Royal College Day 2019 speeches: VN Council Chair Racheal Marshall

I am very honoured to have the opportunity to speak to you today to give a brief overview of the work of the Veterinary Nurses Council. My first year in the chair has been a fascinating and thoroughly enjoyable experience, although challenging when dealing with controversial topics from time to time.

As all of you here today will know, the Veterinary Nursing profession has come a very long way in a relatively short time, but I appreciate it sometimes feels like things move very slowly.

With this in mind, it is important to reflect on what we have achieved and appreciate just how much progress we have made since the Registered Animal Nursing Auxiliaries, or RANAs scheme started back in 1961, a law change in the 80’s which allowed the use of the title Veterinary nurse, the introduction of the VN Register in 2007, and becoming a profession in our own right in 2015.

The change in the profession since I started in 2000 has been amazing with more and more practices recognising the value of Registered Veterinary Nurses, allowing them to use all their skills as a valued part of the Vet-Led team and promoting the VN role to client.

Across the whole veterinary profession, nurses are now seen at all levels in leadership roles and actively contributing to discussions that shape the future of the veterinary professions.

Nurses have also been forging their own way by taking ownership and leading their practices in areas such as the Practice Standards Scheme, quality improvement and mental health awareness to name but a few.

It is fantastic to see nurses here today being recognised by their colleagues and peers, and receiving awards for their work and outstanding careers. In the future I am sure we will see many more nurses coming up onto this stage.

I want to take this opportunity to encourage more nurses to take control of their own careers and find areas where they can take the lead, whether this be within their areas of practice or by contributing to the wider profession.

Sticking your head above the parapet can be scary and often daunting, however, the satisfaction of challenging yourself and achieving things outside of your comfort zone is all the more rewarding.

I would ask you to encourage your nursing colleagues to step forward, too. We need to galvanize the next generation of Veterinary Nursing leaders, to inspire future veterinary nurses and keep the whole profession moving ever forwards, like we have been doing since 1961.

Speaking to the other members of VN Council, we all had a supportive colleague who encouraged us to get involved, by pointing out areas which would be of interest to us, giving us a gentle tap on the shoulder saying “You would be good at that,” or just being direct and telling us to stop moaning and get involved if you want things to change.

In some cases, a somewhat firmer shove was needed.

I know I certainly would not be standing here today had it not been for so many of my colleagues both past and present who inspired me to get involved, employers who not only allowed, but actively encouraged, me to contribute to the wider profession, and family and friends who have supported me in everything I have done.

Reflecting on the past 12 months, the Veterinary Nurses Council has certainly been busy.

We have continued to work with the BVNA on the VN Futures project to promote and ensure a vibrant, rewarding and sustainable profession both now and in the years ahead.

The working groups do an amazing job. They continue to work hard on the key ambitions from the 2016 report which identified our preferred direction as a profession, and have already completed several of the actions which are needed to help us on that journey.

In May, as Lizzie mentioned, we approved two new advanced veterinary nursing qualifications: a graduate certificate in advanced veterinary nursing and a postgraduate certificate in advanced veterinary nursing, which resulted from a VN Futures action.

These qualifications will allow veterinary nurses at all stages of their careers, and through all routes of qualification to develop their professional skills and knowledge in designated areas of practice and, in time, hopefully pave the way to a formal Advanced Veterinary Nurse status.

It has been great to be part of the VN Futures Board, witnessing the passion, enthusiasm and dedication of its members, seeing the amount they have achieved so far and their plans for the future. I would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has contributed – your hard work is really appreciated, and we could not do it without you.

In the last ten years, the number of veterinary nurses has more than doubled, with over 17,500 now on the register. I would like to think that the work we have been doing to raise awareness of Veterinary Nursing as a career, and promoting the role and value of veterinary nurses within the profession and to the public, has contributed to more nurses joining and, crucially, staying in the profession.

Our ongoing work to improve understanding of delegation under Schedule 3 can only lead to more and more nurses working to their full potential within the current legislation, and many nurses have achieved, or are currently undertaking, further qualifications to expand their skills and knowledge.

However, whilst all of these achievements are fantastic, there is still a way to go.

During my time on VN Council I have had the pleasure to meet a large number of veterinary nurses, and the message that continues to come across loud and clear is that they want the VN role bolstering, with many vets and employers echoing this sentiment.

Work is currently underway to shape proposals for future legislative reform, part of which involves looking at how the role of the Registered Veterinary Nurse can be expanded.

I would urge everyone within the professions to support expansion of the VN role and ensure we have regulation fit for the future.

We are all part of the Vet-led team and are working for the same goal to ensure the health and welfare of our patients.

It is time for change, as a profession we are ready, and we now ask for your support.

Thank you