RE: Is this a small step in the right direction?

apache — Wed, 11 Apr 2018 22:08:55 GMT

I'm fully supportive of the idea but any legislation will have to be worded very carefully or we may shoot ourselves in the foot.

Currently we have SQP-CA who can prescribe POM-VPS flea treatments that a VN can't unless also a SQP. What I would hate to see is all the flea and worm treatments that are currently POM-V becoming available in pet stores and agricultural merchants under the SQP supply route. I can see AMTRA getting rather annoyed if an attempt was made to jump VNs from having less prescribing rights to suddenly having more than an SQP. I'm gravely concerned by the prescribing practices of some SQPs and nothing is ever done about it. AMTRA do seem to manage a strong and united voice, something I feel VNs (and vets) often lack.

Be careful what we wish for.

RE: Is this a small step in the right direction?

Tania Ford — Wed, 11 Apr 2018 12:11:11 GMT

[quote user="Ben Ogden"]Is this a a small step in the right directions to getting the RVN roles to where it ought to be?[/quote]

I personally think this IS a tiny step in the right direction. There are lots that need to be changed, but tiny steps are fine by me, so long as it keeps progressing. Clients don't understand WHY they have to waste their time coming in to see a vet for flea/worm treatments, because as you say, they can get a lot of them without prescription anywhere these days. I have recently reported overseas sellers on Ebay selling Seresto collars without the need for a prescription!

Giving nurses the ability to prescribe certain things will help with these issues and may also give the general public increased knowledge of what an RVN is and can do. After all, some human nurses are prescribing during their consults, so why cant RVN's? Yes its an additional responsibility, but so far as i can see, its a move in the right direction.