VN regulation: - British Veterinary Nursing Association

VETERINARY NURSING JOURNAL
The official
journal of
The British
Veterinary
Nursing
Association
February 2007
Vol 22 | No 2
VN
regulation:
BVNA responds…
Also inside
this issue:
• New BVNA
Congress venue
•
BVNA members
can now save on the
high street…
Going
batty:
nursing the
wild bat

Coniston Adventure Team
[challenge] 2007
“We've never had so much fun in the rain! The
organisation was fabulous and the weather just
added to the challenge and sense of achievement.”
THE MUTLEY CREW, 2006.
Fundraising Target per team £2500.
Non refundable deposit of £60 required per team.
The [challenge]
Saturday 1st September 2007
Now into its sixth sell out year, this fantastic multisport
event just keeps on growing. Be one of our
teams of four to six people who will be challenged to
summit the Old Man of Coniston, mountain bike the
lush woodland trails of Grizedale Forest, then power
yourselves and your sit on top canoes across the
famous Coniston Water.
This extremely fun yet challenging event will test your
teams ability to complete all three disciplines in under ten
hours whilst raising funds for Guide Dogs.
Evening team celebrations within event marquee to
feature presentation of awards, evening meal, disco,
ceilidh band and late bar.
Call Lynsay, Denise or Laurie on 0845 600 6787
www.guidedogs.org.uk/conistonchallenge
email: events@guidedogs.org.uk
Registered Charity no. 209617
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VETERINARY NURSING JOURNAL
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new, exciting member benefits in this issue and find your membership form on the
reverse of the carrier sheet.
Contact VNJ
Editor
Jenna Maryniak
Tel: 01449 723 800
Email: jenna@jcagroup.com
(address: see below)
Executive Editor
Sue Badger, VN
Publisher
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VetMB, PhD, MRCVS,
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7
News & reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-12
BVNA’s response to regulation
consultation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
BVNA Congress moves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
New member benefits COVER STORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Editorial Board
Julia Davenport, VN;
Dot Creighton,
DipAVN(Surg), VN;
Jean Turner, VN;
Clare Spencer, BVetMed,
MRCVS.
Non-member
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© 2007 JCA Media Group.
VNJ and the BVNA do not
necessarily share the views of
contributors.
The publishers can accept no
responsibility for errors or
omissions arising from
publication. Copyright of all
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extraction, reprinting, or
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publishers.
Cover picture:
Rebecca Hankins-Meadows, VN,
New Lodge Veterinary Centre,
Oundle, Northamptonshire.
20
24
30
The official
journal of
The British
Veterinary
Nursing
Association
Published on behalf of the BVNA by JCA
...also publisher of
Veterinary Review
and AHN.
Clinical/practical
Infection control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Nursing bats
Alison Williams advises on what to do when a
bat is brought into the practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Central venous catheters . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Comment
Returning to work
Nikki Ackerman provides some personal insight
into the minefield that is returning to work after
maternity leave . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Features
Council characters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Your health
Sally Cooper looks at maintaining a sense
of well-being . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Tale of tales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Miscellaneous
Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
January crossword answers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
CPD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Your region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Recruitment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
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VETERINARY NURSING JOURNAL
Vol 22 | No 2 | February 2007
3

your BVNA
Welcome!
If you are not a member of the BVNA, welcome to the
February 2007 issue of VNJ, which has been sent free to all
non-members for this issue only. Look out for details on
BVNA’s new member benefits (p7) and our new Congress
location in Kettering (opposite): there really has never been a
better time to join!
I was recently fortunate to be able to attend the first
meeting run by our new South West regional co-ordinator
(RCO), Daniella Ramsier, and I was really impressed by her
enthusiasm and drive. The evening was an overwhelming
success with nearly 60 attendees, including a small number of
vets! I was reminded of my days as an RCO, or branch
organiser, as we were called then, in South London and how
much hard work went into running these events. RCOs are the
life-blood of the local arm of our organisation and it is
important that members support them by attending the
meetings that they work so hard to organise.
Which brings me to my next point: BVNA functions because
of those people who put in the necessary time and effort. In
my experience, there are a lot of VNs who could do a sterling
job in supporting their organisation, but most feel that they
either do not have the ability or the time to devote to such a
project. Well, now is the time to put those negative thoughts
away and do something! You could offer to help out your
local RCO or become a “political” animal by standing for
BVNA Council or even RCVS VN Council, either way you do
have the opportunity to change the things that you are
unhappy about if you have the will to do it. Full members of
BVNA will be invited to stand for election to BVNA Council in
March, so look out for more details in next month’s VNJ.
Sue Badger, VN, MBVNA
Executive editor
Get organised!
Did you receive your free diary, a gift from Fort Dodge
Animal Health, in the January issue of VNJ? You’ll notice
that there is a reference to “PrOMise” on the cover, as
Fort Dodge are promising to support the profession with
an exciting new product that will be available soon.You can
find out more from your Fort Dodge representative!
If you didn’t receive your diary contact 01449 723800.
RCVS regulation
proposals – BVNA
responds
BVNA
concerned over
how regulation
could affect
working
relationships.
Following a very detailed
review of the proposed
RCVS Guide to
Professional Conduct for
Veterinary Nurses, the
Council of the BVNA
has consulted widely with
its members and has now
forwarded its response to the VN Council of the RCVS.
Julia Davenport, president of the BVNA, said,“We
welcome the opportunity to comment on the draft Guide.
We see the Guide as an essential part of the programme
towards strengthening the recognition and role of the
qualified, registered veterinary nurse in practice.
“Whilst we are anxious to see the Guide become part of
the essential professional approach by all VNs, we have
several clear reservations about certain aspects of the
proposals and have written to the RCVS setting these out.
“We have been advised that the Guide, as it now stands
in draft form, is intended to mirror the Code of Conduct for
Veterinary Surgeons, but with the necessary changes made to
reflect the different role of the VN in practice.We are
concerned that in an attempt to make the two guides
compatible with each other, we could end up with a Guide
which does not have a clear enough differentiation and
would, therefore, place practice VNs in difficult situations
that could cause conflicts with their employers.
“For example, at the moment there are several aspects of
the Guide which we feel do not adequately take into
account the VN acting under the direction of the
veterinary surgeon, which may, in certain circumstances,
amount to a direct contradiction in terms.
“The BVNA is determined to ensure that the regulation
of veterinary nurses reflects the needs of veterinary nursing,
and is based on good working practice, common sense and
above all animal welfare.We feel that it is crucial to get the
Guide to Professional Conduct right from day one and we
look forward to working with the RCVS to achieve this, as
the consultation and approval process continues.”
– The VNJ will be giving full coverage of developments in
the next issue.
Mission statement
VETERINARY NURSING JOURNAL
4
BVNA actively seeks to:
● Action the opinions and needs of the members;
● Promote the Association’s aims and future
development;
● Encourage liaison with other interested and
affiliated bodies;
Vol 22 | No 2 | February 2007
● Establish, regulate and implement agreed policies
and plans;
● Disseminate advice and policies;
● Quality assure and further develop veterinary
nurse education.
The British Veterinary Nursing Association
Representing Veterinary Nursing
82 Greenway Business Centre, Harlow Business Park, Harlow, Essex CM19 5QE
Telephone 01279 408644; fax 01279 408645; e-mail bvna@bvna.co.uk; website www.bvna.org.uk

