A vision or a necessity? Strengthening the role of veterinary nurses in team-based veterinary healthcare
One of the key themes that emerged from the original VN Vision workshops was that veterinary nurses felt that their role was not integrated into the delivery of healthcare, their skillset was not fully recognised and utilised, and that they were not practising to their full scope and potential. Addressing this issue is the remit of the first derivative project from VN Vision.
Project aims
The Vision or Necessity project, launched in 2025, ran a new series of workshops inviting all members of the practice team to have their say in how we can move beyond the concept of ‘utilisation’ of veterinary nurses, and support genuinely effective, collaborative team-based care.
The project aims to:
- define long-term goals for VN integration,
- identify practical, context-sensitive steps to achieve them, and
- establish measurable indicators of success that are meaningful to the profession and the public.
Data insights
After running numerous successful workshops, a point of data saturation was reached (where no novel ideas were emerging from the sessions). The project has now progressed to the next stage.
A thematic analysis of the data identified key themes:
- Practice culture and communication
- Team integration and interprofessional understanding of roles
- Clarity around schedule 3 and legislation
- Training needs of the whole practice team
- Readiness to perform a more integrated role
- Development of recognised advanced roles
What's next?
Theory of change
The data is being used to devise a draft theory of change to underpin the long-term implementation of the project. This will outline the intended impact, the outcomes required to achieve it, and the enablers and barriers that may influence success. We have enlisted the support of a theory of change consultant to assist us with this stage.
Our new advisory panel
A new advisory panel has been developed to provide critique and act as a sounding board as the project progresses. The panel comprises a mix of veterinary nursing, veterinary surgeon, educator, and RCVS staff expertise.
The general public
In addition to gaining views on this topic within the professions, it is also important to gather insights from the public on their thoughts around any potential changes, and to explain how this could make a difference to them.
The project team will provide a session at an upcoming RCVS Public Advisory Group (PAG) meeting, a panel consisting of those who use veterinary services, including owners and keepers of companion animals, equines and farm animals. In this session, the group will explore how veterinary practices can clarify new ways of working with clients. For example, how nurse only appointments can be made routine, how nurses can hold more client facing roles, and how practices can make it clear about what nurses are able to do within practice.
Looking further ahead
Once the draft Theory of Change (ToC) has been completed, this will then be put out to consultation with the wider professions. The team will then look into how tools, resources and roadmap created from the ToC can be effectively integrated into practices to support them to successfully achieve cultural reform.
Other resources
Podcast
For more information on the project and how the potential outcomes could work in practice, listen to the latest RCVS podcast episode - ‘VN visionaries – shaping the future of veterinary nursing’. In the episode Lauren Hargrave and Carly Blann, RVNs from primary care practice, who have helped support the workshops, chat to Jill Macdonald.
Events
Come and find us at:
- BEVA Congress – we will be present on the RCVS stand as well as presenting the project on Friday 11th September in Hall 10.
- BVNA Congress – the team will be on the RCVS stand to talk about everything VN Vision and beyond!
Recently we have attended:
- European Specialist Nurses Organisation (ESNO) Conference, Rome – we presented our work and took part in a ‘hackathon’ where we gathered several useful ideas that could feed into the project.
- BVA Live – we hosted a one-hour interactive session which was well attended by a variety of members of the veterinary team.
- VetEd Symposium, Harper Keele University – we ran another one-hour workshop.
Get involved
The data gathering phase of the project may be over, but we still need input from the entire veterinary team to help shape the future of team-based veterinary healthcare. Keep an eye out for events and our consultation on our website, in the RCVS newsletter and across our social media channels. If you have any questions about the project, please contact us on [email protected].