Critically Evaluate the Different Roles of the Veterinary Nurse, Explore Legal and Professional Framework That Governs Veterinary Nursing and Discuss Limitations of the Role of the Veterinary Nurse.
As a profession, veterinary nursing is a relatively new contender in the animal care industry. In 1963, Pamela Pitcher was the first Registered Animal Nursing Auxiliary (RANA) to qualify, however back then there was no legal framework to abide by, no textbooks or a syllabus to refer to and no support or guidelines to follow. Since the sixties, there have been many schemes aiming to improve the veterinary nursing profession; such as putting together an academic syllabus, having a guide to professional conduct and most importantly creating a legal and professional framework. Despite such advances, veterinary nurses (VNs) still continue to encounter limitations in their profession and new challenges are constantly being faced (and some overcome) in order to achieve the ultimate goal of professional autonomy (Gray & Pullen 2006).
In the United Kingdom, bearing the title of a Veterinary Nurse means, having a recognized qualification and being registered with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS). The RCVS is a regulatory body in the UK who make sure that the standards of the veterinary profession are being adhered to; and by doing so they ensure the health and safety of animals and the public (RCVS 2010a). Whilst a registration process exists for veterinary nurses it is not yet a legal requirement. This has created four types of veterinary nurse: listed VNs, student VNs, unlisted VNs, and VN assistants. Listed VNs are qualified and registered on the RCVS List of Veterinary Nurses. They are also able to perform tasks under Schedule 3 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act, which will be discussed later on. These tasks must be executed under the direction of the veterinary surgeon. Student VNs are nurses in training and must be enrolled with the RCVS as a student nurse. They too are able to perform tasks under Schedule 3; however they must be directly supervised by a veterinary surgeon (VS) or a qualified and listed VN. An unlisted VN is a nurse who is qualified but
In the United Kingdom, bearing the title of a Veterinary Nurse means, having a recognized qualification and being registered with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS). The RCVS is a regulatory body in the UK who make sure that the standards of the veterinary profession are being adhered to; and by doing so they ensure the health and safety of animals and the public (RCVS 2010a). Whilst a registration process exists for veterinary nurses it is not yet a legal requirement. This has created four types of veterinary nurse: listed VNs, student VNs, unlisted VNs, and VN assistants. Listed VNs are qualified and registered on the RCVS List of Veterinary Nurses. They are also able to perform tasks under Schedule 3 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act, which will be discussed later on. These tasks must be executed under the direction of the veterinary surgeon. Student VNs are nurses in training and must be enrolled with the RCVS as a student nurse. They too are able to perform tasks under Schedule 3; however they must be directly supervised by a veterinary surgeon (VS) or a qualified and listed VN. An unlisted VN is a nurse who is qualified but