RCVS Veterinary Nursing students should be aware that the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) are proposing that the last RCVS OSCE Examinations will take place in July 2015. It is therefore essential that students who are planning on taking the RCVS OSCEs are not taking it for the first time then and are aware that this will be the last opportunity. If you have any concerns over this please speak to your course tutor.
Author Archives: Alison German
RCVS calls for profession to assist with four-yearly survey
Veterinary surgeons and student, listed and registered veterinary nurses are being urged to complete the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Survey of the Professions 2014.
This year the survey, carried out by the Institute for Employment Studies, will only be available online, and all those for whom the RCVS has a personal email address (ie not ‘info@’ or similar) have been sent a participation request.
Others will be sent a letter, including the survey URL. Those who do not receive this letter by Monday 14 April should contact Lizzie Lockett, on l.lockett@rcvs.org.uk or 020 7202 0725.
The four-yearly, confidential survey provides useful data that helps the College to develop policy, plan its activities and respond to questions from stakeholders such as government and the media.
The survey aims to find out more about individuals’ employment type and experiences, working patterns and professional development. It also asks about aspirations for the short- and long-term and current views on the veterinary profession.
Questions are also asked about mental health and well-being, using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale. These data will be used to track the mental well-being of the profession at a population level over successive years – a process that started with the 2010 survey – which will feed into other valuable work being carried out across the profession.
Finally, the survey includes a set of questions about 24/7 emergency cover, the answers to which will feed into the RCVS Standards Committee’s current evidence-gathering exercise.
The deadline for completion of the survey is 30 April.
Important information for students who sat the March 2014 RCVS OSCE Examinations
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) have informed us that the March Veterinary Nursing OSCE examination results are likely to be issued sooner than advertised – the date for this will be advised by email once the results letters are ready to print.
Results letter will be sent to students’ default addresses (please note once the letters are ready to print the RCVS are unable to alter this address). If you do not receive your results letter, please contact your College as the RCVS are unable to give out results by phone. Any students who have not received their letter five working days after they have been sent can request a copy by writing or email a.bhebe@rcvs.org.uk.
Please note the March 2014 RCVS theory examination results will be sent to students on 9 April as advertised.
If you are a CAW Student and have not received an email from the RCVS regarding the above information, please call CAW on 01480 422060 to check that your email address details are up to date.
Good luck everyone.
TP Congress 2014 Videos Now Available
We are delighted to announce that the videos of lectures from the 2014 TP Congress are now available to all delegates to view.
Delegates will find the passwords needed to access the videos on the back of their delegate badges.
If you have any problems accessing the videos please contact us on 01480 422060.
RCVS Veterinary Nursing Exam Update
As new Awarding Bodies have been established the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons will reduce and finally cease offering theory and practical exams to Level 3 Diploma students in the UK.
The dates for the final RCVS Awards examinations in 2015 are detailed below:
OSCE (practical) 2015
6-8th March 2015 window (Closing date for exam entries at the RCVS 8th Feb 2015)
26-27th June 2015 window (Closing date for exam entries at the RCVS 29th May 2015)
NPL completion and QA dates for The College of Animal Welfare students will be released soon.
Theory (MCQ) 2015
23-28th Feb 2015 (Closing date for exam entries at the RCVS 12th January 2015)
15-20th June 2015 (Closing date for exam entries at the RCVS 17th April 2015)
Please see the RCVS website for the full list of exam windows available until June 2015.
Issuing of results
It has been agreed that the RCVS will send examination results once they are ready rather than holding the letters until the published posting date.
Once the results have been processed and the letters are ready to print, all students and centres will receive an email informing them of the dates that the results will be posted. A minimum of two days notice will be given.
Results will be sent first class on the date advised in the email.
Centres will receive a copy of the results on the day after posting.
The results will be published online on the date previously advertised on the RCVS website (Theory 10 April, 14 August and 11 December. Practical 24 April, 7 August, 16 October and 8 January 2015).
Please note the March 2014 theory result letters will be sent to students on 9 April as advertised. The RCVS hope to issue the OSCE results sooner than advertised. The date for this will be advised by separate email once the letters are ready to print.
Results letters will be sent to students default addresses. Students who do not receive their letter will be asked to contact their college. The RCVS are unable to give out results over the phone. Any students who have not received their letter five working days after they have been sent can request a copy. This request must be made in writing or email a.bhebe@rcvs.org.uk
Full-Time Veterinary Care Assistants Course Now Open for Enrolment
The College of Animal Welfare is pleased to announce that a new City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma for Veterinary Care Assistants full-time course starting this September is now open for applications.
This qualification, which was developed by The College of Animal Welfare with City & Guilds nearly ten years ago, has been offered by the College thus far only as a distance learning programme to those working in a veterinary practice. Now, for the first time, the qualification will be available from each of the College’s centres (Huntingdon, Potters Bar, Leeds and Edinburgh) as a full-time course to those looking for a future career in veterinary practice.
