Don't forget nurses and practice managers
Helen Sanderson, VPMA president
In a bid to boost the number of practice managers and veterinary nurses nominated for this year's Petplan Veterinary Awards, the VPMA and BVNA have joined forces in a new initiative.
While nominations for the awards - also known as the "veterinary Oscars" - have been growing in recent years, the veterinary surgeon category wins much of the attention.
To highlight practice managers and nurses, VPMA president Helen Sanderson and BVNA president Kirstie Shield, have teamed up to urge practice managers and nurses to nominate each other.
Helen said: "Whilst veterinary surgeons absolutely deserve credit for the hard-work that they do, other practice staff do tend to get forgotten by the public in the nomination process. So together we are calling on practices to help us highlight the fantastic work carried out by nurses and managers.
"Kirstie and I thought it would be a great idea if the nurses could nominate their manager and vice-versa! That’s a win-win for both and helps to boost the profile of both of these essential team members."
Commenting on misconceptions about the process of nominating, Kirstie said: "You don’t need to produce a long, detailed testimonial, although obviously the more information you can give to support your nomination, the more the judges have to go on.
"But a heart-felt simple paragraph or two entered online is absolutely fine, outlining why your nurse or manager deserves the award. If you’ve got 10 minutes to spare, this is a fantastic way to boost your staff morale and just say thanks for their efforts. Every nominee receives a certificate that they can display in the practice."
Visit the Petplan website to nominate by January 31, 2014.
Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
