The RCVS Guide to Professional Conduct for Veterinary Nurses is the benchmark for acceptable professional and ethical behaviour for VNs.
The Guide can be downloaded on the right, and is a companion to the RCVS Guide to Professional Conduct for Veterinary Surgeons.
Veterinary nursing is developing towards recognised professional status and the Guide is part of this transition.
A non-statutory Register for Veterinary Nurses was established in 2007 and forms a subset of the RCVS List of Veterinary Nurses. The List is the group of qualified veterinary nurses recognised by law to whom veterinary surgeons can delegate certain tasks – medical treatments and some minor surgery.
Registered veterinary nurses (RVNs) have the same rights under law as listed veterinary nurses, but in addition they have agreed to account for their professional conduct. This means following the Guide to Professional Conduct for Veterinary Nurses, carrying out continuing professional development and, from 1 April 2011, agreeing to take part in a complaints system, similar to that for veterinary surgeons.
This includes the RCVS Health Protocol which is Annex 3T to the RCVS Guide to Professional Conduct for Veterinary Surgeons. The Health Protocol for RVNs is a standalone document which specifically applies the RCVS Health Protocol to RVNs and this is underpinned by additions to part 1E of the Guide to Professional Conduct for Veterinary Nurses. The health protocols for veterinary surgeons and RVNs will be amalgamated as part of the review of the Guides to Professional Conduct.
Visit the Glossary of terms section of the website for help with any unfamiliar definitions or terms in the Guide.
If you have any questions about professional conduct issues, contact our Professional Conduct team.