By Lauren Hargrave BSc (hons) (Animal Behaviour), FdSc RVN and Carly Blann (Dip) RVN 

Everyone is already familiar with the vital role veterinary nurses play in the day-to-day running of a practice. But, what if there was more? What if Registered Veterinary Nurses (RVNs) could be even more involved, truly embedded in a team-based approach that supports the whole practice? Imagine a world where vets and RVNs work seamlessly together, where everyone gets proper rest breaks, and there’s time to thoroughly work up cases… What if we told you that some vets and RVNs were already doing it?

It’s not without challenges, there is legislation to navigate and plenty of hurdles to overcome, but despite this, we have focused on resolutions. We have seized opportunities to unlock the potential of our RVNs by encouraging them to take on responsibilities that they've always been allowed to do under current legislation, but have likely not fully explored.

In this blog series, we’ll be diving into procedures and appointments that have the potential to be undertaken by RVNs such as running their own ops list, schedule 3 procedures, induction of anaesthesia (to a set dose), and additional (traditionally vet-led) appointments such as booster vaccinations, ear/lump examinations and wound/abscess care.

Our mission is simple: To share what we’ve learned and help other practices make the most of every opportunity.

What made us choose to utilise our RVNs fully?

We use the word fully, because the legislation hasn’t changed. Since the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) legislation working party was established in 2017 (RCVS, 2025), we have heard many conversations and debates about changing the legislation to allow RVNs to do more, both in-practice and online.

We too shared (and continue to share!) this view. Protecting the title of Veterinary Nurses, allowing them to progress professionally with education, enabling them to take on more responsibilities (mirroring human medicine) is something we would love to happen.

 However, this made us think. What can RVNs do? After going through the Veterinary Surgeons Act and the RCVS guidelines for vets and RVNs (especially schedule 3) with a fine-toothed comb, we contacted the RCVS for clarification and set out to incorporate additional RVN responsibilities into our day to improve the running of the practice, give our RVNs job satisfaction and better our patient care.

So, what are the benefits of utilising RVNs better?

• It frees up time for the vets. Handling routine consultations and procedures allows them to spend more time and focus on more complex cases. (Remember, we are talking about RVNs taking on things that they historically do not do, but these are things they are allowed to do under current legislation).

• It improves patient care. It avoids using boosters as ‘catch up’ consults and allows for appropriately booked time for the vets instead (for example a double appointment for a complex case), as there is more space in the vet’s diary. We have also noticed it reduces antibiotic usage in consultations, with vets choosing to prescribe pain relief and alternative therapies administered by the RVN following clinical assessment, over antibiotics, following the BSAVA (n.d) guidelines.

• It increases productivity. We can see more consultations, we can fit in more procedures and therefore can see patients sooner, improving the practice-client bond and again, care for our patients.

• It improves job satisfaction. In one study, RVNs stated that they would be happier if they were appropriately delegated schedule 3 procedures, and that they were more likely to remain in their job if they were happy in their role (Vivian et al, 2021). This shows the link between delegation and RVN retention.

• Improves the bond between the team. Collaborating and having clinical discussions is, for us, routine, and a big part of that is because we work so closely together due to task delegation. This improves the bond between vets and RVNs and reduces burnout on both sides.

What are the challenges we have faced so far?

We think our progress is great! However, it has taken time and effort to get to where we are today. We have faced many challenges:

• The interpretation of legislation. Let’s face it, there is so much discussion about the interpretation of legislation. We all remember the age-old “is expressing anal glands entering a body cavity” debate! We interpreted it, wrote SOPs and sent them to the RCVS for their advice before going ahead. They were helpful. Although they couldn’t ‘approve’ our SOPs, they could only tell us whether they met the guidelines… which they all did!

• Outdated mindsets. Comments along the way from external vets and RVNs about nurses not being capable, trained or just ‘cheap mini-vets’, as reported by the Vet Times (Webb, 2025). The reality is, just because RVNs haven’t done it before, does not mean they are not capable. There are practical training courses available, in-house training, and theoretical training that all help to teach RVNs new skills. The day one competencies for Veterinary Nurses are just that: day one! We should be allowed and encouraged to learn new skills along the way.

• Not being delegated to. All of this is great, but it is no use without wonderful vets that delegate tasks to RVNs. If the vet is unwilling to delegate, the nurse cannot perform these tasks. To prevent issues with the appropriateness of the delegation, our vets follow the SUPERB delegation guidance from the RCVS.

Thing to be mindful of:

• Some RVNs won’t want to have more procedures or consultations delegated to them and that’s ok! Some of our RVNs are happy with their current role as it is, some are delegated a few procedures but not all, and others are delegated all procedures possible under schedule 3. It is important that RVNs are not forced to do more or that could drive them out of the profession.

• Some vets may have specific reasons why they don’t want to delegate the procedure or consultation and that’s ok too! Whether it be they feel the RVN needs a bit more training, they think the procedure might be too complex compared to others of a similar kind, or they just want to do it themselves, it is all fine and taken into consideration. Clinical discussion and cooperation are at the forefront of what we do.

To conclude…

Finding the full potential of RVNs isn’t just about improving workflow, it’s about transforming the way we deliver care. By leaning into what RVNs are already legally permitted to do, we’ve enhanced our patient care, improved job satisfaction, and built a stronger, more collaborative team.

 There have been challenges; from navigating legislation to shifting outdated mindsets. However, the rewards have far outweighed the hurdles. Through trust, training, and appropriate delegation, we’ve proven that when RVNs are truly empowered, the whole practice benefits. Our hope is that by sharing our journey, we inspire other teams to look beyond the status quo and reimagine what’s possible when we work together. This is not a vision for the future- it’s happening now, and it’s only just the beginning.

References

BSAVA. (n.d.). Guidelines for responsible antibiotic use. Www.bsavalibrary.com. https://www.bsavalibrary.com/content/formulary/backmatter/canine-and-felineguidelinesforresponsibleantibioticuse

RCVS. (2024, January 17). 18. Delegation to veterinary nurses - Professionals. Rcvs.org.uk. https://www.rcvs.org.uk/setting-standards/advice-and-guidance/code-of-professional-conduct-for-veterinary-surgeons/supporting-guidance/delegation-to-veterinary-nurses/

RCVS. (2025). Legislation Working Party. Professionals. https://www.rcvs.org.uk/news-and-views/policy/veterinary-legislation-review/legislation-working-party/

Vivian, S. R., Holt, S. L., & Williams, J. (2021). What Factors Influence the Perceptions of Job Satisfaction in Registered Veterinary Nurses Currently Working in Veterinary Practice in the United Kingdom? Journal of Veterinary Medical Education, 49(2), 249–259. https://doi.org/10.3138/jvme.2020-0119

Webb, A. (2025). Vet Times: Latest Veterinary News, Jobs & Clinical Resources. Vettimes.com. https://www.vettimes.com/news/vet-nursing/opinion-vet-nursing/cheap-mini-vets-groups-clash-over-role-of-nurses