BVNA Congress moves!
BVNA Congress
October 19-21 2007
Kettering Conference Centre, Northamptonshire
The BVNA has decided that the time has come to move
Congress to a new venue to reflect the changing face of
veterinary nursing.The Congress has been held at Stoneleigh
Park,Warwickshire, since 1990 and apart from the need to give a
fresh feel to Congress, the Association also feels that a modern
venue, more suited to veterinary nursing, will encourage many
new delegates to try Congress for the first time.
The spacious and completely refurbished Kettering
Conference Centre (KCC) will be the new venue for this year’s
Congress, which will take place on the revised dates of October
19-21.
The major decision to change the location of a wellestablished
and successful event was not an easy one to make,
but Kettering Conference Centre has many advantages over the
previous venue, including all lectures and exhibition being under
one roof, convenient and easy road and rail links, a range of
hotels nearby – from budget to luxury, an on-site gym and spa, a
crèche and large indoor play facility for children,
and a superb dining room for our
Saturday Gala Evening, the theme of
which will be “full length and
fabulous”.
The BVNA Council is
extremely excited about
the move, as reflected
by Julia Davenport,
president of the
Association, who
said,“BVNA
Congress is the
highlight of our
veterinary nursing
year, and goes from
strength to strength.We
feel that the new venue will
not only be more
convenient to delegates in
terms of location and
facilities, but will give even
more value to delegates and
Kettering Conference
Centre will offer
modern and
convenient facilities
for BVNA Congress.
New venue for BVNA Congress 2007: Kettering Conference Centre,
Northamptonshire.
exhibitors, with the event all being
under one roof.
“We look forward to
welcoming back not
only regular
delegates, but also
delegates who
have not
previously
attended.There
really will be
something there
for everyone.”
The BVNA is
still working on
further exciting
developments for Congress
2007 – so watch this space!
● For more information on the new venue
go to www.ketteringconference.co.uk.
Save your pennies
Don’t forget, the savings you can make on Congress registration by being a BVNA
member can cover the cost of membership alone! And with all the new fantastic
shopping and leisure savings you can make with the new BVNA membership package,
there has never been a better time to join. Non-members can find a membership form
on the reverse of the carrier sheet that came with this issue of VNJ.
VETERINARY NURSING JOURNAL
miscellaneous features comment clinical/practical BVNA news
Vol 22 | No 2 | February 2007
5

BVNA news
VN Day winners
VN Day
becomes
National VN
Week for 2007!
November
12-18
comment
clinical/practical
Staff at Cromwell Veterinary Group, Cambridgeshire, enjoying their
VN Day chocolate fountain prize for achieving the most media
coverage for their VN Day activities.
The response to the BVNA’s National VN Day 2006 was
absolutely fantastic, and the enthusiasm put into raising
awareness of the veterinary nursing profession once again
demonstrated what dedicated and passionate people VNs
are!
The Animals Asia VN team celebrating VN Day in China, teaching the locals
about veterinary nursing in the UK: Hayley Walters (UK), Beverley Jane
Elmer (UK), Anne-Marie McGivern (UK), Candice Bloom (South African) and
Tracy Maher (Australian).
“Nurse-athon” to highlight the valuable work that their
veterinary nurses perform within their practice and also to
promote veterinary nursing as a valuable career.The team
donated the £300 raised from the nursing clinics to
Children in Need.
features
miscellaneous
VETERINARY NURSING JOURNAL
Most coverage
Cromwell Veterinary Group, Cambridgeshire, won a
chocolate fountain and 7.5kg of chocolate in the category
of the “Most media coverage”.The nurses held a
Veterinary Nurse Awareness Open Day, attracting
over 600 people; took part in extensive radio
interviews on Radio Cambridgeshire,
after which they were asked to
conduct regular radio talks in 2007;
and also wrote a newspaper article.
Julie Eastham, veterinary nurse, said:
“We raised £435 on the day for a cat
rescue charity ‘9-Lives’ by having a
tombola/cake stalls and face painting,
and two of our nurses Rheanon
Leonard, VN, and Jo Poyser, SVN, did
a tandem skydive from 14,000 feet,
raising £600 for Fenbank Greyhound
Rescue.
“It was a fantastic day, we had so much fun, we even had
VN Day T-shirts made up! All the nurses and other CVG
staff members were so pleased to have won the prize, they
all worked so hard for VN day, and we’re already planning
what to do next year!”
Most involvement
Garston Veterinary Group,Warminster, won the “Most
public involvement” category and won a trip for two on
Eurostar to Paris. Natalya Knowles and her team held a
Sky-diving
nurses, Rheanon
Leonard and
Jo Poyser.
Most unique
Veterinary nurse, Beverley Jane Elmer from the charity
Animals Asia Foundation in China, won the “most unique
or innovative” category and will be taking delivery of
an iPod Nano. Jane and four other full-time qualified
VNs of British,Australian and South African
nationalities, care for 176 bears on site in
Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.They
had the daunting task of explaining the
role of veterinary nurses to locals
through interpreters, which was made
more difficult as there are no Chinese
words to define the veterinary nurse!
The villagers were most impressed that
there is a professional journal available for
nurses to read and that there is a special
title bestowed on them (see picture)!
Raising the profile
Roly Boughton, of VN Day sponsor Dorwest Herbs, said:
“National VN Day is a great initiative.We are proud to have
been part of this event which helps raise the profile of
veterinary nurses, who are a vital part of any veterinary
practice.”
Bonny Millar, BVNA VN Day co-ordinator, said:“I must
say, I am really proud of all the nurses who got involved and
we must thank each and every practice for their support and
enthusiasm in helping these nurses to raise awareness of
veterinary nursing.
6
Vol 22 | No 2 | February 2007

