Regulation – RCVS regulation proposals
Following a very detailed review of the proposed RCVS Guide to Professional Conduct for Veterinary Nurses (January 2007) the Council of the BVNA has consulted widely with its members and has now forwarded its response to the VN Council of the RCVS.
Julia Davenport, president of the BVNA, said, “We welcome the opportunity to comment on the draft Guide. We see the Guide as an essential part of the programme towards strengthening the recognition and role of the qualified registered veterinary nurse in practice.
“Whilst we are anxious to see the Guide become part of the essential professional approach by all VNs, we have several clear reservations about certain aspects of the proposals and have written to the RCVS setting these out.
“We have been advised that the Guide, as it now stands in draft form, is intended to mirror the Code of Conduct for Veterinary Surgeons, but with the necessary changes made to reflect the different role of the VN in practice. We are concerned that in an attempt to make the two guides compatible with each other, that we could end up with a Guide which does not have a clear enough differentiation and would, therefore, place practice VNs in difficult situations that could cause conflicts with their employers.
“For example, at the moment there are several aspects of the Guide which we feel do not adequately take into account the VN acting under the direction of the veterinary surgeon, which may, in certain circumstances, amount to a direct contradiction in terms.
“The BVNA is determined to ensure that the regulation of veterinary nurses reflects the needs of veterinary nursing, and is based on good working practice, common sense and above all animal welfare. We feel that it is crucial to get the Guide to Professional Conduct right from day one and we look forward to working with the RCVS to achieve this, as the consultation and approval process continues.”
More details will be given when they become available.
To see a copy of the consultation, go to the RCVS website