RCVS holds annual VN Day at London Zoo

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) celebrated the veterinary nursing profession earlier this month with a special occasion at London Zoo.

The inaugural Veterinary Nurses Day took place on Tuesday 20 November at the Prince Albert Suite, ZSL London Zoo in Regent’s Park, to celebrate the achievements of the veterinary nursing profession and welcome new VNs onto the Register.

We generally host two admissions ceremonies each year, at which newly registered veterinary nurses, as well as registered veterinary nurses that have completed their Diploma in Advanced Veterinary Nursing (DipAVN), are invited to attend to celebrate their hard work and accomplishments with their friends and family. This year was the third time that it has been formalised as Veterinary Nurses Day and the nurses, along with their guests, were also invited to spend part of the day enjoying the zoo’s grounds.

For Rachael Marshall, who became Chair of Veterinary Nurses Council in July 2018, this was her first official event in the role and she led the newly registered nurses through their professional declarations. The ceremony was presided over by the President of the RCVS, Amanda Boag, who presented each new veterinary nurse with their scroll and welcomed them to the profession. Around 200 veterinary nurses collected their scrolls, as well as 16 RVNs who had achieved their DipAVNs.

The day consisted of three ceremonies: the first ceremony was for newly registered VNs who had completed the Level 3 diploma route. The second ceremony, during the middle of the day, was for newly registered VNs and nurses who had achieved the DipAVN, as well as Jan Stevenson who was celebrating her long service award as a veterinary nurse for 45 years.

Jan qualified as a Registered Animal Nursing Auxiliary (or RANA) in 1973, having trained in a mixed practice in Northampton, and in 1979 she became the BSAVA Armour Award Veterinary Receptionist of the Year. Jan is also a member of the BSAVA and its West Midlands Committee.

The day finished with the third ceremony for newly registered VNs, nurses who have achieved the Advanced Diploma, and Brenda Slade (now retiring) who was also celebrating her long service award, having been a veterinary nurse for 47 years. Brenda trained and qualified as a RANA at the Putney RSPCA Hospital and went from there to a mixed practice in Torquay, and from 1994 has worked at Priory Veterinary Practice.

Speaking at the event, Rachael Marshall said, “It is my great pleasure and honour to welcome you all here today, celebrating your achievements and taking your declarations to join the RCVS Register of Veterinary Nurses, for those of you who are new to our profession. The title of veterinary nurse is one to be very proud of." 

Speaking at the event, Rachael Marshall said, “It is my great pleasure and honour to welcome you all here today, celebrating your achievements and taking your declarations to join the RCVS Register of Veterinary Nurses, for those of you who are new to our profession. The title of veterinary nurse is one to be very proud of. As veterinary nurses you are a vital part of the veterinary team, working alongside your colleagues to ensure the health and welfare of your patients, and supporting clients in what can sometimes be very difficult and emotional decisions.”

Also speaking at the event Amanda Boag added, “It is a huge privilege to stand here before you and be allowed to share in your day. This is a great day for your profession as we are welcoming new enthusiastic, caring veterinary nurses to a profession which I am incredibly proud to work in; a profession that makes a difference to animals, their owners and society, day in and day out. You should all be very proud of your achievements.”

The next set of VN ceremonies will be held in May and October 2019.