New BVNA benefits
The BVNA has announced the launch of a new
member benefits package: find out more about the
high street, restaurant, recreational and insurance
savings soon to be available!
BVNA news
As announced in the January issue of VNJ, the BVNA is
launching an exciting new addition to the benefits package,
which will provide members with a huge range of moneysaving
opportunities.
The new benefits will become available in March, and the
BVNA hopes that members will find the savings an attractive
addition to its growing professional services, which come at no
extra cost to members.
The high street and supermarket savings scheme is based on a
voucher system, whereby you can purchase discounted vouchers
which enable you to make savings in supermarkets and high
street stores such as Asda, M&S, Somerfield’s,Waitrose, Bhs,
Debenhams, House of Fraser and John Lewis, as well as fashion
chains such as Dorothy Perkins, Miss Selfridge, Outfit and
Topshop.
Books, CDs, DVDs and home entertainment systems are all
available at discounted prices by using discounted vouchers from
the likes of HMV, Currys,WH Smith and Waterstones.
How it works
So how do you save money? The easiest way to explain exactly
how it all works is to give you some examples.
Let’s say that you are a regular shopper at Asda and spend on
average £200 per month on your everyday groceries.
Through this scheme you can buy £200 worth of vouchers
every month for which you only pay £190 and then use the
clinical/practical
comment
“Following the success of National VN Day 2006, this year
we will be holding a National VN Week to accommodate
different practices and the various activities being held. So
much effort went into the VN Day events and displays for just
one day, so by having a VN week practices can pick one day
that suits them, or have activities running throughout the
week. Many nurses have already started making plans for VN
Day 2007, and the BVNA has some exciting plans afoot to
make for an even bigger and better event this year!”
www.petfountain.co.uk
0870 240 8909
DRINKWELL
PET FOUNTAIN
features
Garston Veterinary Group VN’s
Nurse-a-thon won them the prize
for “Most public involvement” in
their VN Day activities.
NEW
PLATINUM
FOUNTAIN
Dogs and cats are attracted to running water, as it is
naturally cooler and cleaner than standing water.
The Drinkwell Pet Fountain is the original pet fountain, invented
by a vet in the US to encourage pets to drink more water.
• Continuous 5-inch falling
stream of water
• Adjustable flow
rate
• Three-pin plug
• Charcoal filter
• One-year warranty
• Recommended by vets
• 30-day money back guarante
• 3 sizes available
Promotional
Material
Available
Distributed in the UK by Melanie Mines for Pets and sold through NVS,
Centaur Services and Dunlops, or call 0870 240 8909
miscellaneous
VETERINARY NURSING JOURNAL
Vol 22 | No 2 | February 2007 7

miscellaneous features comment clinical/practical BVNA news
VETERINARY NURSING JOURNAL
vouchers to pay for your shopping.
Over the course of the year this
equates to over two weeks shopping
free!
Perhaps you regularly visit Dorothy
Perkins,Topshop, Miss Selfridge or
Outfit for clothes and accessories.
The Arcadia voucher can be used in
all of these stores with £100 worth
of vouchers only costing you £93.
Leisure – eating out, travel and
the gym
Savings are not limited to shopping,
there are over 40 brands where
leisure vouchers can be used and you
can purchase these at an impressive
10% discount.
Dining out, entertainment and
leisure time savings include
brands such as Beefeater, Pizza
Hut,TGI Fridays, Premier
Travel Inn, Courtyard at
Marriott,Thomas Cook, Club
18-30, JMC,AMF Bowling,
Alton Towers, Madame
Tussauds, to name but a few.
The BVNA benefits package
also includes the leading
provider of special travel offers,
Travelscope, to ensure that if
you are planning a break at
home or overseas we can
provide a really great deal.
As if this wasn’t enough, there
Summary of discounts.
Take advantage now!
BVNA membership is better value for money than ever. From
March, members can benefit from this new savings scheme
covering a vast range of high street stores, supermarkets, leisure
activities, eating out, travel, insurance and much more, all at no
extra cost!
These new benefits are in addition to the BVNA’s existing
professional member benefits, which include:
● Free 24-hour legal helpline
● Industrial Relations Service
● Professional representation, advice and information
● Monthly Veterinary Nursing Journal (VNJ)
● 15% Elsevier book discount (new improved discount rate)
● Huge discounts on Congress and CPD
● BVNA regional events
● Bursaries
● Employment register service
Rates for full membership are just £42 per year, that’s just
£3.50 per month, reducing to £3.16 after the first year.
Membership really is great value for money, with discounts
and savings paying for membership fees many times over!
So, there has never been a better time to join – just fill in
the form on the reverse of the carrier sheet that came with
this issue of VNJ
New, exciting
member
benefits
announced!
is a discount range
for airport parking
(10%), car-hire
with Holiday
Autos (7%) and
RAC Breakdown
(25% off standard
membership rates),
whilst you can
enjoy 10%
reductions for
short hotel breaks
with Superbreak or
the Hotel Pronto
group.
If visiting the gym
is your thing then you can take advantage of a
national corporate deal that we have negotiated with
Fitness First.You can also save 10% on your
annual membership to David Lloyd by
paying your membership fees with leisure
vouchers purchased through BVNA
Benefits.
Watch out too for special offers and
increased discount rates throughout the year
through your new BVNA benefits’ package.
General insurance
Whilst it is great to be able to gain discounts
on everyday shopping and the occasional
high-value item, BVNA Benefits is also
providing solutions in the not so glamorous,
but essential area of … insurance!
BVNA Benefits does not claim to offer
the cheapest rates in the market place, but
for your travel, home and motor needs it
will provide excellent levels of cover at very
reasonable rates, in all the specified areas. Our provider has
vast experience in the Affinity Market and understands that
the value of any policy is in the protection it offers when,
as is invariably the case, a claim has to be made.
Insurance is definitely a prime example of when cheapest
is not necessarily best!
A new era for BVNA
Claire Fraser, vice president of the BVNA, commented:
“The BVNA is playing an increasingly important role in
these changing times for veterinary nurses, and so, as well as
reviewing our role and all of our services as an Association,
it is timely to refresh the benefits provided to our
members.As veterinary nurses ourselves, the BVNA
Council is very excited about the new additions to the
benefits package, and we hope you make the most of the
savings on offer!”
Start saving…
From early March, these savings can be accessed principally
by going to www.bvnabenefits.co.uk, where you can find
all the information and instructions on how to use your
new member benefits, or you can telephone 0870 401
3212.You will need your BVNA membership number
ready to register and access your savings.
8
Vol 22 | No 2 | February 2007

