Linnaeus, the Mars-owned veterinary group of 44 primary care and 12 referral veterinary practices in the UK, has launched a dedicated central team to help support and develop its nurses. 

Linnaeus says the team will focus on three priorities: student and patient care assistant experience, the professional development of nurses, and a preceptorship (Post-Registration Programme) to support the transition from ‘day one’ to ‘year one’ nurses in the company's referral hospitals.

Andrea Jeffery, Chief Nursing Officer at Linnaeus said: "We want to ensure Linnaeus has a veterinary nursing population which is supported and developed in order to reach its full potential in its ability to deliver best patient care. 

"To help achieve this, we aspire to enable the patient care and nursing team to achieve success through supportive, well managed training programmes, which our newly-established central support team will help to deliver. 

"This will ensure the structure of our nursing teams can help each individual meet their personal goals, with clear progression opportunities.

As part of the support team, Student Experience Managers Trish Scorer and Lucy Middlecote will be responsible for developing a standardised and supportive training approach for Student Veterinary Nurses, Patient Care Assistants and those clinical supervisors and mentors who support them. 

Meanwhile, Post-Registration Programme Managers Sam Thompson and Sophie Venables are responsible for supporting early career nurses to develop their skills in referral nursing and will support the development of ‘day one’ RVN post-registration training within the group’s referral practices. 

Lastly, professional Development Managers Claire Roberts (primary care) and Vicky Ford-Fennah (referral) have been given responsibility for supporting nurses who join the group, along with the co-ordination, development and implementation of professional development for RVNs and patient care assistants who want to progress their skills and knowledge in specific areas of patient care. 

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