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BEVA Congress to celebrate vet nurses with VN stream
BEVA Congress will include workshops where equine RVNs can develop their nursing skills.
The stream will include a progressive vet nursing workshop.

The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) has announced details of an educational stream designed specifically for veterinary nurses.

The stream at this year’s BEVA Congress, which takes place from 10-13 September, is intended to develop and promote the skills of an equine RVN.

The speakers in the stream include Louise Pailor, who will discuss sustainability, and Roger Smith, who will address the role of equine RVNs in orthopaedic care. David Rendle will demonstrate the process of a gastroscopy.

There will be veterinary nursing workshops in the afternoon, which will seek to develop nursing skills through discussion, practicals and group learning tasks.

The workshops will include stations for diagnostics, consulting skills, medicine and foals. They will be hosted by tutors including Jane Devaney, Rosina Lilywhite and Marie Rippingale.

Delegates will be invited to explore arthroscopy, acting in the role of orthopaedic scrub nurse. There will also be opportunities to improve suturing skills, master hands-on techniques for foals and learn how to prepare and set up Equine Biologics.

These practical sessions will be guided by practical experts, including David Stack, Sophie Haylock and Rosina Lilywhite.

Closing sessions will begin with an update from BEVA’s nurse committee. Cassie Woods will then discuss the role of the equine veterinary nurse outside the clinic and how the skills can be maximised out and about.

The day will close with a talk from Kayleigh Warren, who will explore the rehabilitation of the equine patient and how nurses could extend their care.

Cassie Woods, guardian of the vet nursing stream, said: “We really hope to see many of our amazing RVN and Student RVNs in attendance for what should be a day of exciting topics and the chance to get stuck in and further learn and develop skills to take back into your clinics,
 
“We are also excited to learn who will be the winner of this year’s Vet Nurse Empowerment Award, which highlights the invaluable skills and versatility of equine nurses by commending any individual within the profession who is actively championing the role of the equine nurse.”

Image © BEVA

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
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