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miscellaneous features comment clinical/practical news & reports
BVNA goes to Helsinki
Claire Fraser,VN, MBVNA, vice-president
of the BVNA, visits the VETNNET
Conference in Helsinki
W
hen the BVNA was invited to present a lecture at the
fourth VETNNET (Veterinary European Transnational
Network for Nursing Education and Training)
conference in Helsinki, the BVNA Council agreed that this
would be a great opportunity to improve relations with
European and American VN/technician associations and provide
contacts for our members should they wish to work in Europe
or the US.
The trip was very kindly funded by VETNNET, and so last
October I travelled to a very cold but very impressive Helsinki. I
was concerned about not being able
to speak very much Finnish
(although I had learnt some basic
words before my trip), but people
were very friendly and spoke English
very well, so getting about was not a
problem.
On the first morning it started to
snow, and I met with Alida Moene
and other VETNNET representatives
and off we went to our venue, which
Whatever the situation,
we don’t play around with
urinary security.
Our Veterinary Diet Feline
range bears the S/O Index
Logo, guaranteeing optimal
urinary security.
Figure 1. Timo Karkola, principal of Amiedu College, giving the
introductory speech at the conference.
was the exceptional Amiedu College.
An introductory speech was given by Timo Karkola (Figure
1), principal of Amiedu College, followed by interesting lectures
from representatives of the USA, Denmark, Netherlands,
Sweden and the UK.
I also gave a presentation to delegates on the VN training
available in the United Kingdom post-qualification
and opened discussions to find out what was
available to veterinary nurses and technicians in
Europe and the USA.Whilst the USA has a wide
programme for its technicians, many European
countries are lacking in VN CPD.
After the day’s lectures, all delegates were taken
Figure 2.
A brand new
veterinary
hospital in
Helsinki.
on a trip to a brand new veterinary hospital
(Figure 2) in Helsinki, and then treated to
roast reindeer for dinner at a lovely
Scandinavian-style hotel.A sauna and a dip
in the lake were offered to the less fainthearted
(Figure 3); while the rest of us
enjoyed a fireside drink.The veterinary company,
Orion Pharma Animal Health, sponsored the excursion and
dinner.
The trip provided an excellent opportunity to gain
information about other VN/technician organisations, meet
very interesting people, including a Finnish veterinary nurse,
and, to my delight, learned how much the BVNA is respected
in other countries.The British veterinary nurse is held in high
regard and would be welcomed in any veterinary practice in
Europe. In the Scandinavian countries, language would not be a
problem, as most people also speak English.
I would like to thank Merje Hellemann and Alida Moene for
their help and support before and during my stay in Helsinki.
The BVNA Council is currently looking into joining
VETNNET, which will provide our members with many
benefits, including contacts for working in Europe and the
USA. It could also help improve the International Veterinary
Nurse and Technician Association services.
VETERINARY NURSING JOURNAL
For more information and free samples, please contact your Royal Canin
Veterinary Business Manager or call our Veterinary Helpline on
0800 717 800
Photography: Lanceau
Figure 3.
“A sauna and
a dip in the
lake were
offered to
the less
fainthearted;
the
rest of us
enjoyed a
fireside
drink.”
10
Vol 22 | No 2 | February 2007

BSAVA Congress 2007
Last year a total of 1,455 VNs
and trainees attended BSAVA
Congress in Birmingham, and
this year the organisers expect
the attendance to increase even
further as the organisation
celebrates its golden
anniversary. John Bonner asks
some veterinary nurses what
they gain from attending
BSAVA Congress.
As someone who has been
attending BSAVA Congress
since she began work as a
trainee in 1987, Kersty Ellis
has seen how the meeting has
become one of the highlights
of the annual CPD calendar
for the VN profession in the
UK.“The thing that I like
most about BSAVA is that it
covers the whole range of
abilities and experience.There
are the basic level lectures for a
new trainee, as well as the
higher level presentations for
veterinary surgeons and those
experienced nurses who have
developed a specific clinical
interest.”
As a former college lecturer
in veterinary nursing at
Moulton College in
Northampton and one of the
first VNs to set up and run her
own practice, Kersty belongs
in the latter category. But even
she found there was a lot to
learn at the 2006 event.“As far
as I was concerned, the things
that stood out in the
programme were the lectures
on anaesthesia and pain relief
in cats.There was a lot of new
research described that was
really relevant – the sort of
things that you can take home
and apply immediately to
improve the quality of care
you can offer in your practice.”
With such a broad range of
lectures on offer for nurses,
they are free to pick and
choose. Ruth Courtnadge
works at the Braid Veterinary
Hospital in Edinburgh; she
qualified as a VN in 2004 and
has attended BSAVA Congress
for each of the past five years.
She selected a pretty varied
diet, including the behaviour
sessions, a radiology master
class and a talk on
haematology.“It’s really good
to look around and find new
techniques that you can bring
back to the practice.”
A bit of forward planning in
deciding which sessions one
wishes to attend is always
useful and it is wise to arrive
in good time, suggests Kersty
Ellis.“Last year I had to take a
phone call just before one of
the sessions that I really
wanted to hear. By the time I’d
finished the room was full, but
there is an overspill area where
you can watch it on a
television monitor.”
Both VNs are convinced of
the value to their colleagues of
an annual pilgrimage to
Birmingham. So they would
encourage those colleagues
who don’t attend regularly to
persuade their practice to
allow them the time off.
news & reports
Dangerous dogs
On course for 2007
In light of the recent publicity
concerning “dangerous dogs”,
the BVA issued the following
statement:“The BVA has long
been opposed in principle to
any proposals which single out
particular breeds of dogs, rather
than targeting individual
aggressive dogs.The problems
caused by dangerous dogs will
never be solved until dog
owners appreciate that they are
responsible for the actions of
their animals.”
You can read the BVA’s full
statement on
www.bva.co.uk/policy/danger
ous_dogs.asp.
Hill’s, in association with the BVNA, has announced its
next round of courses for 2007:“Clinical Skills for Today’s
Veterinary Nurse”.
“Puppies and Kittens”: a one-day course aimed at VNs,
trainees and receptionists, with a focus on behaviour,
nutrition, pregnancy and parturition, clicker training and
puppy parties. Dates are as follows:
● Norwich – March 29, ● Sheffield – May 17,
● Belfast – June 14 ● Reading – July 19.
“Geriatrics and clinical nutrition” under the same banner
covers clinical diseases associated with ageing and nutritional
management of these diseases, interpretation of blood
results, and a practical session as well. Dates are as follows:
● Newcastle – September 27,
● Birmingham – October 25,
● South-West (venue to be confirmed) – November 15.
– For details of any of these courses and more, call Hill’s customer service
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VETERINARY NURSING JOURNAL
Vol 22 | No 2 | February 2007 11

