The RCVS has published new research on the possibility of a future veterinary nurse prescriber role.
This research found a consensus amongst panel members that veterinary nurses would be able to recognise and correctly refer a majority of issues that could be presented as part of small animal vaccine consultation.
Our Research Team conducted the study with two panels of mid-career veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses drawn at random from their respective UK registers. The aim of the research was to help the panels reach consensus on whether conditions which may be uncovered at a vaccine consultation would be recognised by a veterinary nurse, and the potential risks if those conditions were missed.
It was important to understand where there could be missed opportunities for diagnosis or treatment if a veterinary nurse prescriber conducted the appointment rather than a veterinary surgeon. We therefore wanted to understand the risks of a health check being conducted by a veterinary nurse prescriber. Vaccination consultations were chosen as an example of an occasion on which a health check might be provided by a veterinary nurse prescriber.
Over the course of the research (which was conducted between December 2025 and April 2026), there was a consensus amongst the two panels that a veterinary nurse with at least five years’ experience in clinical practice would be able to identify 34 of the 42 conditions which could be picked up as part of an annual vaccination consultation with the animal and its owner / keeper.
For the remaining eight conditions, even though the panels did not reach the threshold for consensus, panel members were most likely to say that a veterinary nurse would correctly refer this to a veterinary surgeon.
Julie Dugmore RVN (pictured), our Director of Veterinary Nursing, said: “Thank you to the RCVS Research Team and to all the veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses who participated in this research so that we could better understand the potential risks involved with developing a future veterinary nurse prescriber role.
“Under current legislation, only veterinary surgeons are able to prescribe veterinary medicines such as vaccinations, whereas in human healthcare such medications can be prescribed by nurses provided they have sufficient training and competence. This research is a key part of establishing the feasibility of a veterinary nurse prescriber role, as one part of their clinical responsibilities could be carrying out vaccination consultations and prescribing the vaccination.
“We are glad there was consensus that veterinary nurses could identify the majority of issues though there were a few conditions, particularly those that might occur in older animals or in rabbits, where the panels suggested additional experience or training. This was seen as particularly important for conditions that the vet nurse might hear or feel – such as abnormal lung or intestinal sounds, and enlarged thyroid or lymph nodes.
“We will now be feeding this research back to our Standards Committee and to Veterinary Nurses Council and we will be working to develop possible models for a vet nurse prescriber role which would require additional qualifications and training.
“Though it might be early days, this research is a small step towards developing qualifications which could eventually give vet nurses greater clinical autonomy, make full use of their skills and experience, and free up veterinary surgeon time.”
The full report, which was presented at the British Veterinary Association (BVA) Live conference in June 2026, can be viewed on our dedicated research team page.
