It certainly has been a busy month. I'm thrilled to see some substantial moves towards improved animal welfare including the RSPCA launching GenerationKind which is pushing for animal welfare to be taught in all schools. Another great success is the recent release of the EFRA Committee's report on controlling dangerous dogs. It calls for the current dog control legislation to be fully reviewed and makes suggestions for a strong emphasis on education and the best interests of the dog. The media attention to these stories has propelled these issues into the limelight giving us an amazing opportunity to speak out about why animal welfare is so vital for our animal companions, and our communities.
The media is driving progression of our communities in a dramatic way. My social media accounts are becoming an increasingly valuable resource for my work, with my newsfeeds filled with posts from veterinary-related groups and pages that I follow. There are giant abscesses, cow caesareans, degloving injuries, parasite infestations, foreign bodies, unbelievable fractures, and inspiring examples of achievements in veterinary nursing. Our community has grown by leaps and bounds with worldwide access to amazing, strange and wonderful cases.
Every day online I am learning from my colleagues who are sharing things, some of which I've never come across in my 20+ years in veterinary nursing. I've seen a cat with a grass seed in its bladder, a llama on an underwater treadmill, a puppy with caudal duplication, a dog with mouldy bird seed toxicity, a Collie with a huge compound ododontoma, and a horse with a metre-long splinter through its leg. I have been informed by announcements of drug recalls, and new national and international clinical guidelines in clinical care. I've learned from groups where experts in anaesthesia, wounds, critical care, nutrition, surgery, and internal medicine throw around ideas for managing difficult cases. I've had colleagues share their best sources supporting the ever growing evidence-based approaches to nursing care.
Announcements of new specialities pop up in my feeds. Never in my career have I seen so many of my colleagues pushing themselves to even greater heights in the profession with specialities, and advanced education. It's even more inspiring to see some VNs rising to international superstar status, role models driving passion and professionalism in a way that no other mechanism has managed to do.
Information is more accessible than ever and it is increasingly easy to keep current with new ideas, scientific sources, and continuing education offerings. While it is always important to approach any sources with a critical eye, social media is proving to be a valuable tool to engage us in important topics, launch a desire for further learning, and to provide access to a vast network of professionals in our field. It's not just supporting our learning, it's also supporting our wellbeing as a profession. I see amazing VNs sharing their struggles and successes, and it is inspiring and reassuring to see us supporting each other and reaching out when we most need it. It's revolutionising our profession to have a community at our fingertips.
It must be helpful for our younger and less experienced colleagues to enter such a passionate thriving community, knowing what is possible in their career, and getting motivated to learn and grow. By sharing our stories, and supporting each other through our challenges we truly are building resilience for our profession.