miscellaneous features comment clinical/practical RCVS news
VETERINARY NURSING JOURNAL
From the heart of the RCVS
Lizzie Lockett, head of communications at the Royal College of Veterinary
Surgeons, reports on the latest from VN Council
RCV
a need for more explanation about the details of the
Regulation – consultation
Towards the end of last year, all listed VNs received a
consultation document from the Veterinary Nurses Council
on the introduction of new regulation for VNs, including a
non-statutory register, Guide to Professional Conduct and
requirements for continuing professional development
(CPD).
Many thanks to those who responded to the consultation.
On the whole, the proposals received positive support,
although some areas require development. For example, the
VN Guide was based on the equivalent Guide for veterinary
surgeons, but some respondents felt it needed some further
clarification in order to meet the needs of VNs.There is also
disciplinary process and how the CPD requirements would
be monitored.This will be the subject of press articles and
information circulated to VNs during the spring.
The consultation responses were presented to the RCVS
Advisory Committee at the end of January and the plan
remains to open the new register to VNs during April.
The next meeting of the VNC will take place on February
13, and approving a revised Guide and CPD structure will be
high on the agenda.
VN examiner training course
A new date has been set for the popular VN examiner
training course, which aims to prepare experienced assessors
and internal verifiers objectively to assess clinical skills using
the objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) system.
The course comprises a home-study pack and three full
days’ training.The first day, to be held at the RCVS in
London, will be on March 5.Trainees will then spend a day
in a VN college to gain practical experience, followed by a
final day of assessment.
With a limit of just 12 delegates, places are likely to fill up
quickly, so anyone interested in becoming an RCVS VN
examiner should contact the VN department for an
application pack as soon as possible: vetnursing@rcvs.org.uk
or 0207 202 0788.
Once qualified, certificate holders will be able to examine
for the RCVS external practical examinations.The course
also provides valuable training in objective observation and
assessment for assessors and internal verifiers, and would
prove useful in terms of continuing professional development
to anyone actively involved in the practical assessment of
students.
The course is open to assessors and internal verifiers and
those with an active involvement in VN training.VNs should
have a minimum of four years’ post-qualification experience.
The course costs £295 – £250 of which is refundable as
soon as the certificate-holder has taken part in two full
weeks of RCVS external examinations.
Last chance for VNC nominations
Finally, can you help shape the future of the VN profession?
Do you have a good grasp on where the profession is and
how it needs to grow? Are you passionate about VN training
and development? If the answer is “yes”, the VN Council
needs you!
We need two enthusiastic, motivated individuals to join
the VN Council team and you still have a week or so to
submit your nomination.You must be a listed VN and be
supported by two proposers, also listed VNs.
Contact the VN department for a nomination form, which
must be completed and returned by February 23, 2007: call
Annette Amato on 020 7202 0713 or e-mail on
a.amato@rcvs.org.uk.
Meet the VN Council:
Chairperson of VN Council –
Andrea Jeffery, MSc,
DipAVN(Surgical), CertEd, VN
Andrea was elected to
VN Council in 2002
and was the first
veterinary nurse to
take the chair.
She has been
involved in teaching
veterinary nursing
since 1995, and
currently teaches at the
University of Bristol.
Andrea is a principal
examiner for the level
2 examinations and
spent 10 years
examining the practical
examinations at level 3.
Her main interest is in raising the profile of
veterinary nursing and helping to develop it as a
regulated profession.“There are challenges ahead for
our profession, particularly with the introduction
this year of the non-statutory register,” she says.
“This will be a big step forward for the profession
and there are new requirements on those joining the
new register.Together with the other members of
VNC, I will be attending RCVS roadshows and
BSAVA and BVNA congresses to help VNs adapt to
the new challenges. I hope to meet some of you
there.”
Andrea lives in Langford in Somerset and has two
young children.
Andrea Jeffery, RCVS VN Council
chairperson.
12
Vol 22 | No 2 | February 2007

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miscellaneous features comment hygiene news & reports
VETERINARY NURSING JOURNAL
Controlling the spread of
infection in veterinary practice
Niky Forrest, PGCert, BSc, DipAVN(Surgical),VN, emphasises the role of the
veterinary nurse in stopping the spread of infection
A
ll veterinary staff have a responsibility to follow
procedures in order to prevent the spread of infection.
To achieve this, basic infection control principles should
be implemented with all patients, regardless of the reason for
their presentation or admission.These principles should
demonstrate good practice regarding hand hygiene, use of
personal protective equipment (PPE) and handling and disposal
of clinical waste.
Hand hygiene
Extensive research has
shown that effective hand
washing is the single most
important factor in
reducing the spread of
infection.This would seem
a relatively simple concept,
but numerous studies have
exposed that, certainly
within human hospitals,
basic hand-hygiene
guidelines are commonly
not adhered to. Similar
studies have not been
published relating to
veterinary practice, but we
may assume that
comparable findings would
be obtained.
Effective hand hygiene
requires hands to be washed before and after handling a
patient, between each procedure, whenever your
hands (gloved or not) come into contact with
body fluids and after touching clinical waste or
cleaning equipment.
If you consider these guidelines in relation
Personal protective equipment, such as gowns, gloves and face masks,
should be routinely used alongside hand hygiene measures in practices
wishing to implement effective infection control measures.
to your own working day, you may be able to
identify why compliance has been shown to
be so low.
Suggested reasons for non-compliance with
hand hygiene guidelines:
● patient requires intensive nursing care;
● patient deemed not to be infectious;
● insufficient staffing levels;
● insufficient time allocated to patient care;
● large numbers of patients per nurse;
● lack of sinks/hand wash agents/hand towels;
● assumption that use of gloves negates need for hand washing;
● lack of training/knowledge;
● poor role models.
To encourage practice staff to routinely implement effective
hand-hygiene principles, they should be instructed in correct
techniques. It has been suggested that a simple and concise
hand-washing technique is more likely to be remembered and
adhered to.
A four-stage hand-washing technique is recommended here
for these reasons.
1. Preparation
Wet hands under running
tepid water.
“
All practice
staff have a
responsibility to
protect themselves,
their colleagues,
clients and patients
from disease
”
2.Washing
Ensure hand wash solution
comes into contact with all
hand and wrist surfaces. Pay
particular attention to webbing
between fingers and finger tips.
Rub hands together
vigorously for a minimum of
10 to 15 seconds.
3. Rinsing
Rinse hands thoroughly under
running tepid water.
4. Drying
Thoroughly dry hands with
disposable paper hand towels
ensuring areas between fingers
and under nails are dried.
Hand rubs
Alcohol-based hand rubs are widely available
for use in veterinary practice and can be
routinely used as an effective element of
hand-hygiene measures.They are
effective against viruses, fungi,
mycobacteria, and reduce numbers of
Gram-positive and Gram-negative
bacteria. It should be noted, however, that
they are not effective against bacterial
spores and are not hand cleansing agents, so
should not be applied to visibly soiled hands.
Alcohol-based hand rubs are applied to visibly
clean hands and vigorously rubbed into all hand
surfaces, paying particular attention to finger tips.Always allow
the rub to evaporate before undertaking subsequent procedures.
They have been shown to produce less skin irritation than other
antimicrobial agents used on the skin.
In addition to effective hand washing and use of alcohol-based
14
Vol 22 | No 2 | February 2007

