Dear Jennifer and Georgina
We would like to thank Jennifer Hamlin (Editorial, Owning the title of veterinary nurse, September 2022) for her insightful, evidence-based account of the way forward for veterinary nursing as a profession. We strongly concur with Hamlin's statement that, ‘postgraduate qualifications are essential for advancing our profession and identity’. Hamlin's words were particularly pertinent to the Australian context where we now have four bachelor degrees which prepare graduates to work as veterinary nurses and technicians in clinical practice. Since the inception of the first bachelor degree programme more than 20 years ago, several graduates have completed postgraduate studies, from Honours through to doctoral level. Many graduates have, and continue to contribute to, the body of published knowledge on which to base veterinary nursing practice — a key characteristic of a profession.
Hamlin's comparisons with the history of human nursing need to be heard. In Australia, a review of the transition of human nursing into higher education highlighted that nurses undertaking study up to doctoral level were an opportunity to develop ‘the individual nurse, the profession and the health care system’ (Reid 1994, p. 34). Likewise, a subsequent 2002 review identified that nursing research and nursing researchers provided a framework for good policy decisions, improving clinical practice and education, and an evidence base for nursing practice (Heath, 2002). We believe this highlights the critical role of university-educated graduates in the broader community of veterinary nursing practice.
As has occurred in other professions, robust encouragement and support from educational institutions, professional bodies and government are essential to the success of developing a research-base for the veterinary nursing profession. It is even more important for our industry to recognise the valuable contribution nursing research can make to our industry and support this by providing veterinary nurses and technicians with the time and resources required to undertake research projects. Let's harness our collective powers, particularly in Australasia, and work on a veterinary nursing profession project; following the lead of those who have gone before, creating a map for a successful and empowered profession built on a foundation of robust nursing research.
Dear Brett and Patricia
Thank you for your letter in response to my editorial. It is wonderful to see such enthusiasm for post-graduate veterinary nursing education.
Indeed, we have much to learn from our human nursing counterparts. As a result of their history and scholarship, human nursing has published widely about the profession and the skillset of nursing. Knowledge of nursing theory, nursing leadership, clinical reasoning, and clinical governance are extensive, and very relevant to our own profession. More inspiring still is the research on professional identity and power dynamics, insights that could hold the key for emancipation of veterinary nursing.
While there are many challenges that we face as a profession, opportunities for cross disciplinary learning from human nursing are vast and one of the most important lessons is looking at the professional evolution of nursing from the earliest training schemes to formal graduate and postgraduate education, regulation, protection of title, and research. They have walked the path before us and given us an opportunity to learn from their experience.
Determining the pathway forward toward increased professionalisation is the focus of my own PhD studies so in the years to come I look forward to joining you, continuing to raise awareness of the evolving identity of veterinary nurses.
Regards,
Jennifer Hamlin, Consultant Editor, The Veterinary Nurse