What is it about?
The veterinary nursing profession has issues involving recruitment, retention and returning to work for vet nurses. The VN Futures campaign has highlighted these but it would appear at the bottom of these issues is the visibility of the vet nurse. It would appear that vet nurses are invisible to a large part of the population. There is no visible role model of the vet nurse in what they wear, in their presence in the vet practice as a business and on the standard media outlets. A critical review of veterinary uniforms, application of the income generated by the nursing team to the practice business model and breaking feee of the media template of medical shows are all important.
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Why is it important?
If the industry is to improve the opportunities for recruitment, retention and the returning to work of vet nurses the visiblility of the role must be improved. This will need a multi-modal approach from those in and out with the industry. Vet nurses improve the patient care and the cost effectiveness of a practice. Increasing their presence in vet practices is key to improving welfare for staff, patients and clients.
Perspectives
From a personal point of view the lack of a visibility means the possibility for career progression is very limited. The author has seen the difficulties whereby a vet is significantly more likely to be able to return to work after maternity leave than a vet nurse. Where CPD opportunities are not taken as the new nursing skills are unlikely to be utilised. Where the financial limitations of a long career push people away from clinical work in many areas of the country.
Miss Jane Davidson
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Is veterinary nursing a visible profession? Part one, The Veterinary Nurse, September 2017, Mark Allen Group,
DOI: 10.12968/vetn.2017.8.7.403.
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