RCVS Veterinary Nurses’ Council
The RCVS Veterinary Nurses’ Council (VNC). Like organising your pension or recycling, you’re always hearing about it, and you probably feel you should know more, but really, it’s not that exciting, is it?
Well, if you think the future of your chosen career is not gripping stuff, please turn the page now, and go directly to Cats’ Corner instead. If, on the other hand, you consider issues such as mandatory continuing professional development (CPD), "return to practice" courses and the prospect of self-regulation for veterinary nurses might just be worth thinking about, then it’s probably important that you understand a bit more about VNC.
VNC FUNCTIONS
VNC reports to the Council of the RCVS. The RCVS has a twin function; it is the regulatory body for veterinary surgeons in the UK, which means that it deals with issues of professional misconduct, maintains the register of veterinary surgeons eligible to practise in the UK, and assures standards of veterinary undergraduate education.
It also has a Royal College role, which means that it is responsible for postgraduate educational and VN qualifications, and acts as an impartial source of information on animal health and welfare issues.
VNC is the interface between the RCVS and the VN profession. It has overall responsibility for all matters concerning postqualification awards and the registration (listing) of qualified veterinary nurses.
The NVQ is the responsibility of the RCVS Awarding Body, a separate body that is accountable to the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority as well as to the RCVS, its parent organisation.
DEVELOPMENT
The VNC was established in 2002 and developed from the VN Committee. The move recognised the continuing maturity of veterinary nursing and the RCVS’s acknowledgment of the professional role that VNs play within the veterinary team. One major change at this point was that, instead of VNs being appointed by RCVS Council, they were, for the first time, elected by veterinary nurses.
The composition of VNC has continued to progress towards a higher ratio of VNs to veterinary surgeons, and now draws on a broader base of experience than ever before.Membership currently stands at eight elected veterinary nurses, three RCVS Council Members (veterinary surgeons), three non-RCVS Council veterinary surgeons and two lay members, one being the current Lantra (Skills Council) representative. There are also invited observers from BVNA and BVA.
Well, if you think the future of your chosen career is not gripping stuff, please turn the page now, and go directly to Cats’ Corner instead. If, on the other hand, you consider issues such as mandatory continuing professional development (CPD), "return to practice" courses and the prospect of self-regulation for veterinary nurses might just be worth thinking about, then it’s probably important that you understand a bit more about VNC.
VNC FUNCTIONS
VNC reports to the Council of the RCVS. The RCVS has a twin function; it is the regulatory body for veterinary surgeons in the UK, which means that it deals with issues of professional misconduct, maintains the register of veterinary surgeons eligible to practise in the UK, and assures standards of veterinary undergraduate education.
It also has a Royal College role, which means that it is responsible for postgraduate educational and VN qualifications, and acts as an impartial source of information on animal health and welfare issues.
VNC is the interface between the RCVS and the VN profession. It has overall responsibility for all matters concerning postqualification awards and the registration (listing) of qualified veterinary nurses.
The NVQ is the responsibility of the RCVS Awarding Body, a separate body that is accountable to the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority as well as to the RCVS, its parent organisation.
DEVELOPMENT
The VNC was established in 2002 and developed from the VN Committee. The move recognised the continuing maturity of veterinary nursing and the RCVS’s acknowledgment of the professional role that VNs play within the veterinary team. One major change at this point was that, instead of VNs being appointed by RCVS Council, they were, for the first time, elected by veterinary nurses.
The composition of VNC has continued to progress towards a higher ratio of VNs to veterinary surgeons, and now draws on a broader base of experience than ever before.Membership currently stands at eight elected veterinary nurses, three RCVS Council Members (veterinary surgeons), three non-RCVS Council veterinary surgeons and two lay members, one being the current Lantra (Skills Council) representative. There are also invited observers from BVNA and BVA.
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