Code of professional conduct launched

As the profession has developed, and expectations about the sort of guidance which regulators should produce have changed, it has become necessary to review the Guide to Professional Conduct for Veterinary Nurses. The result was the publication this April of succinct, principles-based Codes of Professional Conduct, which replace the Guides for both veterinary surgeons and VNs.

Both Codes are based on five principles key to veterinary practice: professional competence; honesty and integrity; independence and impartiality; client confidentiality and trust; and professional accountability. The VN Code includes a new declaration that all registered VNs (RVNs) must now make on joining the Register and which describes VNs’ professional responsibilities. Vets have always made a declaration on joining the Register; now both VNs and vets make the same professional commitment to animal care and welfare. Both Codes link throughout to supporting guidance, which consolidates the annexes and advice notes from the old Guides. Professional obligations have also been clearly differentiated from advice, through using consistent language and clearly distinguishing the Codes from the supporting guidance.