Author Archives: Alison German

New Head Nurse Congress a Resounding Success

Head Nurse Congress Delegates speaking to The College of Animal WelfareThe College of Animal Welfare would like to thank all delegates, speakers and exhibitors who attended the very first Head Nurse Congress on the 16 and 17 May for making the event such a resounding success. The enthusiasm of all who attended was infectious and it was clear from the feedback that a head-nurse specific event was, in one delegate’s words, ‘a long time coming’!

More than double the predicted number of delegates attended this inaugural event in Cambridgeshire; with some travelling from as far away as Wales and Scotland. All came with a shared interest and desire to listen to speakers from inside and outside the profession on topics that were truly relevant to the head nurse in today’s modern veterinary practice. Outside of lectures, delegates enjoyed meeting exhibitors and networking with fellow nurses; trading tips and sharing stories.

Head Nurse Congress delegates in a lectureMark Hedberg, Short Course Manager at The College of Animal Welfare said “We’re delighted that so many current and aspiring head nurses joined us on one of the most inspiring weekends I’ve had the pleasure to run. The enthusiasm was obvious; we’re definitely going to do this again – see you next year!”

Feedback was very forthcoming, with delegates saying things such as:

“Very relevant to the head nurse role that no other congress has been”

“Very interesting subjects, lots to take away and try and implement”

“I am actually really looking forward to going to work on Monday, thank you!”

The date for next year’s event will be announced shortly. In the meantime you can register your details and be one of the first to hear about Head Nurse Congress 2016 at www.caw.ac.uk/hnc

– Ends –

For more information please contact:
Alison German RVN
Marketing Executive
The College of Animal Welfare
Tel: 01480 422060
Email: agerman@caw.ac.uk

Notes to editors:
The College of Animal Welfare is one of the UK’s leading providers of veterinary nurse and animal care training and education; operating from four training centres around the UK.
The College has a well-earned reputation for excellence and has created a number of unique achievements that have created new opportunities for learning.
2015 was the very first year the College has run a Head Nurse Congress. Following the very positive feedback we received, the 2016 event will be announced soon.
For more information about The College of Animal Welfare please visit www.caw.ac.uk

Head Nurse Congress Room Shot

Head Nurse Congress a Resounding Success

Head Nurse Congress Delegates speaking to The College of Animal WelfareThe College of Animal Welfare would like to thank all delegates, speakers and exhibitors who attended the very first Head Nurse Congress on the 16 and 17 May for making the event such a resounding success. The enthusiasm of all who attended was infectious and it was clear from the feedback that a head-nurse specific event was, in one delegate’s words, ‘a long time coming’!

More than double the predicted number of delegates attended this inaugural event in Cambridgeshire; with some travelling from as far away as Wales and Scotland. All came with a shared interest and desire to listen to speakers from inside and outside the profession on topics that were truly relevant to the head nurse in today’s modern veterinary practice. Outside of lectures, delegates enjoyed meeting exhibitors and networking with fellow nurses; trading tips and sharing stories.

Head Nurse Congress delegates in a lectureMark Hedberg, Short Course Manager at The College of Animal Welfare said “We’re delighted that so many current and aspiring head nurses joined us on one of the most inspiring weekends I’ve had the pleasure to run. The enthusiasm was obvious; we’re definitely going to do this again – see you next year!”

Feedback was very forthcoming, with delegates saying things such as:

“Very relevant to the head nurse role that no other congress has been”

“Very interesting subjects, lots to take away and try and implement”

“I am actually really looking forward to going to work on Monday, thank you!”

The date for next year’s event will be announced shortly. In the meantime you can register your details and be one of the first to hear about Head Nurse Congress 2016 at www.caw.ac.uk/hnc

RCVS gets animated about veterinary nursing with new short film

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) has launched a short film animation to help raise awareness among the general public of the vital role played by veterinary nurses in animal care and treatment.

The video has been released to coincide with the British Veterinary Nursing Association’s (BVNA) National VN Awareness Month which is particularly significant this year as it is not only the organisation’s 50th anniversary, but also coincides with the new RCVS Royal Charter recognising veterinary nursing as a fully regulated profession.

The animation aims to explain to the general public what registered veterinary nurses do, the education and training that they go through to gain their status and what it means to be part of a regulated profession which abides by a Code of Professional Conduct.

The video also tackles the fact that, currently, ‘veterinary nurse’ is not a protected title, meaning that it is not illegal for someone to call themselves a veterinary nurse even if they do not have the requisite training and qualifications and are not registered with the RCVS. This is something which the RCVS, in partnership with the BVNA and British Veterinary Association (BVA), will be raising with MPs and Peers when Parliament reconvenes after the General Election.

