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BVNA welcomes new president
Wendy spoke of the “sense of belonging and being welcomed” she experienced when she attended her first BVNA Congress.
Wendy Nevins encourages VNs to utilise their voice

“It is important that as a profession, we have a strong coherent voice,” said the BVNA’s new president, Wendy Nevins, who took up her role at last week’s congress.

She takes over from outgoing president Sam Morgan. Wendy is the first BVNA president to be selected and appointed using the association’s new method of succession planning and recruitment, which was announced as part of its recent governance review.

Speaking to delegates at the AGM, she said the profession is facing many potential changes in the future, including the review of Schedule 3 and the still unknown implications of Brexit. With this in mind, she wants to see more veterinary nurses “step up and speak up”, as it is “through our membership that we gain our strength; the more members we have, the louder our voice will be”.

This could involve taking part in surveys, consultations, the VN Voice Poll, voting in elections, or simply sharing relevant posts on social media. During her presidential year she hopes to double participation in the VN polls, as well as growing and developing Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month.

Turnout of veterinary nurses in recent consultations and elections has been “quite low”, something Wendy believes “really needs to improve if we want to grow our profession”.

She also aims to maintain and grow the BVNA’s relationships with its peer organisations. Looking to the future, she said the association’s recent governance review will enable it to grow.

“I’ve seen the congress, the association, and the profession grow so much over my career, and in everything I do for the BVNA, I will ask: Is this the right thing for our profession? Is this the right thing for animal welfare? And also, is this the right thing for our members?”

Wendy spoke of the “sense of belonging and being welcomed” she experienced when she attended her first BVNA Congress, and still feels today.

Although she has not always worked in the profession, something always brings her back.

“Veterinary nursing is a passion,” she explained. “It’s part of me and something I imagine and hope I’ll always be a part of.”

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.