Campaign to protect title in focus at BVNA Congress
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) is asking the profession to help spread the word on its campaign to protect the title veterinary nurse at BVNA Congress 2015.
Ahead of the Congress, which takes place at the Telford International Centre from 9 to 11 October, the College has produced badges which veterinary nurses can wear in support of the campaign. The campaign started in May and, this August, the College launched a petition on the official UK Government and Parliament e-petition website calling for the title ‘veterinary nurse’ to be protected in law, so that only those who are qualified and registered can call themselves a veterinary nurse.
Lizzie Lockett, Director of Communications at the College, explains: “The response to our campaign so far has been excellent – for example, more than 10,000 people have signed our petition in just a few weeks.
“We now want to get the word out to the wider public about this campaign and hope that if veterinary nurses wear the badge it will act as the starting point for a conversation with clients, family and friends about what they do, what it means to be a veterinary nurse and why the title needs to be protected.”
The badges will be available to collect from stand B7, where delegates can also sign the petition and pick up a template letter asking local Members of Parliament to support the campaign.
Visitors to the stand can also take part in a ‘Shape your future’ game in which they will be challenged to complete a shape puzzle as quickly as possible, with the fastest person receiving a Kindle Fire. The game is based around the joint RCVS and BVA Vet Futures project which aims to help the veterinary professions prepare for and shape their future.
Furthermore, at 11.45am on Saturday 10 October, Liz Cox RVN, the Chair of VN Council, will be leading a session for any veterinary nurses who wish to make the professional declaration that all new nurses make upon registration. Following this, Liz will be joined by Julie Dugmore, Head of Veterinary Nursing at the RCVS, Fiona Andrew, President of the BVNA, and Samantha Morgan, Vice-President of the BVNA, for a question and answer session with Congress delegates.
To coincide with BVNA Congress, VN Council will also be holding its first ever meeting outside of London on Thursday 8 October at the Holiday Inn Telford, between 11am and 1.30pm. The meeting is open to members of the public and the veterinary nursing profession, but they must give the RCVS at least one week’s notice. Please contact Emma Lockley, RCVS Events Officer, on e.lockley@rcvs.org.uk if you wish to attend.
More details about the protection of title campaign can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/vntitle.
Further information about Vet Futures, including the latest research and blogs about the future of the veterinary profession, can be found at www.vetfutures.org.uk
