2.1 - the role of staff in veterinary practice

  • Vet surgeons - have to be registered on the RVCS list

  • Clients can report surgeons to the RCVS

  • Nurses also have to be registered on this list

  • Roles - diagnosing and treating diseases and injuries, performing diagnostic tests, advising clients of preventative care, operating, promoting health and welfare

  • Veterinary surgery - the art and science of veterinary surgery and medicine

  • Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 - manages the veterinary profession, registers veterinary surgeons and practitioners, regulates their professional education and conduct

  • RCVS code of professional conduct - sets out the professional responsibilities, essential in the regulation of the profession

  • Veterinary nurse (VN)  - also have to be registered with RCVS

  • Roles - preparing patients for surgery, providing support for owners and animals before surgery and after, assisting in the operating theatre, carrying out vet nurse consultations, administering medications and fluid therapy, obese ring and recording vital signs, applying bandages and dressings to wounds and fractures, and education. Owners of nutrition and preventative care, giving basic behavioural advice, carrying out diagnostic tests in labs, taking radiographs, dispensing medications and teaching overs have to use them

  • Vet nurses and accountable for their professional conduct, subject to standards set out by the veterinary nurse's court

  • They are required to undertake at least 15 hours of CPD annually and make relevant discourses to RVCS

  • THE RCVS professional codes of practise set out the responsibilities and conduct required, this includes the 5 principles of practise

  • Student veterinary nurse - comes enrolled for the purpose of training to become and vet nurse

  • In order to practise as an SVN the student must be enrolled with the RCVS, enrolled with an awarding body through their VNAC and be employed at an approved training practise

  • Roles - similar to those of a VN however treatment or minor surgery must be carried out in the course of straining under supervised conditions

  • Lay persons - reception staff, veterinary care assistants and other non-qualified persons

  • Roles - varied non-clinical roles, vet surgeon or nurse cannot delegate to a lay persons

  • Head Nurses - more admin-based role, overseeing and training students, organising rotas

  • Receptionists - the first contact with clients, responsible for making an impression of the practice, they will archaise appointment, takes payments and advise clients of facilities

  • Practise managers - above head nurses, senior admin role, deal with complaints, financial management, oversee client billing, and payments, staff salaries, their duties can also include ordering and pricing products, recruitment role

  • Animal nursing assistants - are not registered with the RCVS, as a result, they are not allowed to do the same tasks as a student vet nurse, roles include cleaning, walking and feeding