Welcome
Nikki Ruedisueli, RVN | VNJ Editor | nicola @ bvna. co. uk
Welcome to the August issue of VNJ. I hope you ' ve managed to grab some‘ down time’ over the summer months.
In this issue, Amy Morton showcases quality-of-life assessment tools to help clients make decisions around end-of-life care and euthanasia, and Vicky Weller advises on how VNs can support owners during this difficult time. Anarosa Wallace discusses how we can help foster harmony in multi-cat households, and Leah Reeve shares a case study evaluating the care given to a patient with a complicated decubitus ulcer. Plus, Deborah Haywood takes us through the steps for safely administering cytarabine chemotherapy to a patient, and Lydia Barry considers how patient handovers can be made more effective and efficient by using the I-PASS system.
The BVNA Council shares its response to the Competition and Markets Authority ' s working paper on page 6. On the subject of the Council, we have completed the new Council member selection process and will be welcoming the new members at the BVNA Congress AGM on Saturday 11 October 2025.
Thank you to all those who nominated articles for the VNJ Writer of the Year Award. We have also received lots of nominations for the Jean Turner Award, the Des Thompson Award and the Jennifer Townson Award. The winners will be announced at the dinner dance at BVNA Congress in October.
If you haven ' t already done so, don ' t forget to get your Congress tickets( https:// bvna. org. uk / congress /) to enjoy 3 days full of learning and fun. If you know of any non-members who might be attending Congress, remind them that it ' s cheaper to become a BVNA member before buying a ticket as they ' ll get a 40 % discount. Attending BVNA Congress counts towards your CPD hours, and we have some other great CPD events coming up over the next few months too – see the table below for a summary and links to further information.
I hope you enjoy the issue and the rest of summer!
Forthcoming CPD events Event Date / time Speaker( s) Venue
Progression is Power: Unleash your Nursing Potential
16 – 17 August 8.30 am start
Seven speakers, sponsored by Hill ' s Aberdeen Douglas Hotel, 43 – 45 Market Street, Aberdeen AB11 5EL, UK
|
Just
Breathe, Don ' t Panic, It ' s Only Brachycephalic!
|
16 September 7.30 – 9.00 pm |
Alison Devonshire, Grad Dip PCVN, RVN |
Debenham Veterinary Practice, 1 Cherry Tree Lane, Debenham, Stowmarket IP14 6QT, UK |
Swab it like it’ s hot! Antimicrobial stewardship in wound care |
24 September 7.00 – 8.00 pm |
Amelia Sherwood RVN, NCert( Anaesth) |
Online |
Nurse led dentistry: Part 1- GA considerations and investigations |
23 October 7.30 – 8.30 pm |
Cassandra Houghton BSc( Hons), RVN, NCert( Dent & Surg) |
Online |
Scan the QR code to access the digital version of VNJ with keyword search facility and hyperlinks to websites and references.
Volume 40( 4) • August 2025
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