We are delighted to announce that this year’s TP Congress is open for registration and, with so much going on in the profession at the moment, this year’s Congress is not to be missed!

This year we have made a few changes. Firstly, TP Congress is moving to MKCC Conference Centre in Milton Keynes – a purpose built conference centre with modern facilities and extensive parking conveniently located just off the M1. Secondly, due to the popularity of the Clinical Coach day, this year we have designed an all-Clinical Coach programme – that’s two full days of CPD dedicated to Clinical Coaching!

Coaching Support Skills
We’re delighted to be able to bring to you a selection of lectures that will try to help ease the day-to-day demands on your time. From coping with the pressures of being a Clinical Coach and motivating your students, to interviewing trainee nurses and how to talk so your student will listen. Director of Vet Learning, Dr Paul Manning, and Chartered Occupational Psychologist, Helen Frewin of Totem Consultancy will leave you motivated and inspired!

Teaching and Training
Get the latest guidance on veterinary nurse training qualifications as we look at how the power of technology is changing the way training is delivered. We also have lectures giving helpful advice on how to get the most out of your Training Practice visits and what you should and shouldn’t do with the Nursing Progress Log. A technical update from City & Guilds will lay out plans for the future and give you opportunities to ask any questions you may have.

Legislation and Regulation
Having just seen the first registered veterinary nurse being struck off the VN Register, it is vitally important that you know where you stand and what your responsibilities are. Kathy Kissick, Chairman of the RCVS VN Council, will provide both an update on regulation and important legislation you need to know. She will also look at what exactly your student is allowed to do whilst training and what they should know upon qualification. Nick Stace, RCVS Chief Executive and Secretary will lay out his plans for the profession for 2013 and Pam Mosedale will discuss the legal requirements of dispensing – important information you need to know!

A full programme and booking information can be found here.

And don’t forget… Book before 28 February 2013 and take advantage of the Early Bird rate!

The Registered Veterinary Nurse Disciplinary Committee of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) on Friday [11 January 2013] removed from the Register for dishonesty an Armagh-based registered veterinary nurse: she entered details of four injections into clinical records when she had no reasonable basis for doing so.

During the four-day hearing, the Committee considered two alternative charges against Ms Tracy Nicholl (nee Wilson) relating to her actions on 3 February 2011, whilst employed by O’Reilly & Fee veterinary surgery, Armagh. Ms Nicholl was alleged by the College to have administered Dolethal, a pink liquid containing pentabarbitone and used for euthanasia, to a dog called Butch without being directed to do so. It was also alleged that she had made dishonest entries into the dog’s clinical records, or had administered drugs without a veterinary surgeon’s prescription.

Ms Nicholl was alleged to have administered the Dolethal via a fluid bag and giving set on the morning of 3 February, which she denied. The Committee found that, although a veterinary surgeon believed that she saw pink fluid in the line, uncertainties in the surrounding circumstances made the Committee unable to be sure the line contained pink liquid. Expert and forensic evidence revealed Butch had received Dolethal, but not the route of administration or the timing. Therefore the Committee could not be sure Ms Nicholl administered the Dolethal and dismissed this charge.

However, the Committee found that Ms Nicholl did enter on Butch’s clinical records that four drugs had been injected, when she had neither administered them nor been told that the drugs had been administered. Although she denied making the entries in evidence submitted to the hearing, in evidence from an interview with the College on 11 July 2011 she had admitted this and her initials were on the record entries.

The Committee noted these injections would be chargeable, and was satisfied the public would regard making these incorrect entries as dishonest. As Ms Nicholl was a highly experienced, senior nurse who also lectured to veterinary nursing students, the Committee was sure she knew she was acting dishonestly. Further, she had breached her responsibilities to clients by failing to maintain accurate case records, and the entries raised potential animal welfare issues. In mitigation, her actions affected no animal’s actual welfare, and there was no evidence that Ms Nicholl had made any financial gain or repeated her conduct.

“In addition to the fact that the charge involved dishonesty, there were a number of other aggravating features,” said Ms Judith Webb, chairing and speaking on behalf of the Committee. “The Respondent has not demonstrated any recognition of the seriousness of the record entry allegation, specifically the importance of keeping proper records … It is in the wider public interest and to protect the reputation of the veterinary nursing profession that the Respondent’s name should be removed from the Register.”