Professionalism and Reflection in Veterinary Nursing

Professionalism and Reflection in Veterinary Nursing offers insight into the role of the veterinary nurse in the 21st century. It provides useful information that facilitates a deeper understanding of the underlying theory that supports clinical nursing practice. Exploring concepts that underpin the delivery of professional veterinary nursing, the book covers core issues, themes and principles that explain what it means to be a veterinary nurse.

• The role of the registered veterinary nurse
• The registered veterinary nurse’s responsibility to the patient
• Evidence-based veterinary nursing
• Veterinary nurse trainer and educator resources

A timely publication due to the increased recognition and expectations of the role of the veterinary nursing profession, Professionalism and Reflection in Veterinary Nursing is ideal for veterinary student nurses and qualified veterinary nurses, enabling them to contribute to the development of the professional identity.

Susan Badger MEd, Cert Ed, RVN qualified as a veterinary nurse in 1976 and spent a total of 18 years in clinical practice ranging from small animal to mixed and exotic practice. Clinical nursing practice eventually led to a post as head nurse in a small animal hospital and then nursing tutor at the then Berkshire College of Agriculture. She moved to the School of Veterinary Science at the University of Bristol to set up and run the veterinary nursing course, which later became the degree in Veterinary Nursing and Practice Administration. After more than two decades at the university, she took early retirement to concentrate on editorial work for several veterinary nursing publications as well as education consultancy.

Andrea Jeffery Ed.D MSc Dip, AVN, Cert Ed, RVN originally trained as an orthopaedic nurse in the NHS in 1985 and then changed her career pathway and became a veterinary nurse in 1990. Andrea worked in both primary care and referral specialist practice for several years before becoming a veterinary nurse educator. She worked at the University of Bristol for 17 years as part of and then latterly as programme lead for the veterinary nursing undergraduate programmes. Andrea joined Linnaeus in 2019 as the Chief Nursing Officer with the remit of developing a nursing strategy for the group.

Notes on Contributors vii

About the Companion Website ix

Introduction 1
Sue Badger and Andrea Jeffery

1 The History of Veterinary Nursing in the UK 9
Sue Badger

2 The Professional and Political Context of Veterinary Nursing in the UK 19
Andrea Jeffery

3 The Professional RVN 30
Evie Yon, Perdi Welsh, and Hamish Morrin

4 Clinical Advocacy -- The RVN’s Responsibility to the Patient and the Client 56
Kathy Kissick

5 The Veterinary Nurse’s Role in Supporting the Client 73
Jill Macdonald

6 The Veterinary Nurse Educator 105
Hilary Orpet and Andrea Jeffery

7 The Role of the RVN in Society 130
Rebecca Jones

8 The Reflective Practitioner 151
Sue Badger

9 The RVN's Role in Evidence-Based Veterinary Nursing 173
Sarah Batt-Williams and Lyndsay Wade

Index 212

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