' Protect the Title ' is a campaign being led by BVNA , which seeks statutory ( legal ) protection for the title ‘ veterinary nurse ’ in the UK .

In 2022 , BVNA surveyed members of the public and the veterinary profession to gain insights into their understanding of the role of the veterinary nurse . Responses were received from 8,302 veterinary professionals and 3,926 members of the public .

• 99 % of veterinary professionals said legal protection of the title would help veterinary nurses to feel the profession is valued

• 95 % of the public strongly agreed that the title ' veterinary nurse ' should be legally protected

• 92 % of the public said it was very important that their pet is cared for by a registered veterinary nurse

• 91 % of the public assumed someone calling themselves a veterinary nurse would be qualified and regulated

• 48 % of veterinary professionals knew someone calling themselves a veterinary nurse who is not qualified or registered

The responses included :

“ It diminishes our hard work when people refer to themselves as veterinary nurses when they ’ re not .”

“ Clients should know the differences between the staff looking after their animals , like in a human hospital .”

“ I ' d hope that the person advising me on the care of my pets has received training that enables them to be registered . The term ‘ registered ’ makes me feel more secure in their ability and knowledge .”

“ Recognition of the qualification would help us feel valued and appreciated . It could support structured pay scales and improve wages for veterinary nurses , which may help us stay in the profession longer .”

The data collected from the 2022 survey underlines the importance of seeking statutory protection for the title , so all veterinary nurses in the UK will have to be fully qualified and registered , for the benefit of the profession , the reassurance of the public and the wellbeing of the animals in their care .

Benefits of protecting the title ' veterinary nurse '

• formal recognition of the dedication it takes to train and qualify as a veterinary nurse

• the potential to introduce a grading system , to facilitate structured career paths and salaries

• certainty that all veterinary nurses are fully accountable and working to the same standards and professional code of conduct

• clearer recruitment processes for practices and transferable career paths for veterinary nurses

• improved job satisfaction , confidence and empowerment for veterinary nurses

• reassurance for owners that the person looking after their pet is properly trained and regulated

The campaign has also raised wider awareness of the issue across the profession , leading to discussions among colleagues about the title , and interest from veterinary nurses in undertaking training and registration . This is fantastic news , as their skills and experience are vital assets to their teams and their patients . The fact that they are taking this step to develop their careers and support the veterinary nursing profession is extremely encouraging .

Thank you to everyone who has supported and participated in the Protect the Title campaign .

Please continue to discuss the campaign , as the more we talk about it , the louder BVNA can shout about it to DEFRA and those instrumental in protecting the title ' veterinary nurse '.

Scan the QR code to find out more or visit the campaign page at https :// bvna . org . uk / project / bvna-protect-the-title-campaign