Dedicated website launched to showcase the VN Futures project

As a fitting tribute to this year’s Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month, a new website dedicated to showcasing the work of the VN Futures project has today (Friday 29 May 2020) been launched.

VN Futures was launched as a joint Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) and British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA) project in 2016, associated with, but separate from, the Vet Futures project and with a focus on identifying, and finding solutions to, some of the specific issues facing the veterinary nursing profession.

The VN Futures Report and Action Plan, published in July 2016, identified five key streams of activity (Creating a sustainable workforce; Structured and rewarding career paths; Confident, resilient, healthy and well-supported workforce; Proactive role in One Health; and, Maximising Nurses’ Potential) and the new website is designed to highlight how the project has, and will, work to meet these aims.

It includes information on activities such as the development of the Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Nursing qualification, the School Ambassadors Project (currently in abeyance due to COVID-19) and several case studies that demonstrate the wide variety of careers open to veterinary nurses.

Racheal Marshall, Chair of the VN Futures Board (pictured right), said: “Since its launch in 2016, the VN Futures project has been doing a great deal of work to meet its aims and so enhance and bolster the veterinary nursing profession. It is fantastic that, with the new website, all its work and major projects are featured in the same place, with its own distinct identity.

“While much of the work of the project has been going on behind the scenes, there have been some distinct achievements for us to celebrate, not least the Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Nursing, which paves the way for Advanced Veterinary Nurse status, and the work that’s been undertaken to clarify Schedule 3 and help veterinary professionals navigate how it works in practice.”

Jo Hinde, President of the BVNA, added: “We are very glad that we were able to launch this website just as another wonderful VN Awareness Month comes to a close as it really does highlight the breadth, depth and diversity of options open to veterinary nurses. I hope that those who visit the website can draw their own inspiration from the case studies in terms of their career paths and how they might want to develop and enhance their role as a veterinary nurse.

“We also hope that those reading the website might be inspired to get involved – whether that’s through writing a blog with their views on a topical issue, having their career profiled for one of our case studies, or registering an interest in one of the Working Groups that are working to deliver on the VN Futures Action Plan.”

To get involved in the VN Futures project or to contribute to the website contact Jill Macdonald, VN Futures Project Manager, on [email protected]