BVNA hopeful after 'nurse' title protected in law
BVNA is campaigning for the vet nurse title to be protected too.
The British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA) has welcomed new measures to protect the 'nurse' title in law.
The UK government's Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) has confirmed that, as part of wider healthcare regulation reforms, it will become a criminal offence to misuse the 'nurse' title and mislead the public.
Under current legislation, much like in the veterinary nursing sector, only the title 'registered nurse' is protected in law. This has left over 8,000 people in 93 per cent of NHS trusts using the title 'nurse' without having registered qualifications.
The new legislation will ensure that only those registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) can legally use the 'nurse' title. Inappropriate use will be a criminal offence and subject to fines.
This legislative change is the result of campaigning from a number of nursing organisations, as well as MP Dawn Butler.
The BVNA has welcomed the new legislation, voicing its support for the government's acknowledgment of the associated risks to public health when medical titles are misused.
It is continuing to campaign for protection for the 'veterinary nurse' title, which the BVNA says has similar ramifications for animal health. BVNA believes that only those who are qualified and registered should be able to refer to themselves as a veterinary nurse.
The organisations says it will continue to work closely with Defra in the preliminary work towards veterinary legislation. Its involvement with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has also ensured that new legislation has become one of its suggested 'remedies'.
BVNA president Lyndsay Hughes said: “At a time when BVNA is leading the campaign to protect the ‘veterinary nurse’ title in law, we are delighted by the news that title protection has been achieved for our human-centred nursing counterparts. Whether the patient is human or animal, nurses and veterinary nurses alike provide skilled, compassionate, professional and dedicated care to their patients.”
She added: “We are seizing every available opportunity to raise awareness of RVNs’ vital role within animal welfare and public health, and to campaign for rightful protection of the ‘veterinary nurse’ title. This news from the human healthcare sector demonstrates that title protection can be achieved – and BVNA will work tirelessly until it comes to fruition for veterinary nurses too.”
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Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
