Standard 6 - Effective clinical learning

This requirement relates to the practical training requirements for student veterinary nurses. The facilities and resources must be available for students at the AEI or delivery site, and in the TP. The RCVS does not mandate the facilities and resources required, rather the AEI is expected to consider the requirements for its own students, and to ensure the facilities will meet these requirements, and be assured that the RCVS Day One Skills can be effectively taught and assessed.

In order to be deemed a ‘student veterinary nurse’ students must first be registered onto an accredited qualification and then enrolled with the RCVS, via the online enrolment system. Where there are any changes to a student’s status, the RCVS must be informed immediately.

The practical training of student veterinary nurses is an essential element of their journey towards their ability to apply to register, and they must have the full opportunity to learn from, and with, the practice team. AEIs, delivery sites and TPs must ensure that student veterinary nurses are actively involved in all aspects of patient care and veterinary practice, whilst ensuring they have the time and capacity to undertake their RCVS Day One Skills and log this progression accordingly (see Requirement 3.7).

The practical training must, however, be undertaken in accordance with Schedule 3 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act, therefore, student veterinary nurses must be supervised and, in the case of minor surgery, the supervision must be direct and continuous.

All student veterinary nurses must have the opportunity to train in an RCVS listed TP, or auxiliary TP, for at least 1800 hours, through either employment or via placement. All non-employed student veterinary nurses must have their placement sourced for them. It is accepted that developing the skills for future employment applications, such as writing a CV and attending interviews, is especially important, but the seeking and confirmation of a placement must be facilitated by the AEI.

As discussed above, student veterinary nurses must undertake at least 1800 hours of clinical training in an RCVS listed TP or auxiliary TP. This requirement must be embedded within the qualification. Nonetheless, there will likely be scenarios where students are required to be absent from their clinical practice, thus there must be sufficient opportunity for students to make up this time as required.

This must also be factored into the planned dates for the OSCE assessment; all RCVS Day One Skills, and the 1,800 hours in clinical practice, must be completed as entry requirement for the OSCE. If a student requires additional time in clinical practice, this should not affect their ability to enter the OSCE, unless a significant absence has been required.

All student veterinary nurses must have a clinical supervisor who has sufficient time and capability to train and assess them in clinical practice. This should be reflected in the MOU between the AEI or delivery site and the TP (see Requirement 2.5).

There is no requirement for clinical supervisors to have been registered for a specific length of time, however, it is expected that they themselves are suitably qualified and experienced to support the training of student veterinary nurses (see Requirement 4.1). Where recently qualified professionals are utilised as clinical supervisors, they should be supported by more experienced team members in the TP or have a member of the AEI/delivery site team available to support their knowledge and experience.

These records are a mandatory element of the registration process, and must, therefore, be correctly completed and signed by the relevant personnel. Where there has been a change in training practice principal, the RCVS must be informed immediately. Should this not happen, there will likely be a delay to the registration process.

As discussed in Requirements 6.4 and 6.5, student veterinary nurses must undertake at least 1,800 hours of clinical training in an RCVS TP, or auxiliary TP. In order to facilitate this, the AEI or delivery site must be able to demonstrate that all students are either employed or placed in a TP or auxiliary TP. It is recognised that some TPs can only support one student veterinary nurse at a time, whereas others can support multiple student veterinary nurses at once. Therefore, the number of training practices is less important than the ability to demonstrate the effective practical training of student veterinary nurses.

The clinical practice must be listed with the RCVS as a TP or auxiliary TP. The criteria for approval are not set by the RCVS, but rather the AEI or delivery site determining that the practice meets the specific requirements for its qualification, be that species or
equipment specificity.

It is not practical to assume that all students from a specific AEI or delivery site will be employed or placed in TPs affiliated to that AEI, therefore, it is accepted that student veterinary nurses will occasionally be employed or request placement in a TP not affiliated to their AEI or delivery site. In this scenario, the AEI or delivery site where the student veterinary nurse is undertaking their qualification is obligated to liaise with the AEI or delivery site to which the TP is affiliated. This must be clearly evidenced, and an additional MOU must be in place between the AEI or delivery site and the non-affiliated TP (see Requirement 2.5).

Requirement 3.6 stipulates that student veterinary nurses are supported according to their individual learning needs, proficiency, and confidence. This requirement similarly mandates that the clinical learning is similarly adapted, according to the student veterinary nurse’s individual requirements. For example, a student veterinary nurse who has worked in practice for 10 years is unlikely to require the same initial level of instruction on cleaning a kennel, whereas a student veterinary nurse who has worked as hotel receptionist will likely be more confident with client care and managing appointments. Nonetheless, it is important that clinical supervisors are assured of a student veterinary nurse’s capability, having practically observed them (see Requirement 5.8), before confirming competency.

Whilst all student veterinary nurses will be supported in the TP/aTP by a clinical supervisor (see Requirement 6.6), there will likely be times where the shift patterns do not align, or the clinical supervisor is on annual leave. Other members of the veterinary team can, in accordance with their skill and experience, assist with the training and assessment of the student veterinary nurse. This process must be clearly documented and auditable.