hand rubs, Table 1 lists additional hand
hygiene recommendations along with the
rationale for each.
Personal protective equipment
(PPE)
The use of PPE alongside hand hygiene
measures should be routine in practices
wishing to implement effective
infection control measures.These
items should not only be used when
dealing with patients suspected of
having infectious disease processes, but
with all patients.
The monetary cost of routine use of PPE
Handling and
disposal of sharps
has the greatest
potential to cause
injury to staff.
is far outweighed by the benefit to patients, clients and the
practice in helping to prevent the spread of infection.
Disposable examination gloves should be considered single-use
items.They need to be changed between each patient
intervention and between each patient.
Gloves should be worn for all invasive procedures, when hands
are in contact with sterile dressings, non-intact skin and mucous
membranes.Their use is also indicated where there is the
potential for hands to be exposed to body fluids, excretions or
clinical waste.
It is recommended that sterile disposable gloves are worn
when surgical procedures are undertaken and when dealing with
central lines.
The potential for latex allergies amongst practice staff needs to
be considered and an alternative glove type, such as vinyl, should
be provided.
Always remember to cleanse hands after glove removal.
Similarly, use of disposable plastic aprons should be mandatory
for staff involved in patient handling and care.Aprons should also
be single-use items.They provide a physical barrier for uniforms
against contamination with body fluids or excretions.
Plastic aprons are preferable to cloth ones, as, if undamaged,
they remain impermeable. It is advisable to wear sleeved
disposable aprons if there is risk of extensive contamination, or
you suspect you might be dealing with a high risk organism,
such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). If you
choose not to routinely wear a disposable apron, consider how
contaminated your uniform is likely to
become during one work shift.
In addition to wearing disposable gloves
and aprons, use of facemasks and eye
protection is indicated when there is the
potential for these areas of the body to
become contaminated. It is also advisable
to wear such items when dealing with
patients suspected of harbouring zoonotic
disease.
Disposal of clinical waste
Staff should be recommended to wear PPE when handling
clinical waste to protect them and reduce the spread of
infection.To minimise hand contamination, clinical waste bins
should be pedal activated.
All clinical waste should be deposited in approved
containers/bags.These have a clearly marked “fill line” or
maximum weight on them which must be adhered to. Once
containers are full, they should be sealed and transported to a
secure storage area to await collection by a licensed carrier.
Handling and disposal of sharps has the greatest potential to
cause injury to staff. For this reason a number of precautions
should be implemented:
● avoid passing sharps hand to hand;
● minimise handling of sharps;
● do not recap needles prior to disposal;
● do not bend or break sharps;
● do not disassemble needles before disposal.
Recommendations outlined here to assist in reducing the
spread of infection within veterinary practice may be considered
basic and routine. Extensive literature from human medicine
demonstrates that such measures are the most important and
often the most overlooked.
All practice staff have a responsibility to protect themselves,
their colleagues, clients and patients from disease. Informing staff
of the importance of basic hygiene precautions and providing
appropriate training will enable them to implement procedures
efficiently and effectively.This is likely to result in greater
compliance and help to develop a culture of infection control
awareness.
features comment hygiene news & reports
Table 1. Hand hygiene recommendations
Hand hygiene recommendation
Remove hand jewellery.
Cover cuts and abrasions.
Keep fingernails short, clean and free from nail polish.
Visibly soiled hands must be cleansed with soap and
water prior to use of antimicrobial agents.
Rationale for implementation
This can harbour bacteria.
Damaged skin harbours bacteria.
Dirty fingernails and polish can harbour and support micro-organisms.
Dirt reduces the efficacy of antimicrobial agents.
miscellaneous
Use tepid water.
Observe and feed back on hand washing technique.
Provision of individual alcohol-based hand rub.
Cleanse hands after removal of disposable gloves.
Dry hands well.
Use good quality disposable paper towels.
Provision of hand creams.
Hot water may cause skin damage making it more prone to damage and colonisation.
Feedback encourages compliance and good practice.
Increased use, as more accessible and time efficient than traditional hand-cleansing methods.
Gloves are prone to damage which is not always noticed. Hands are likely to be contaminated as
gloves are removed.
Micro-organisms are transmitted more readily via wet surfaces. Poorly dried hands are more
prone to damage.
Reusable hand towels can harbour micro-organisms. Friction during hand drying reduces the
number of micro-organisms.
Protects against effects of drying associated with regular hand cleansing which may lead to
infection and colonisation.
VETERINARY NURSING JOURNAL
Vol 22 | No 2 | February 2007
15

Nursing the wild bat
Alison Williams,VN, provides an introduction to bats, along with the nursing and first
aid options for treatment in practice
B
Reviewed by Abigail Meddings and Antony Mould of Cambridgeshire Bat Group
ats are mammals belonging to the order “Chiroptera”
(from the Latin, meaning “hand-wing”).They are the
only group of mammals to have evolved true powered
flight.
Bats are split into two sub-orders – the megachiroptera (old
world fruitbats) and microchiroptera (microbats
– typically insectivorous, echolocating
bats).
There are 16 species of bat in
the UK, all of which belong
to the microbats.Along with
many of their relatives,
British bats exhibit some
fascinating behavioural
and physiological
adaptations to their
mode of life, including
the abilities to hunt for
prey at night using
echolocation, and regulate
their body temperature
according to food availability
and weather conditions.
The number of bats in Britain has
declined significantly in recent years.
Although we do not have much historical
information, it is clear that many of our bats are under threat.All
British bats are fully protected by the law under the Wildlife and
Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) and the Habitats
Regulations 1994.
The law essentially makes it illegal to intentionally kill, injure
or possess a bat, or disturb or damage its dwelling. Bats may,
however, be kept and treated for release.
To show that you have acted within the law you must keep
records of bats in your care, detailing where they came from and
why they are in captivity.You should record their weight and
size and details of all treatment given.
Behaviour
Nearly all bats are nocturnal or crepuscular (active during dawn
and dusk). In Britain, during the day bats roost in a variety of
places, depending on the species and time of year. During the
spring and summer these include trees, bat boxes, buildings and
bridges, whilst during the autumn and winter underground sites
(caves, mines, icehouse, etc.) are also used.
Whilst roosting, bats allow their body temperature to drop
close to that of their surroundings, slowing their metabolism to
conserve energy.This is known as daily torpor.At dusk, bats
warm their bodies and become active, in preparation for heading
out to feed.
To hunt insects at night, bats use a system of echolocation. In
echolocation, bats emit short pulses of high frequency sounds
from their mouths (or in some species the nose) that are above
the threshold of human hearing.The sound waves spread out
and bounce back in the form of an echo. Bats
are then able to discern speed, direction
and distance by interpreting these
echoes.This highly sophisticated
system also allows them to
catch insects, even in
complete darkness.
Across the world, bats
vary in social structure,
with some leading a
solitary life-style and
others living in caves
colonised by more than
The brown long-eared
bat is small, at only 4.2 to
5.3cm in length and weighing
five to 12g. The ears, which
are three-quarters the length
of the head and body, are
folded and held backwards
when resting. The maximum
recorded age is
30 years!
a million individuals. In
Britain, bat colonies can
range in size from several
bats to over 1,000 individuals,
depending on species and time
of year.
During the summer, females
form maternity colonies and males
tend to roost singly or in small
groups.
The young are born between May and July depending on
weather conditions and species.They take up to six weeks to
become fully weaned and reach adult size, and can fly from
approximately three to five weeks.
During the autumn, males and females come together and
“swarming” behaviour occurs outside of roost sites – it is
predominantly during this period that mating occurs.
During the winter months bats enter an uninterrupted torpor
known as hibernation.At this time the bat’s metabolism drops
considerably and the heart rate reduces to only several beats per
minute.This allows them to survive the months where food is
scarce. During the hibernation period, bats are particularly
vulnerable to disturbance.
Anatomy
British bats are covered in fur that ranges from brown or black
depending on age/species.The primary function of the fur is for
insulation. However, some hairs, such as those on the face,
receive and transmit sensory pulses.
Contrary to popular belief bats are not blind.They can see
well in low light levels, although they cannot see colour.
VETERINARY NURSING JOURNAL
miscellaneous features comment
bats news & reports
Vol 22 | No 2 | February 2007 17

