Education

Quality improvement, checklists and systems of work: why do we need them?

Clinical governance is a requirement of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Code of Professional Conduct for veterinary nurses (RCVS 2012). Scally and Donaldson (1998) defined clinical...

Taking back control

You may feel wobbly inside (and that's okay) but that does not mean this can't be your time to shine. By adopting a role model mindset, you can optimise your health; demonstrate a positive attitude;...

Creating a just and learning culture through staff support

The medical paradigm demands that healthcare practitioners practise to perfection, and if a person falls short of this high standard, that person is to blame (Reason, 2000). Professional...

An overview of decision making in veterinary nursing

The decision-making process can be divided simply into two different groups (Kahneman, 2011):.

Setting up a nurse-led nutrition service

Within private practice a dedicated veterinary nurse, who is well trained, could also set up a nutrition service. The Academy of Veterinary Nutrition Technicians has a board certified training...

Conflict prevention and how to make conflict productive

Conflict has been defined as ‘the interaction of interdependent people who perceive incompatibility and the possibility of interference from others as a result of this incompatibility’ (Folger et al,...

Motivating and engaging others: driving practice change

Change is concerned with altering the way we do things or the way we behave. Girotti (2011) suggested that some change is only a matter of perception, while other change can have a dramatic and...

An introduction to radiation protection in veterinary radiography

The main set of rules governing the use of x-rays are the Ionising Radiations Regulations (IRR 99). As these make heavy reading, the British Veterinary Association has published guidelines to help...