The VN Futures initiative, a collaboration between The British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA) and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), aims to promote veterinary nursing as a career path while promoting the sustainability of the existing workforce. As part of this project, the VN Diversity, Inclusion and Widening Participation Working Group (DIWP) was established in 2021. DIWP seeks to actively promote diversity and inclusivity for those considering a career in veterinary nursing, while also addressing the support needed by those from diverse backgrounds who are already working in the profession.
To date, DIWP has delivered a series of campaigns promoting accessibility of the VN profession to those from all backgrounds and underrepresented groups. Each year, the group is chaired by the BVNA Senior Vice President, and so 2022–23 saw DIWP spearheaded by Alex Taylor. In this article, the author reflects on the campaigns which have been delivered throughout 2023 and looks ahead to the coming year as the new chair of DIWP.
Campaign 1: entering the VN profession later in life
Our first DIWP campaign of 2023 was centred around promoting veterinary nursing to those considering a career change or joining the profession later in life. We hosted a discussion panel, where panellists Jill Macdonald (VN Futures Project Lead), Kim Rathbone, Hamish Morrin and Deanna Hatley were interviewed on how they changed careers to become the veterinary nurses they are today, and the transferable skills which can be applied to veterinary nursing from other sectors.
We shared blogs from registered veterinary nurses (RVNs) Nikki McLeod and Macauly Gatenby, who joined the profession having had alternative career paths first. Both shared how, from varying backgrounds, they gravitated towards veterinary nursing to find a rewarding career which aligned with their core values.
Campaign 2: equity and inclusion for those who are deaf or hard of hearing
The second campaign of 2023 covered the difference between ‘equality’ and ‘equity’ when improving accessibility in the profession for those who are deaf or hard of hearing. In blogs, we heard from Lacey Pitcher, who discussed how we can provide allyship via access to aids and continuing professional development (CPD), through considerate communication and the use of role models. Macauly Gatenby, who has congenital conductive hearing loss, uses a bone-anchored hearing aid and lipreads, also outlined some of the adjustments which can be implemented by individuals and by employers, in order for hearing loss not to be a barrier to working as a veterinary nurse.
Campaign 3: guidance on religious clothing for employers, veterinary nurses and colleges/universities
As part of our third campaign, we launched free-to-access guidance (VN Futures, 2023) which seeks to support those in the veterinary nursing profession holding religious beliefs, by providing information for training providers and practices on how to best accommodate these beliefs and any associated clothing.
In producing the guidance, DIWP has built upon the work of the RCVS Diversity and Inclusion Working Group and the Veterinary Schools Council Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Student Support Working Group, which jointly developed similar guidance for veterinary students. This guidance has been adapted and developed by DIWP to be applicable and relevant to the veterinary nurse profession.
Campaign 4: menopause and perimenopause awareness
The fourth DIWP campaign of 2023 focused on creating awareness about working as a veterinary nurse while affected by perimenopause and menopause. This campaign included shared experiences of menopause and early menopause via blogs from Samantha Lympany-Tier and Steph Worsley. We also hosted a live discussion panel with registered veterinary nurses Alex Taylor, Lyndsay Hughes (now BVNA President), Nikki Ruedisueli, Jill Macdonald plus Anna Judson MRCVS (now BVA President), where we heard how individuals were able to navigate working in veterinary roles around their symptoms. The BVNA Members Advisory Service also shared measures for providing an inclusive and supportive environment for those experiencing symptoms of menopause. The campaign finally culminated in the production of a menopause toolkit shared in August (BVNA, 2023), containing discussion panels, blog articles, podcasts and signposting to supportive organisations.
Campaign 5: flexible working
This year's fifth and final DIWP campaign centred on flexible working, which aimed to create an awareness about the benefits of flexible working and how it can improve work–life balance, job satisfaction, and aid with the retention of veterinary nurses. We shared an information pack from Belinda Andrews-Jones on ‘Flexible working from an employer perspective’, and a discussion panel between Sarah Batt-Williams and Flora Foxx covering flexible working for student veterinary nurses. Jill Macdonald, Nikki McLeod, Lacey Pitcher and Kim Rathbone shared their experiences of flexible working via blogs, and how different approaches can benefit employers and employees alike. Finally, we also held a live discussion panel chaired by myself, with Sarah Batt-Williams (RVC), Stacie Smith (VMG) and Nicky Ackerley of the BVNA Members Advisory Service. This session covered the legislation surrounding flexible working, and how it can be implemented practically among veterinary teams.
What's next for 2023–24?
As the new Chair for DIWP, I am grateful to Alex Taylor, DIWP members and all the individuals who contributed to DIWP's campaigns throughout 2023. The sheer breadth of content we have covered this year alone highlights how much we can all be doing as a profession to encourage those from diverse backgrounds into veterinary nursing, as well as supporting those already within it. Diversity is one of the absolute strengths of the veterinary nursing profession, and I'm looking forward to leading DIWP to raise awareness and promote inclusivity in many more ways over the coming year. We will be releasing more information about upcoming campaigns soon, but please contact us if you have any ideas for campaigns you'd like us to cover.
Resources
- VN Futures (https://vnfutures.org.uk)
- VN Futures DIWP working group (https://vnfutures.org.uk/our-activities/veterinary-nurse-diversity-inclusion-group)
- BVNA blog – read through our catalogue of blogs, resources and news articles (https://bvna.org.uk/blog/)