Why we should all play a role in VN training

I've personally been involved with student training since I qualified and have seen over 40 students pass through training practices that I have worked in. It makes me feel exceptionally proud that knowledge I have passed on to my students has helped them to succeed in their chosen career as a veterinary nurse or technician. Student training is vital in creating the next generation of nurses/technicians and we should all take some responsibility in the creation of these people and the standard of nursing ability that we impart on to them.

With an almost constant message of ‘where are all the nurses/technicians’, should we all be asking ourselves ‘are we playing a big enough role in the recruitment and training of new candidates into the profession’? Training of students is not a mandatory element of veterinary practice life, but it does have many benefits, though it can also have some negatives. Some colleges have a shortage of training practices, and those that are used can vary in their quality. Would your practice make a welcome addition to the practices available?