When I qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2002, I remember being over whelmed with excitement, confidence and passion for my new profession. I would like to hope, and believe, that veterinary nurses are seen a little bit differently now than they were back then, with respect to autonomy and with the changes in how the profession is regulated. If someone had told me at the time of receiving my badge and certificate: ‘you are now responsible for your nursing actions’ I think I would have been tempted to hand my badge straight back along with my certificate!
Slow gradual changes are needed in any profession to improve it, whether it be the introduction of a new protocol, new hours or simply the way that nursing care is delivered. I have experienced this numerous times during my many years as a veterinary nurse. I remember at the start thinking ‘just be a good nurse and caring towards the animals, and you will be fine’. I was so wrong, I have learned that in order to survive in the veterinary profession as a ‘good and caring nurse’, I need to be constantly updating my knowledge through continued professional development (CPD), research and reading evidence-based articles. Someone always seems to be changing the protocol for something. You only have to review the literature and history of CPCR to understand the degree of change over the years.
I still am an excited, confident passionate nurse, but the way I think about nursing and even how I nurse patients in practice have changed. Ten years ago post-operative nursing meant ticking a box on a whiteboard as ‘procedure complete’ and prescribing post-operative medication with regular TPR checks of the patient while performing ten other unrelated tasks. Now I understand it must be a solitary task that requires assessment, planning, delivering a high standard of nursing and reviewing the patient regularly to decrease mortality in what has been identified as the most risky time for the patient (Brodbelt, 2006).
I do think that the ability to implement change depends on the type of veterinary practice you work in. In my first weeks of working as a qualified nurse I was extremely satisfied with my level of nursing care, but if I look back on it now, I understand how much more I had to learn.
As a nurse it's perfectly acceptable for our level of excitement to heighten when faced with new challenges and new ventures; in order to progress and possess the confidence to embrace the challenge I have realised that keeping up to date with CPD and reading peer-reviewed journals such as The Veterinary Nurse is the first step, helping to provide confidence in the changes that you make, whether it be a small improvement such as learning to calculate drug doses based on weight of the patient, implementing a post-operative nursing structure for all in patients, studying for a new qualification or even applying for new employment. I strongly agree that no matter where you work, what type of practice, first opinion, referral or University, change is good as long as that change promotes a improvement in the standard of nursing, standard of care delivered to pets and clients, and also that it is a positive experience for you as well.
Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future (Kennedy, 1963).