miscellaneous features comment
bats news & reports
VETERINARY NURSING JOURNAL
Scent plays an important role in the establishment and
maintenance of colonies. Bats have scent glands around their
throat and toes called “gular glands” which are used to mark
themselves and members of the colony.
Bat’s wings are much thinner than those of birds, allowing
them to manoeuvre more quickly and precisely. Each wing is
made of a double layer of skin called the wing membrane. Bats
have the same bones in their arms as humans, but their hand
bones are much longer and support their wings.The clawed
thumb is free of the wing to cling to tree bark or the walls and
ceilings of the roost.
The teeth are sharp in order to bite through the chitin
armour of insects and catching prey during flight. Depending
on species, newborn bats can have up to 22 deciduous teeth
later replaced with 20 to 28 permanent teeth.
Examination and handling
A bat found on the ground during daylight hours is likely to be
in trouble.
Always wear protective gloves when handling bats.They
should be handled as little as possible to reduce stress.
Some species are extremely small and can be easily injured,
unless care is taken. Generally, they should be laid across the
fingers with the thumb firmly, but gently holding them down.
Look for any obvious signs of injury, but avoid opening both
wings at the same time during examination, as this can easily
cause further injury if the bat struggles.
Provide symptomatic treatment and supportive therapy to
warm and rehydrate the bat.
The five main reasons for bats requiring veterinary support
include:
● injured or orphaned baby bats;
● injury from predators;
● fractured bones or wing damage;
● dehydration or anorexia;
● hypothermia from shock or hibernation problems.
All newly admitted bats should receive warmed subcutaneous
fluids and warmth. Dose rates for fluid therapy vary from 0.3ml
for a pipistrelle bat (smallest UK bat species) to 0.8ml for a
larger species, such as serotines.This can be repeated every 12
hours.
It is illegal to keep any bat in captivity, unless it is for the
purpose of treating it with a view to releasing, and they should
always be released as soon as possible.The longer bats are kept in
captivity, the less chance they will have of survival in the wild,
and so this may factor in the decision on whether to euthanase.
Feeding
Bats naturally hunt and eat flying insects. It is difficult to provide
a natural diet in captivity, but mealworms or waxworms are the
best alternatives.
A healthy adult pipistrelle bat may eat 10 to 15 mealworms
per day, whilst the larger species can require 30 to 40.
Waxworms are larger and so less are required.
Most bats will readily take mealworm viscera and progress
quickly to whole mealworms. Sometimes it may be necessary to
squeeze some of the viscera onto the bat’s mouth to get it
interested.
Mealworms are a good food source, but are lacking in some
vitamins.There are products available that will be absorbed by
the worms and so will then provide the necessary supplements.
The common pipistrelle is the smallest and most common bat in the UK, at
only 3.5 to 4.5cm in length and weighing three to eight grams. The
maximum recorded age is 16 years. Remember, you should always wear
protective gloves when handling bats!
Common injuries and diseases
Subcutaneous emphysema
This condition is where areas of the bat’s body become inflated
with air.To release the trapped air, the skin over the swelling
should be swabbed with surgical spirit. Using an insulin syringe
the air can then be aspirated gently.A course of broad-spectrum
antibiotics should be used and the bat monitored for any further
swellings.
Sticky wing
The interior of the folds of a bat wing may become sticky and
odorous if it has been kept in captivity with irregular wing
usage.This may be a mixture of bacteria and yeasts. It should be
washed off with a warm salt solution and dried.
Alopecia
Due to factors such as stress, inadequate diet and environmental
changes, bats in captivity may develop alopecia.The pipistrelles
are especially prone to this. If this does develop, handle the bat as
little as possible, reduce environmental stresses and release the
bat as soon as possible.
Wing membrane necrosis
The cause of this disease is unknown.The wing membranes dry,
crack and flake away.The necrosis may also travel into
neighbouring bone. Recovery can be a long process with the
use of antibiotic therapy and massaging E45 cream into the
cracked membranes.
Wing injuries
Tears to the wing membranes are common. Small wounds or
tears may resolve themselves. Others may require surgical
assistance.
Major tears can be sutured using absorbable suture material.
Tissue glue is also another option to repair smaller tears. Both of
these methods allow quick release of the bat.
18
Vol 22 | No 2 | February 2007

Rabies
The rabies virus European bat Lyssavirus (EBL) has been found
in one bat species in the UK.Although the risk is very small,
great care should be taken when handling bats.There is little
information on the symptoms displayed by infected bats, but
extreme aggression, unco-ordinated movements, trembling,
spasms and seizures have been reported.
If you suspect rabies you should contact your local animal
health office or local authority to seek advice. Rabies is a legally
notifiable disease.
Torpor hibernation
If you receive a bat that appears to be in difficulty during
hibernation or just after, nursing assistance is required.The bat
should be rehydrated via subcutaneous or oral routes and
warmed up gradually over a few hours to prevent shock from
the adverse temperature change. Provide food and water until
weight is gained. Once recovered, replace at the site of rescue at
dusk.
Help
If a bat is brought in and you are unsure of what to do, local bat
groups are a valuable source of information.Your local group
can be contacted via the Bat Conservation Trust on 0845 1300
228.
References
Altringham, J. (1996) Bats – Biology and Behaviour. Oxford
University Press.
Beynon, P. and Cooper, J. (1991) Manual of Exotic pets. BSAVA.
Brown, M. and Brown, B. (2006) Bat Rescue Manual.West
The noctule bat, along with serotine bats, are one of the largest British
species. They are usually six to 8.2cm in length, with a wingspan of 32 to
45cm, weighing 19 to 40g.
Yorkshire Bat Hospital.
Richardson, P. (2000) Bats – British Natural History.
Stocker, L. (2000) Practical Wildlife Care. Blackwell Science.
Internet references
- The Bat Conservation trust – www.bats.org.uk
- The London Bat group – www.londonbats.org.uk
- Joint Nature Conservation Committee – www.jncc.gov.uk
● Photographs are courtesy of Abigail Meddings.
news & reports
bats
comment
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features
miscellaneous
VETERINARY NURSING JOURNAL
Vol 22 | No 2 | February 2007 19

