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Part A: RCVS Day One Competences for Veterinary Nurses

This document sets out the minimum essential competences that the RCVS expects all student veterinary nurses to have met when they register, to ensure that they are safe to practise on day one, in whichever area of the profession they start to work.

Competence is a concept that integrates knowledge, skills and attitudes, the application of which enables the professional to perform effectively, including being able to cope with contingencies, change, and the unexpected. The standard of competence expected at any given time will depend upon the individual’s level of experience and responsibility in a continuous way. Competence is therefore a relative term and increasing levels of competence will be expected throughout the professional’s career.

Defined in this way, there is an important difference between ‘competence’ and ‘skills’. An example of a competence would be “administer nursing care correctly”. This may include a number of associated skills such as assess and record temperature, pulse and respiration, assess levels of consciousness, groom and bathe patients, hand feed patients etc, which would, in the main, be assessed and recorded during the student’s clinical placement as evidence of developing competence. The more generic ‘competence’ requires more than just acquisition of technical skills: it involves applying relevant knowledge and having the confidence and ability to transfer what has been learnt to a variety of contexts and new unpredictable situations.

‘Day One Competence’ which incorporates the Day One Skills is the minimum standard required for registration as a veterinary nurse with the RCVS and is the starting point for a variety of roles in the veterinary profession. After registration, ongoing professional development will be needed in whichever field the newly registered veterinary nurse decides to enter, and some roles may require further training and qualifications (eg. Specialist theatre nursing, education).

A newly registered veterinary nurse who has achieved day one competence should be capable and confident enough to practise veterinary nursing at a primary care level on their own (including simple calculations), under direction from a veterinary surgeon, while knowing when it is appropriate to refer the care to more experienced colleagues. Newly registered veterinary nurses are likely to need more time to perform some functions. Support and direction from more senior colleagues should be available.

Achievement of day one competence is necessary but not sufficient for a student veterinary nurse to qualify for registration to practise in the UK. In addition to day one competence, all student veterinary nurses must, at all times, demonstrate competence in reading and writing the English language in order to be able to cope with the variety of situations they will encounter in veterinary practice.

The newly registered veterinary nurse must be fully conversant with and abide by the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct and its associated guidance, covering:

  • professional competence
  • honesty and integrity
  • independence and impartiality
  • client confidentiality and trust
  • professional accountability.

These principles, and compliance with the professional responsibilities set out in the Code, must underpin all their work as veterinary nurses. The latest version of the Code and supporting guidance can be found on the RCVS website. The day one competences below are set out under the broad headings of:

  • General professional skills and attributes expected of newly registered veterinary nurses
  • Practical and clinical competences expected of newly registered veterinary nurses.

There are many ways in which these competences can be learnt and assessed, but the RCVS leaves the decisions on the details to universities and awarding organisations, subject to quality monitoring and periodic accreditation visits. Universities and awarding organisations are responsible for developing the Licence to Practise qualification for their students, encompassing a variety of assessment methods (which must include formal reading and writing assessment based on veterinary terminology) and ensuring that they have met the Day One Competences by the time they apply to register. They are greatly assisted in this by the RCVS Day One Skills List, which provides the essential practical skills that must be assessed throughout the course of their training.

Day one competence may be gained in relation to the care of either horses (or other equidae) or small animals, which should include dogs, cats and exotic species or all or a combination of the three.

See competences below, with guidance underneath each.