What It Means to Be a Registered Veterinary Nurse

In recent years, veterinary nursing has gained status and increased recognition as a profession. It was agreed by VN Council that in order to move the profession towards regulated status, a nonstatutory Register for Veterinary Nurses should be opened. Although the Register was opened in 2007, it was decided that the disciplinary system should not come into force until a later date, giving sufficient time for Registered Veterinary Nurses (RVNs) to get used to the changes. It is now hoped that the disciplinary system should be in place from early in 2011.

The aim of this lecture is to discuss the importance of being part of a regulated profession and the benefits it brings to not only the registered nurse, but also to their employers and their clients. The proposed disciplinary process will be introduced and explained: what will happen if a complaint against an RVN / REVN is received by the RCVS.

Registered nurses can be disciplined for serious professional misconduct but what does this mean? The lecture will highlight some of the professional expectations set out in the RCVS Guide to Professional Conduct for Veterinary Nurses and help to clarify some of the misconceptions nurses may have about Regulation.