Ethical, legal and professional implications of student veterinary nurses working lone shifts

A student veterinary nurse (SVN) is defined within the Veterinary Surgeons Act (1966), Schedule 3, as a person enrolled, under the registration rules, with the RCVS for the purpose of undergoing training as a veterinary nurse at an approved training centre or an approved veterinary practice (Kissick and Hockey, 2015). Branscombe (2012) highlighted how within Schedule 3 there are safeguards in place to enable veterinary surgeons (VS) and registered veterinary nurses (RVNs) to train SVNs. These include permitting a SVN that is employed or on a placement in a training practice to give medical treatments to an animal under their supervision. Within a veterinary context, the meaning of ‘direction’ is understood to be when the VS instructs the person (RVN or SVN) as to the activity but is not necessarily present. Whereas, ‘supervision’ is when the VS or RVN is present on the premises and is able to assist if required (Kissick and Hockey, 2015). Under the Veterinary Surgeons Act (1966), Schedule 3, a SVN should be supervised by a VS or RVN when performing medical treatments, or should, at the least, ensure that there is a VS or RVN on the premises, available to assist the SVN if needed. This differs from human nursing where all student nurses are only permitted to administer medications when under the personal supervision of an authorised person, such as a registered nurse (Reid-Searl et al, 2008). It is important to note that if an RVN is supervising a SVN this is done so under the direction of a VS and any minor surgery, such as suturing, must be done under constant, direct and personal supervision from the VS (Pullen et al, 2011; Branscombe, 2012) (Figure 1). However, as with human nursing, it could be argued that the requirement of SVNs working lone shifts or carrying out procedures without supervision occurs mainly when VS and RVNs are busy (Reid-Searl et al, 2008). The ethical implications that may be encountered regarding SVNs working outside the realms of Schedule 3 are outlined below.