How many hours makes a VN?

Re: How many hours makes a VN?

Dippy — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:31:13 GMT

PS I think it would get too compklicated to define active or non-active as there are lots of nurses who just do an odd day here and there as locum cover, in order to keep their hand in but work elsewhere the rest of the time. I'm sure as one of those falling into that category, I would not appreciate being called "non-active" to anyone employing me as an occasional locum!

Re: How many hours makes a VN?

Dippy — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:29:30 GMT

I get your point ie if you're not practising then you may not be as up to date as an RVN who is (hence the cpd requirement) but then again, you could argue that an RVN who's been qualified/worked in practice for 24yrs and is now in business has more knowledge/experience than someone who's "active" but only been qualified for a year or so. At the end of the day, if you've got the qualification, you've proven that you've got the knowledge and are capable of doing the job/earning the title and therefore should be able to get back up to speed pretty quickly in terms of drug changes etc if you're away from it for a preiod of time (and again, the 5yr "supervised" period addresses anyone who's been away for too long). I think the responsibility is on the RVN who's not active to ensure that their cpd covers the areas they are most likely to become out of touch with.

Personally, I had a break of 12yrs from practice but remained in animal/veterinary related jobs and therefore maintained my registered status (in fact, I was required to do so in one of the jobs, even though it did not involve hands on nursing as such) and it's amazing how quickly the theory all comes back to you when you return to veterinary work, albeit it got "filed away" for a while and I had to learn some new stuff as well.

Re: How many hours makes a VN?

Aimee Barber — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:19:54 GMT

that was what i thought, but do you guys think there should be a definition of 'active' VN.

Is it the same for a RVN to be practising to have the same as a RVN who has maybe been a rep/lecturer/guide dog person to have the same title. I get that its a qualification and once youve got it you should be allowed to use it.

I can't really make my mind up either way. I guess it depends on the role and the individual.

hmmmm.......

Re: How many hours makes a VN?

Victoria Nielsen RVN — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 11:03:20 GMT

Exactly I want to become a lecturer in veterinary nursing and I am using my RVN qualification in order to achieve this so as long as I keep my CPD hours up to date, I can still remain on the register as a RVN.

Re: How many hours makes a VN?

Dippy — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 23:30:08 GMT

Well that answers my previous question about what happens if you let your status lapse for more thna few years and want to return. At present, I am no longer in practice and as has been said in the previous posts, as long as i do the relevant number of cpd hours, can stay on the register and call myself RVN. There are actually lots of roles where people would choose to do this because the fact they have the qualfication adds to their standing in other roles - practice managers, charity workers, reps, petsitters etc.

Re: How many hours makes a VN?

BengalcatRVN — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 21:27:29 GMT

3. Registered veterinary nurses who have had a break of five years or more from active practice

must undertake a 17-week Period of Supervised Practice (PSP).

4. Veterinary nurses must maintain and develop the knowledge and skills relevant to their

professional practice and must undertake a minimum of 45 hours of CPD over any consecutive

three-year period and keep an appropriate record of CPD undertaken; a significant proportion of

which must be relevant to their area of practice.

the above 2 sections are from the draft, this may affect reps who might not be classed as "active" practicing RVNs, the guide doesn't state what is active practice and what isn't....

Re: How many hours makes a VN?

Steph Worsley — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 18:58:44 GMT

there are quite a few nurses who are out of practice (for example reps etc) who still keep their RVN status without doing any clinical work but keep up their CPD requirements

Re: How many hours makes a VN?

Victoria Nielsen RVN — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:52:05 GMT

When I worked in a hospital, we had a nurse who did admin only and she was a RVN.

Also you can be employed to do other things other than clinical nursing and still be a RVN.

Re: How many hours makes a VN?

Aimee Barber — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:50:27 GMT

Thanks for thoses quick replies!!

I'm gonna go home and read the draft tonight

I think it's fine when you have a part-time nurse, but not when no nursing is done. dunno how you would decide on the minimum amount of hours though!

Re: How many hours makes a VN?

Helen Tottey — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:33:21 GMT

I am sure there is something about this in the draft code to conduct. if you haven't already take a look at it and it will tell you the propasals for covering this scenario in future. You may want to comment if think it is unfair. It can be found on RCVS website and deadline for replies runs out on Friday.

The consultation is here:

http://www.rcvs.org.uk/about-us/consultations/our-consultations/draft-code-of-professional-conduct-for-veterinary-nurses/

Re: How many hours makes a VN?

Victoria Nielsen RVN — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:41:32 GMT

You can remain on the register as an RVN if you do the required amount of CPD per year (45 over three years I believe). There isn't a set amount of hours as I have a part-time nurse who works in my practice one day a week, but as long as she does the required CPD hours, she can remain on the register as an RVN. Hope this helps.