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Course launched for vet nurses returning to practice
The course takes around five hours to complete.

The course aims to help nurses return with confidence.

The RCVS Academy has launched a new course to support veterinary nurses returning to clinical practice after a break.

As veterinary nurses take different lengths of break for a variety of reasons, the ‘Nurse Return’ course is designed to cover a range of different scenarios.

As well as being suitable for veterinary nurses who are returning to the Register after more than five years, and who need to complete a Period of Supervised Practice, it is also suitable for nurses who have had a shorter break and may not have left the Register at all.

The course is also designed to be relevant for nurses who never joined the Register after obtaining their fitness-to-practise qualification.

Jill Macdonald, the RCVS VN Futures project lead, has helped to create the course.

Ms Macdonald said “I’m delighted that we are able to offer this course to nurses returning to practice, whether they need to complete their Period of Supervised Practice, or just want a little extra guidance when returning to clinical work.

“Veterinary nurses are valuable and vital members of the practice team, and we want to encourage and support as many veterinary nurses as we can to return to the profession, and to help them to do this with confidence.

“The course covers key topics to bring nurses up to date with many of the professional aspects of working as a RVN, and we have also included many additional topics which will assist nurses in the journey, such as practice culture, communication, reflective practice and lifelong learning.

“It’s wonderful to see how many nurses do return to clinical work, and we look forward to welcoming you.”

The new course is free to access via the RCVS Academy.

 

Image (C) Shutterstock

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
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RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."