VNJ Editor , Head of Learning and Development at BVNA
Welcome to the first VNJ of 2023 . I hope you all managed to get some time off over the Christmas and New Year period .
Thank you to all the authors who ' ve submitted ( and continue to submit ) articles to VNJ . The standard has been exceptional and the topics fascinating .
We ' re looking forward to seeing this year ' s submissions . We welcome contributions on all aspects of the veterinary profession , so don ' t be shy – get in touch ! Topics we ' d particularly like to cover in 2023 include :
• Cardiovascular system
• Renal system
• Diagnostic tests and equipment
• Nursing reptile patients
• Wound care
• Haematology
• Endocrine disorders
• Theatre protocol
• Student-specific topics
If you started 2023 with a resolution to write , but missed the guide to writing for VNJ in the December 2022 issue , delve into VNJ ' s digital archives for our stepby-step guide , including a full topic list and submission deadlines – and remember we ' re here to help .
In addition to a growing archive ( with new keyword search facility ), the digital VNJ has many extra benefits . If you ' re thinking of contributing an article , you can now enhance your submission by including extra supplementary material , such as videos and podcasts , to feature exclusively in the digital VNJ .
On the subject of articles , we ' re now using the Vancouver referencing style to improve the accessibility and flow of articles . We ' ve also moved the space allocated to professional development notes ( PDNs ) from the end of each article to the last few pages of the journal – again to improve flow and digital navigation . We hope you find these changes helpful and would welcome your feedback , particularly on whether the allocation of PDN space is useful .
Contact us by email at
vnj @ bvna . co . uk with any comments , questions or ideas for articles . This is your journal and it ' s better with your input .
BVNA is set to be busy in 2023 and central to our endeavours will be making sure Protect the Title stays at the top of everyone ' s agenda . Although the campaign will take several years to complete , it is important we continue to talk to stakeholders , such as DEFRA , and deliver key information to support our campaign .
Over 10,000 people completed the Protect the Title survey , including 3,300 members of the public . The responses to the public survey showed that owners want qualified people to nurse their pets , with over 90 % of them assuming that people who call themselves ‘ veterinary nurses ’ have had professional training .
Interestingly , responses from the survey of veterinary professionals indicated that 52 % of people know someone who calls themselves a ‘ veterinary nurse ’ but has not achieved a qualification . That means 3,990 of you may work alongside someone who is misrepresenting themselves .
Over 80 % of respondents felt that protecting the title ‘ veterinary nurse ’ would make a difference to everyday life , citing increased respect and improved job satisfaction as being key to this .
BVNA will drill down into the information gathered from the surveys to support our message about the value of the veterinary nursing profession . BVNA president , Charlotte Pace , has already visited the House of Lords , and we will continue to lobby the Government and spread the message to raise awareness .
Over the next few years , some important changes will be considered , aimed at increasing the impact veterinary nurses have in providing patient care , raising awareness of training and skills , and improving our job satisfaction . Your engagement will make a real difference to our profession , so look out for reports in future issues of VNJ , and keep providing feedback , comments and thoughts to help BVNA make a difference .
Scan the QR code to access the digital version of VNJ with hyperlinked websites and references ( where available ).
Volume 38 ( 1 ) • February 2023
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