Nottingham veterinary student Emma Freeman is conducting a survey amongst veterinary nurses about the risks facing veterinary patients. All participants will be entered into a prize draw to win £100.

Emma said: "Safety of patients is becoming a top priority for the NHS. The NHS has its own agency; National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) and reporting system; National Clinical Assessment Service (NCAS). These agencies work together to evaluate current systems and identify trends in current data. Some current data suggests that 10% of patients admitted to NHS hospitals will experience an adverse event, and of these incidents 50% could have been avoided.  In contrast, there is no current data or system in place in the veterinary profession."

She added: "Life in a veterinary practice can get extremely hectic, with hundreds of decisions being made every day relating to the health and welfare of patients.  Although nobody wants them to occur, events can sometimes happen that lead to issues regarding the safety of patients.  "To err is human" - what is essential is that error is managed and preventative measures are put in place so that the veterinary team can learn and improve."

The survey asks for the observations and opinions of veterinary nurses with regards to management of risk and non technical skills. Emma said:"Veterinary nurses play an intricate role in the day to day tasks of a veterinary practice, and can therefore provide a detailed insight into the current systems in a veterinary setting."

The survey takes the form of a questionnaire, which should take no longer than 15 minutes to complete and you can access it by clicking on the following link:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/patientsafetyinveterinarypractice

PS: Whilst you're here, take a moment to see our latest job opportunities for vet nurses.