Vet Times

Tag: RVN

  • No need for vet nurses?

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    A fellow Vetsonline blogger, Will Easson, recently wrote a post about the potential impact of an increased number of vet grads, in which he kindly remembered veterinary nurses. (Editor’s note: In his post “Recruitment and retention“, Will suggests that the increasing number of UK graduates searching for employment could result not just in a scarcity of…

  • EMS vs TP

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    I would like to thank Michal Szulc and Jill Hubbard for their letter in a recent edition of Veterinary Times (Vol.43, No.42), in which they speak of an issue close to my heart: in-practice training of vets and nurses. The TP and EMS schemes try to do the same thing, but are structured very differently. Michal…

  • Where are all the RVNs?

    Where are all the RVNs?

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    I have perused VN Times, Veterinary Times, recruitment websites, and spoken to those in practice, but am left with one question: where are all the RVNs? A recent issue of Veterinary Times had 20 vacancies for the south-east of England alone! In 2008 the BBC stated there were 16,000 “nurses” in practice (Lantra 2008 survey), yet the…

  • Chocolate, tea and respect

    Chocolate, tea and respect

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    I’m getting old. I can see that. People greet me not by saying “you look great” but by saying “you’re getting greyer”. The worst part of that is not that it’s rude, but that they seem to think it’s funny. I’ve been in this profession a long time, and I have seen quite a bit.…

  • Proud to be a VN

    Proud to be a VN

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    The September 2013 issue of VN Times has a brilliant article by Hayley Walters. Please, please read it! The article, entitled “Teaching clinical skills the animal welfare way in China”, is available to read and download here (You will need to be registered with Vetsonline to access it, but it’s free to sign up, and…

  • Recruitment and retention

    Recruitment and retention

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    The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) recently commissioned a study to counter the arguments against new vet schools opening to show that the employment situation in the profession is still good. I have no argument with what it found: that most, if not all vets looking for jobs are employed very quickly. At the…

  • To scan, or not to scan?

    To scan, or not to scan?

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    I have been reading with interest the arguments for and against regular scanning. At the moment this is particularly aimed at dogs, thanks to this: Compulsory chipping of dogs from 2016. This topic has gained momentum through various high profile lost/stolen dog stories and, currently, social media is awash with lost/stolen dog groups and pages…

  • Money makes the world go around…

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    …unless you’re a member of the veterinary professions according to the latest edition of the SPVS Salaries Survey, which has revealed “an overall dip” in vets’ pay packets. The figures – which cover the whole salary package, including accommodation, company cars and CPD (when provided) – are particularly disappointing for small animal practitioners, revealing that the only…

  • Being the client – the view from the other side

    Being the client – the view from the other side

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    Being back in education puts me in that odd position of being a VN, but not having a practice to call home. However, I have been lucky enough to have a new, independent practice open very near me. It’s great – good facilities and friendly staff – and this has proved a blessing today. Little Blue…

  • OSCEs

    OSCEs

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    It’s rolling around to another OSCE window – that memorable day in a SVN’s life when their skills and nerves are put to the test. I remember mine well. My boyfriend drove me to them (thank you darling) and they were handily timed at 10am. I would be finished and having a pub lunch by…