The RCVS has asked more than 800 registered veterinary nurses to submit their continuing professional development (CPD) records in order to monitor compliance with their professional obligation to undertake CPD.

Under the Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Nurses, members of the VN profession are expected to undertake at least 45 hours of CPD over a rolling three-year period in order to demonstrate that they are keeping their skills up-to-date and engaging in learning and development.

Every year since 2010, the RCVS has conducted a CPD audit with registered veterinary nurses to gauge compliance and see what type of CPD the profession is engaging in.

This year the College contacted a random sample of 468 registered veterinary nurses from across all postcode areas (representing around 8% of the profession) asking them to share their records. It also wrote to 107 RVNs who took part in last year’s audit but were short of meeting the requirement, 80 RVNs who failed to respond to requests to submit their records in last year’s audit and 150 RVNs who confirmed they were not compliant with the CPD requirement when renewing their registration last year.

Those veterinary nurses who were previously on the List and who were moved to the Register when the new RCVS Royal Charter came into effect in February 2015, have not been asked to take part in the audit. Previously listed veterinary nurses were not expected to undertake CPD and so the RCVS is allowing a ‘bedding in’ period of three years (until 2018) for them to fulfil the requirement.

Further details on how the new Charter affects previously listed veterinary nurses can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/registration/about-the-vn-register/royal-charter-faq/

Veterinary nurses taking part in the audit need to submit their CPD records to the College no later than Friday 14 August. Records can be submitted by allowing the RCVS access to the online Professional Development Record (www.vnpdr.org.uk), by emailing a scanned copy of the CPD record card or posting a photocopy of the card.

Those with any queries about the audit should contact the Veterinary Nursing Department on 020 7202 0701 or email vnpdr@rcvs.org.uk

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