Melanie Young, Academic Manager at The College of Animal Welfare, said “We are delighted to be able to provide people with the opportunity to gain a nationally recognised qualification in veterinary care.” She continued “This will open up new opportunities to people wanting to work in a veterinary practice with strong possibilities of future employment or even an opportunity for further training to become a Registered Veterinary Nurse”.
The one year programme consists of both classroom tuition and real practical experience in a veterinary practice.
Further information can be found on our website.
BVNA Congress 2014 | 10-12 October
The British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA) Congress 2014 will take place at the Telford International Centre in Shropshire between on 10-12 October providing a comprehensive programme of high quality CPD.
The scientific programme offers a varied choice of subjects over the three day event; providing five streams of lectures running on Friday and Sunday and six lecture streams on the Saturday.
Delegates will also be able to visit a large exhibition which will house companies promoting an array of products and services available in the industry.
For further information and to register online click here
National Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month | May 2014
The aim of ‘National Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month’ is to promote the importance of the veterinary nursing profession, the provision of responsible pet care and educate the general public about the different roles of nursing staff within practice.
The event enables veterinary nursing staff from around the country to come together and get involved with promoting their profession. Practices can organise events to promote their profession by holding open days, which enables clients and potential clients have a chance to see which roles the practice team cover and the level of care provided.
Thanks to our sponsors this year, Anistel, Avid, Hills, Merial, Petplan & VN Times, the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA) are again hosting a fantastic competition with prizes for winners and runners-up in the following categories;
• Category A | Best Display
Showing the role of the Veterinary Nurse (can be a waiting room or college notice board)
• Category B | Best Community Event
Promoting the role of a Veterinary Nurse to the general public (must be held away from the practice)
• Category C | Best Careers Event
Promoting a career in veterinary nursing
BVNA are encouraging all veterinary nursing staff to get involved to help promote their profession and the vital role that they play within practice.
For a free event pack please register online via the BVNA website . Make sure you also like us on our dedicated ‘National Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month’ Facebook page.
Come on what are you waiting for, get involved and join in the fun!
Voting opens in 2014 RCVS Council and VN Council elections
Ballot papers for this year’s Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Council and Veterinary Nurses (VN) Council elections have been sent to all veterinary surgeons and registered/listed veterinary nurses respectively, and votes can now be cast online or by post until 5pm on Friday 25 April 2014.
Veterinary surgeons can vote for up to six of the 19 RCVS Council candidates whose biographies and manifestos are included with their ballot papers. Registered/listed veterinary nurses can vote for up to two of the five candidates standing for VN Council this year.
This year the College has, for the first time, set up dedicated election websites to provide election information and candidate details all in one place, and to allow veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses to cast their votes online. Votes can also be cast by post using the details contained in the ballot papers.
Click below for the dedicated election websites:
All those standing in the elections have also participated in ‘Quiz the candidates’ this year, answering a selection of questions submitted directly by veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses. The candidates’ recordings are available to listen again via The Webinar Vet, and on the respective election websites.
Any veterinary surgeons who have not received their ballot papers should contact Ian Holloway, Communications Manager, on 020 7202 0727 or i.holloway@rcvs.org.uk; veterinary nurses missing their ballot papers should contact Annette Amato, Deputy Head of Veterinary Nursing, on 020 7202 0713 or a.amato@rcvs.org.uk.
RCVS News: Nominations open for prestigious veterinary nursing award
The nomination period for an honour which recognises those who have made an outstanding contribution to the veterinary nursing profession is now open.
Nominations for the Veterinary Nursing Golden Jubilee Award 2014 can be made until 1 May 2014 and this year the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) is looking for nominees who have made an exceptional contribution to the profession, animal welfare or patient care – whether in clinical practice, education, research or politics. Nominees can be registered or listed veterinary nurses, veterinary surgeons or lay people.
Kathy Kissick, Chair of VN Council, explains: “With this award we are looking for someone who can be an excellent ambassador for the veterinary nursing profession; who has made a real and substantial difference to the profession; and who can raise its profile and fight its corner.
“I would urge all those who are passionate about the profession and its future to put forward someone who they think is deserving of this honour.”
The award was launched in 2011 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first RCVS veterinary nursing training scheme. The first recipient of the award was Jean Turner, while Sue Badger received the accolade in 2012.
Click here to visit the RCVS website and download a nomaination form. You can also watch a video featuring Kathy Kissick talking about its importance.
The nominators must be registered/listed veterinary nurses or veterinary surgeons but the two additional proposers can be lay people.
For further information about the award please contact Annette Amato, Deputy Head of Veterinary Nursing, on 020 7202 0713 or a.amato@rcvs.org.uk.