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The traditional NVQ 'portfolio' system for student veterinary nurses could be phased out from next summer, under draft proposals from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Awarding Body, which has responsibility for the delivery of VN qualifications.
Proposals include an initial year of full-time college study, during which the student does not need to be employed in a Training Practice (TP), the introduction of compulsory farm animal work experience, the phasing out of the separate Equine Veterinary Nursing qualification and a reduction in practice-based assessment.
The catalyst for reviewing the VN qualification came from Ofqual's plans to introduce the new Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) from summer next year, which effectively scraps the NVQ in its current form. This gave the RCVS Awarding Body an excellent opportunity to reconsider work-based training for VNs in order to improve its effectiveness and efficiency.
The Awarding Body's proposals, on which comments are invited, aim to reduce bureaucracy for those involved with VN training, increase the number of practices able to take part and improve accessibility of training, ultimately increasing the number of qualified VNs available to the profession.
Under the new proposals, VN work-based training would be a two-year, 70-credit Level 3 qualification, equivalent to 700 hours' learning. The first year of this qualification could be delivered either as a full-time college course, or as a part-time day-release over two years (extending the complete training to three years). The first year would incorporate 25 days' work placement, including small animal, equine and farm animal environments - the first time a compulsory farm animal component has been introduced. This first year of the course could be directly accessed by school leavers, as there is no requirement for them to be employed in a practice.
Students would be employed in a Training Practice for the second 'clinical' year (or third year for part-time students). An online log of practical experience, similar to the Professional Development Phase for new veterinary graduates, would replace the current portfolio, with a more comprehensive end-of-year practical exam. There would no longer be a requirement for practice-based assessors, although students would still need to be supported by an experienced clinical mentor, a role many current assessors may assume.
The economic feasibility of Equine Veterinary Nurse (EVN) training was also considered, with the conclusion that a broader-based primary qualification, with all students carrying out work experience in a range of practice types, was more sustainable.
The number of training practices has long been recognised as a limiting factor in the UK's capacity to train VNs. In addition to standard TPs, proposals have therefore been made for Auxiliary TPs (ATPs). ATPs would be able to employ and train VN students even if they do not have the facilities to provide all of the work experience required: a formal agreement to allow students to fill the gaps at another practice would be in place.
Finally, the proposals include a beefed up range of post-registration education options, allowing Registered Veterinary Nurses to develop, and be recognised, in their own areas of interest. This would help to create a career ladder for RVNs and assist in their retention within the profession.
"The proposals have been developed following a period of consultation with those involved with the delivery of VN training, and with employers," says Jacqui Molyneux, RCVS Council Member and Chairman of the VN Awarding Body.
"Feedback suggests that the current syllabus and training provides competent nurses who are highly regarded within the profession, but that training is overly burdensome for the practices involved. This, coupled with a recognised shortage of both Training Practices and qualified VNs, meant it was appropriate to think more creatively about how the qualification could be delivered. We hope that the draft proposals will be welcomed by both the veterinary nursing and veterinary professions, and would urge people involved to let us know what they think."
The proposals are available on RCVSonline (www.rcvs.org.uk/latestnews ) - please email your comments to Miss Jane Dawson, Project Consultant (jkhdawson@aol.com), by 31 October 2009. It is appreciated that this is a short deadline, however, the time-frame of the QCF is driving development, as is the need to allow colleges and training providers the maximum possible time to develop the new training structure for 2010/11 delivery.
PS: Whilst you're here, take a moment to see our latest job opportunities for vet nurses.
Yes what happens to the trainee veterinary nurses that are already in full time employment as a trainee vet nurse waiting to start the day release training next year?!Who can not afford to be out of full time work?!
I hated writing my portfolio with a burning passion, yet even I am forced to admit that it was an important tool in my training. Writing caselogs made me stop and think about what I had been doing, and made me do plenty of extra background reading. Simplification would definitely be beneficial, but abandoning the portfolio altogether would be a backward step.
I have worked in veterinary practice for 5 years and have just completed my VCA. My practice is very reluctant to put me one to my first year due to the amount of paperwork involved. This would be very time consuming as I work in a very small practice. If the RCVS where to simplify its bureaucracy maybe more small practises would be willing to train. The only whey I can now do my training is to get a job at our out of hour’s hospital which is very difficult (I’ve tried). So changing the system will do nothing but make more competition for jobs which there are all ready to little.
Hey! I am a 4th year degree SVN and I love portofolio! Yes it is a bit lengthy and a lot of paper work but it makes me do some stuff like trigene concentrations which I would not have reseached by myself!
The course could be a bit shorter - 3 years may be, as we do get a lot of holidays, but otherwise I am always working in practice doing my work experience and not just sitting in classroom!
In a way I am a bit jelous that those new students will have less debt than me but hey - I love what I am doing and I will continue doing it!
Sorry I did not have any constructive proposals, its just my thoughts on the whole issue.
Although many comments here show valid concerns I do feel that some of you should take the time to read the proposals fully. Although the first year is college based a full time course is only two days a week of teaching. 25 days is the minimum amount of placement to be completed but students would be encouraged to undertake as much as they were able. A two day week would make this accessible. It is very easy to condem the proposals but veterinary nurse training is well overdue an overhaul and I would suggest to the negative amoung you that perhaps your comments would hold more weigh if you could bring some constructive ideas to the forum.
Im currently a nursing assistant and will hopefully train next september, am i right in thinking that my course will now last three years?!!
i'm doing my ana this year and would like to do vn next but not sure now if they change everything!! i've got a house and life to pay for on a bad wage already!! not sure???
I agree with Lynn. As an assessor I applaud anything which simplifies the portfolio. A halfway stage between little green book and current standards would be great. When I did the 'green book' my practical training was taken seriously by my mentors and was not simply as case of ticking boxes. Many of my students have been great nurses, but have not found it easy to articulate their practical ability which has resulted in them (and me!) spending an enormous amount of effort on the portfolio despite passing exams first time.
Practical and theoretical skills should be learnt alongside each other, it simply does not make sense to have one without the other.
I also agree that farm and equine skills should be kept as an additional qualification. Why spend time learning a subject that the majority of nurses may never use?
If you look on the proposal, the "secondment" year in a vet practice does not have to be paid employment. This concerns me as the students nurses do not even have to be paid a minimum wage. How many people realistically can afford to commit to this type of training? What about all the mature students who desperatley want to become vet nurses and struggle as it is coming from a higher wage back to a trainee wage?
As an assessor I fully agree that the Portfolio has become time comsuming with all the paper work involved, however if it could be simplified it is a vast improvement on the 'little green book'. The portfolio shows the knowledge the student has gained and their practical skills - it is also shows the student what they have achieved.
Pratical experience is essenstial as ours is a practical job. Students need hands on while someone is guiding them as to why they are doing what they are doing. The deeper theory needs to be learnt in the classroom but they need the pratical experience first to be able to relate to the theory.
I feel farm animals and equine should be kept seperate and become an additional qualification should an individual nurse require/want it.