Moving forward with VN Vision
In this article, we provide an insight into the work of our VN Vision Project summarising its work to date, what's currently in the pipeline, and plans for the future.
VN Vision
Following the success and retirement of the VN Futures project, the RCVS took the opportunity to explore a wider, more ambitious notion for the profession. They established VN Vision, whose aim was to explore what the future of team-based veterinary healthcare should and could look like.
On this page
What is VN Vision?
VN Vision started in 2024 with a series of in-person and online workshops designed to gain a broad range of perspectives. Registered veterinary nurses (RVNs) and student veterinary nurses (SVNs) were asked to explore ‘what could and should the future of team-based veterinary healthcare look like and what role do registered veterinary nurses (RVNs) have in this picture?’.
By engaging with stakeholders we were able to gain a longer-term view of how the delivery of veterinary healthcare is expected to evolve and collect valuable data to use as the foundation for future projects. A number of key themes and discussions emerged:
- Culture
- Enhancing the VN role
- Regulation to support practice
- Leadership
- Education
The VN Vision snapshot report gives further insight into the conversations and themes that emerged during the workshops.
The first derivative project
The findings from VN Vision inspired a more focused project, titled 'A vision or a necessity? Strengthening the role of veterinary nurses in team-based veterinary healthcare'. In 2025 the project launched with a range of workshops exploring how we can develop systems that empower veterinary nurses to work to their full professional potential.
The team behind VN Vision
Julie Dugmore RVN, Director of Veterinary Nursing
"I believe that progression is about much more than career development for individual veterinary nurses. It is about how veterinary care is delivered. Modernising the legislative framework and enabling veterinary nurses to use their education, competence and professional accountability more fully could allow veterinary teams to work differently, making better use of the skills of every member of the team."
Jill Macdonald RVN, Veterinary Nursing Progression and Development Lead
"The VN Vision Project has been much more than work to me – it’s been about having the amazing resource, expertise and knowledge of the RCVS and our teams, behind enabling real change for veterinary nursing, the profession as a whole, and the patients and pet owners who rely on us to deliver the best possible service that we can."
Leigh Hinsley RVN, Veterinary Nursing Project Officer
"My passion for supporting, coaching and leading veterinary teams has highlighted my firm belief that when team members are empowered and have the current support to work to their full potential and collaborate; the entire team, clients and patients benefit. This is why my work on the VN Vision Projects is so important to me; to contribute to breaking down these barriers and equip practices and individuals with tools and a roadmap to help them succeed. "
Veterinary nurse educators explore the future of the profession at annual conference
Veterinary nurse educators from across the UK came together at the RCVS to explore the future of the profession at this year's Veterinary Nurse Educator Conference on 17 June 2026, which focused on the theme 'The Future RVN: People, Practice and Technology'.
Resources
Podcast - VN visionaries: shaping the future of veterinary nursing
In this episode, we explore the RCVS VN Vision project and how veterinary nurses can play a greater role in delivering efficient, team-based veterinary care.