Health and disability in veterinary nurse education and training

Many of the key messages in relation to the application of reasonable adjustments for veterinary nursing students are similar to those in other regulated health professions.

Our priority is to support students and practitioners in the study and practice of veterinary nursing, while ensuring safe practice for animal health and welfare, and maintaining educational standards. The importance of adhering to safe practice for all should be applied to the entirety of this guidance. Providers should conduct risk assessments on the potential safety impact of all reasonable adjustments to ensure this is met.

Key principles[1]

• People with disabilities should be welcomed and respected for the value they add to the veterinary professions, animal health and welfare. A diverse population is better served by a diverse workforce that has had similar experiences and understands their needs.
• Veterinary nurses, like any other professional group, can experience ill health or disability. This may occur at any point in their studies or professional career, or long before they become interested in veterinary nursing. Ill health or disability may be an acute or time-limited condition, or a chronic or long-term situation.
• No health condition or disability by virtue of its diagnosis automatically prohibits an individual from studying or practising veterinary nursing.
• Having a health condition or disability alone is not a fitness to practise concern. We look at the impact a health condition is having on the person's ability to practise as a veterinary nurse safely and within the interests of animal health and welfare, which will be unique for each individual.
• Veterinary nursing students and RVNs have acquired knowledge and skills which should be utilised and retained within the profession to benefit the public and animal welfare.
• Legally, disability is defined as an 'impairment that has a substantial, long-term adverse effect on a person's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities'. This covers a range of conditions, including physical disabilities, mental health conditions, learning difficulties and neurodevelopmental conditions, if they meet the criteria of the definition. The Equality Act 2010 and Disability Discrimination Act of Northern Ireland 1995 (hereafter referred to as 'UK Disability Discrimination Laws') provide that an illness or disability is long-term if:

1. it has lasted for at least 12 months;
2. it is likely to last for at least 12 months; or
3. it is likely to last for the rest of the life of the person affected.

There is normally no duty to apply reasonable adjustments if somebody has a short-term illness.

• Veterinary nursing students must demonstrate that they are competent in the Day One Competences (DOC), Day One Skills (DOS) and Professional Behaviours (PBs) by the end of their course in order to be awarded the veterinary nursing qualification and apply to have their name entered onto the RCVS Register of Veterinary Nurses, allowing them to practise as veterinary nurses in the UK.
  
  Under the current Veterinary Surgeons Act (VSA), there are no 'limited licensure' measures, which means that students with disabilities cannot be exempt from meeting any part of the DOC, DOS or PBs.

[1] Adapted from the General Medical Council (GMC) Welcomed and Valued guidance, pg 3.

Please note: this general guidance does not purport to be legal advice and is not to be relied upon as legal advice. Students and education providers should take their own advice in the particular circumstances and as required.

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