Kathy Kissick RVN, Chair of VN Council, welcomed the new video, saying: “It is important that the public understand that veterinary nurses are not ‘junior vets’ but that they complement the work of veterinary surgeons and enhance animal health and welfare in different ways.

“The video, for example, sets out the role that veterinary nurses play in providing care, in educating pet owners on issues such as diet and welfare and in carrying out medical treatment and minor surgery delegated to them by a veterinary surgeon.

“I would encourage all veterinary nurses, as well as vets and other veterinary professionals, to share this video on social media and with their clients so that they can find out more about the profession and understand how crucial it is that we secure protection of the title. Having untrained and unqualified people calling themselves veterinary nurses is not only misleading but potentially detrimental to animal health and welfare.”

The video can be found on the RCVS website at www.rcvs.org.uk/vntitle, together with details of how to support the protected title campaign. It is also available to view on the RCVS YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/rcvsvideos) and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/thercvs) and can also be found on twitter via the hashtag #vntitle.

For more details on what the BVNA will be doing for National VN Awareness Month, please visit www.bvna.org.uk/news/veterinary-nursing-awareness-month

Change of Venue for Head Nurse Congress Due to Unprecedented Demand

The College of Animal Welfare has made the decision to move the venue of its Head Nurse Congress on the 16 & 17 May 2015 due to overwhelming requests for places.

The new venue, Hinchingbrooke House Performing Arts Centre (PAC), is a well-equipped building set in the beautiful grounds of Hinchingbrooke House on the outskirts of Huntingdon. The PAC is just three miles away from the College’s Huntingdon centre which was originally planned as the venue for this inaugural congress.

Aimed at current and aspiring head nurses, this new two day congress – believed to the first of its kind – is set to provide valuable CPD that is truly relevant to the role of the head nurse in today’s modern veterinary practice.

Packed full of exciting speakers, delegates will have the opportunity to listen to a wide variety of lectures including communication and leadership skills, managing conflict and bullying, increasing client and employee loyalty, maximising the use and talent of veterinary nurses in practice, influencing people, effective decision making and managing cash flow.

Short Course Manager, Mark Hedberg, said “Head nurses are the key to successful veterinary practice, and we feel this success highlights the hunger for high-quality training in leadership and management that complements the excellent clinical education that UK veterinary nurses currently receive”. He continued “We’re humbled and delighted that so many people have responded so positively to our inaugural event, and look forward to helping current and aspiring head nurses make the most of their skills in the modern veterinary profession.”

The congress is available at the special introductory rate of just £99+VAT for both days! An agenda and further information can be found at www.caw.ac.uk/hnc or by calling 01480 422060.

– Ends –

For more information please contact:

Alison German RVN
Marketing Executive
The College of Animal Welfare
Tel: 01480 422060
Email: agerman@caw.ac.uk

Notes to editors:

The College of Animal Welfare is one of the UK’s leading providers of veterinary nurse and animal care training and education; operating from four training centres around the UK.

The College has a well-earned reputation for excellence and has created a number of unique achievements that have created new opportunities for learning.

For more information about The College of Animal Welfare please visit www.caw.ac.uk

Head Nurse Banner Advertisement

Change of Venue for Head Nurse Congress Due to Unprecedented Demand!

The College of Animal Welfare has made the decision to move the venue of its Head Nurse Congress on the 16 & 17 May 2015 due to overwhelming requests for places.

The new venue, Hinchingbrooke House Performing Arts Centre (PAC), is a well-equipped building set in the beautiful grounds of Hinchingbrooke House on the outskirts of Huntingdon. The PAC is just three miles away from the College’s Huntingdon centre which was originally planned as the venue for this inaugural congress.

Aimed at current and aspiring head nurses, this new two day congress – believed to the first of its kind – is set to provide valuable CPD that is truly relevant to the role of the head nurse in today’s modern veterinary practice.

Packed full of exciting speakers, delegates will have the opportunity to listen to a wide variety of lectures including communication and leadership skills, managing conflict and bullying, increasing client and employee loyalty, maximising the use and talent of veterinary nurses in practice, influencing people, effective decision making and managing cash flow.

Short Course Manager, Mark Hedberg, said “Head nurses are the key to successful veterinary practice, and we feel this success highlights the hunger for high-quality training in leadership and management that complements the excellent clinical education that UK veterinary nurses currently receive”. He continued “We’re humbled and delighted that so many people have responded so positively to our inaugural event, and look forward to helping current and aspiring head nurses make the most of their skills in the modern veterinary profession.”

