than the current Guide, and uses the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe's Code of Conduct as its starting point. It comprises short, principles-based sections, along with a five-point list outlining that ‘the overarching duty of veterinary nurses is to ensure the welfare of animals committed to their care and to fulfil their professional duties, by maintaining:
- Professional competence
- Honesty and integrity
- Independence and impartiality
- Client confidentiality and trust
- Professional accountability’.
In the draft, 45 professional responsibilities for veterinary nurses are set out under six related areas: animals, clients, the profession, the veterinary team or business, the RCVS and the public. This will be supported by additional advice on specific areas of veterinary practice or issues, for example, clinical governance.
For the first time it is proposed that on joining the VN Register veterinary nurses make a declaration that underlines the primary importance of animal health and welfare:
‘I PROMISE AND SOLEMNLY DECLARE that my constant endeavour will be to ensure the welfare of animals committed to my care and that I will pursue the work of my profession with integrity and accept my responsibilities to my clients, the public, the profession and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons’.
Veterinary nurses can find the draft Code, along with further background to this consultation, at www.rcvs.org.uk/VNcodeconsultation. Comments should be sent to Christopher Murdoch, Secretary to the Guide Review Working Party, at c.murdoch@rcvs.org.uk before the consultation closes on Friday 21 October.