Do we need a new peer-reviewed veterinary nursing journal?

It is with great pleasure that I, along with my fellow editorial board members, introduce the first issue of The Veterinary Nurse, an exciting new journal for veterinary nurses and technicians worldwide. We aim to bring you informative evidence-based clinical articles, while a series of ‘How to’ articles will provide advice on improving your practical skills. Professional and ethical issues will be discussed and most importantly the journal will include articles that document the results of research specific to our profession, further enhancing the recognition our profession is developing and certainly deserves.

The editorial board comprises members from both the UK and overseas bringing to the journal a good range of specialist knowledge in all areas of practise; we can learn much by sharing experiences and practises with veterinary nurses and technicians in other countries.

Although the veterinary nursing qualification in the UK celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2011 the profession is still relatively young when compared with others. In recent years, however, veterinary nursing has undergone many positive developments, with veterinary nurses themselves contributing towards shaping their own profession, statutory regulation being the ultimate goal (see p65–68).