Head Nurse Congress is available at the special introductory rate of just £99+VAT for both days! An agenda and further information can be found at www.caw.ac.uk/hnc or by calling 01480 422060.

Important News Regarding Veterinary Nursing Registration

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) has informed us that they will not be accepting application forms to join the Register of Veterinary Nurses if they have been signed more than two months prior to registration. This is to ensure that the Declaration and Disclosure are up-to-date at the point of registration.

If you have any queries please contact your course provider. The College of Animal Welfare students can contact a member of the Customer Advice Team (CAT) on 01480 422060 / admin@caw.ac.uk

TP Congress Room View 2015

TP Congress 2015 – A Big Success!

The College of Animal Welfare would like to thank all of the delegates who attended this year’s annual TP Congress in Milton Keynes on the 16 & 17 March for helping to make it such a successful and memorable event.

Over 100 delegates, the majority of which were clinical coaches involved in the training of student veterinary nurses, descended on the congress to update their knowledge on training and gain fresh new ideas on how they can support their students throughout their study.

Listening to feedback in 2014, we invited back the most popular speakers and added in topics which were asked for. With lectures on OSCEs, the NPL, and updates on student management and leadership, delegates at all the tables were taking notes and learning. The feedback has been really good, and we’d like to thank those of you who said:

“Thank you – really enjoyed my time here, felt I have some useful and practical ‘take home’ skills”

“I’m new to the idea of being a mentor & it has given me confidence I needed to fulfill the role and the contacts of who I can contact if I need help”

“Today has stimulated my mind and enthused me to give lots of positive feedback to clinical coaches and students. I’ve learned a lot, but my mind has particularly boosted by Anne-Marie’s last talk, absolutely brilliant!”

We’d also like to thank our exhibitors, and everyone who contributed questions before and during our Q&A sessions – there were some excellent and insightful questions there that were well worth discussing.

We are already busy making plans for 2016, and will be announcing new topics and speakers in the next few months. If you’d like to book on to next year’s event you can do so on our website and take advantage of our Early Bird offer!

CAW Veterinary Nursing Consultation Survey

The College of Animal Welfare has prepared an online survey to gain views on the current veterinary nursing training qualification that leads to RVN registration with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).

The survey will help to identify what those working with the qualification and in practice think needs to be changed. 

The survey should take approximately 10 minutes to complete, although there are opportunities to comment more freely on some of the questions.

The survey can be accessed at http://goo.gl/2tf0sM and will close on Friday 17 April 2015.

All members of the practice team are invited to complete the survey as the College is keen to gain the opinions of everyone involved in the training of veterinary nurses. All responses will be used for the purpose of providing feedback to the RCVS and the awarding bodies offering the veterinary nursing qualifications. The source of individual responses will remain strictly confidential.

A paper copy of the survey is available for those unable to complete the online survey and can be obtained by from Jackie Cockrill on 01480 422060 / jcockrill@caw.ac.uk.

– Ends –

For more information please contact:

Alison German RVN
Marketing Executive
The College of Animal Welfare
Tel: 01480 422060
Email: agerman@caw.ac.uk

Notes to editors:

The College of Animal Welfare is one of the UK’s largest providers of veterinary nurse and animal care training and education; operating from four training centres around the UK.

The College has a well-earned reputation for excellence and has created a number of unique achievements that have created new opportunities for learning.

For more information about The College of Animal Welfare please visit www.caw.ac.uk.

Veterinary Nursing Consultation Survey

The College of Animal Welfare is keen to hear your views on the current veterinary nursing training qualification that leads to RVN registration with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).

We have prepared an online questionnaire to help us identify what those working with the qualification and in practice think needs to be changed. We estimate that it will take you approximately 10 minutes to complete the survey although there are opportunities to comment more freely on some of your answers.

To start the survey, please visit the following link:

http://goo.gl/UMFTZZ

We would appreciate your response by Friday 17 April 2015.

Your opinion is very important and will only be used for the purpose of providing feedback to the RCVS and the awarding bodies offering the veterinary nursing qualifications. The source of individual responses will remain strictly confidential.

If you have any questions or would prefer to complete paper version of the survey please call Jackie Cockrill on 01480 422060 or email jcockrill@caw.ac.uk with your contact details.

Thank you in advance.

Wanted: Old Anaesthetic Machines for teaching purposes

If your practice has an old anaesthetic machine that is no longer needed, we would be very grateful to use it for training purposes.

If you think your practice is able to help, please let us know and we can arrange to come and collect. You can either call us on 01480 422060 or email admin@caw.ac.uk.

Thank you in advance!