Advanced nursing care Peer reviewed by Sue Badger, VN, MBVNA
miscellaneous features comment catheters news & reports
VETERINARY NURSING JOURNAL
Central venous catheters
Nicki Grint, BVSc, DVA, Dipl.ECVA, MRCVS, lecturer in veterinary anaesthesia,
University of Liverpool, advises on the placement and care of central venous catheters
Over-the-guidewire technique
C
entral venous catheters (CVCs) can be placed in the
jugular or saphenous veins, but, by definition, terminate
within a body cavity and usually the caudal or cranial
vena cava (Beal & Hughes, 2000).
CVCs are invaluable in the critical care of small animals,
including providing an effective route for drug administration in
the event of cardiac arrest (Macintire et al, 2005).The indications
for their use are listed in Table 1.
Large volume fluid resuscitation is facilitated when using these
catheters, as they have a larger bore (radius) than peripheral vein
catheters. Flow of fluids through a catheter is governed by several
factors including fluid viscosity, length of catheter and radius of
catheter, but the radius is by far the most influential.
There are certain animals in which CVCs should not be
placed, namely those with coagulopathies, or those which are
hypercoagulable. CVC placement in animals in which elevated
intraocular pressure or intracranial pressure is suspected (Hackett
& Mazzaferro, 2006) is also not advisable due to the venous
occlusion caused by placement of the catheter, and the partial
occlusion of the jugular vein when the catheter is in situ.
Placement
CVCs can be placed in the jugular vein by a variety of
techniques, including over-the-needle catheters, through-the
needle catheters, peel away catheters or over-the-guidewire
technique (White, 2005).The overthe-guidewire
technique will be
discussed in greater detail in this article
and a step-by-step guide to catheter
placement using this technique
(Figures 1-10).
The over-the-guidewire technique is
also known as the Seldinger technique,
named after the Swedish radiologist
1 2 3 4
Figure 1. Clockwise from top left: chlorhexidine prep, sterile gloves, sterile drape, dressing materials, suture material, sterile swabs, heparinised
saline, CVC kit. Figure 2. From left: Guide wire in a coil, bungs, introducer catheter, dilator, introducer needle, catheter. The guide wire naturally
falls into a J shape at the end, this is to prevent traumatisation to the vessel wall as it is being introduced. The end of the wire needs to be
pulled back into the blue end of the coil (as above) before use. The animal is either anaesthetised or sedated and the site for insertion is
infiltrated with a total dose of lidocaine not exceeding 4mg/kg. Monitoring of the ECG is also advisable due to potential cardiac ayrrthymias if
the guidewire or catheter is advanced into the heart. The area over the jugular vein is clipped and prepared with chlorhexidine. Figure 3. After
draping of the surgical site, the jugular vein is raised and either a needle or catheter (as above) is introduced into the vein. After pulling back the
J shape end of the wire into the end of the coil, the blue section is inserted into the end of the catheter or needle. The wire is then advanced into
the catheter (using the thumb of the left hand in this picture). Figure 4. Once the wire has been advanced into the vein for several centimetres,
the needle or catheter is removed, leaving the wire in the vessel.
who first used it in 1953.The technique allows entry into a vein
with minimal trauma to surrounding tissues.
The threading of the catheter over a guidewire allows catheters
which are too soft, too long or too flexible for a usual percutaneous
technique to be used. In a comparison of a modified
Seldinger technique and through-the-needle jugular catheter
placement technique in dogs, there was a trend for veterinary
students to find the Seldinger technique easier, and create less
haematomas than with the alternative technique (Portillo et al,
2005).
There are several human and veterinary CVC systems
available, with human systems often appropriate for use in dogs
and cats.The CVCs come in different radii and lengths, and are
available with one, two or three lumens.A multi-lumen catheter
has the advantage of allowing the administration of intravenous
fluids at the same time as central venous pressure measurements.
Complications
The use of CVCs is not without complications. Complication
rates in small animal studies range from 13% (Blaiset et al, 1995)
to 29% (Lehman et al, 2003). Complications of intravascular
catheterisation are listed in Table 2.
CVCs introduced via the jugular vein have also been reported
to cause pneumothorax, arterial puncture and nerve damage in
humans (Farrell et al, 1997).
Table 1. Indications for use of CVCs
(Adapted from Hackett & Mazzaferro, 2006)
● Large volume crystalloid or colloid infusion.
● Continuous drug infusion.
● Repeated blood sample collection.
● Infusion of hypertonic solutions.
● Infusion of parenteral nutrition.
● Central venous pressure measurement.
Thrombophlebitis (inflammation
of a vein related to a blood clot) can
be associated with increased patient
morbidity and mortality.The
potential sequelae, include vascular
occlusion, septicaemia and parts of
the thrombus breaking off to create
emboli.These emboli can lodge in a
variety of distant organs and cause
20
Vol 22 | No 2 | February 2007

organ dysfunction and abscessation (including endocarditis).
Thrombophlebitis would be recognised by a variety of
clinical signs (Table 3) – if sepsis was also involved, heat
would be felt along the path of the vein, a painful response
would be elicited on palpation, and the animal may also be
pyrexic and depressed.
Thrombophlebitis may arise for a variety of reasons. Lack
of familiarity with the catheter insertion technique may
lead to repeated attempts and greater vascular trauma.
Mechanical irritation or trauma to the vessel wall will
trigger inflammatory cascades; this may be at the site of
insertion or where the catheter touches the vessel wall or
any valves in the jugular vein.The vascular endothelium
can also be irritated by the nature (pH, tonicity,
temperature) of the drugs and fluids injected.
The material the catheter is made from, the softness of
the material and the surface texture of the catheter will also
influence thrombus formation. Materials commonly used in
CVCs include polyurethane, polyvinylchloride (PVC),
polyethylene, tetrafluoroethylene (teflon), polypropylene and
silicone elastomer (White, 2002). Silicone and polyurethane are
the most inert of the catheter materials (White, 2002), however
they are also very soft (which again decreases the chance of
thrombus formation).
The smoothness of a catheter must also be considered, those
which have wrinkled or kinked on placement (usually of the
stiffer materials) can provide sites for bacterial adherence and
thrombus formation. Size also matters – the shorter and
narrower a catheter is, the less thrombophlebitis it will cause,
however it must be remembered that limiting the radius of a
catheter will limit the flow of fluids.
Patients who are prone to forming clots are more likely to
develop thrombophlebitis. Catheter infections are more likely to
occur in malnourished animals or those who are immunocompromised.
Patients which interfere with their catheters and
cause them to move within the vein will also be more prone to
thrombus formation.
Catheter infections or septic thrombophlebitis result from
the CVC becoming contaminated with organisms. Bacterial
contamination of CVCs with E. coli, Aerobacter spp, Proteus
spp, Klebsiella spp (Burrows, 1982), Pseudomonas spp and S.
aureus (Blaiset et al, 1995) have been reported in small
animals. Bacteria may be introduced from the patient’s skin,
a contaminated catheter hub, contaminated intravenous
fluid or drug, or seeding via the blood of bacteria from a
Over-the-guidewire technique
Table 2. Complications of intravascular catheterisation
(Adapted from Hansen, 2001)
● Extravasation (leakage) of fluids or drugs.
● Catheter infection.
● Thrombus/thrombophlebitis.
● Air embolism.
● Catheter embolism.
● Exsanguination.
Table 3. Clinical signs of aseptic thrombophlebitis
● Swelling along the vein.
● Abnormal filling of the vein when raised.
● Thickening/cording of the vein.
● Stiff neck (if jugular affected).
● Potential for swollen head if both jugulars affected.
remote site of infection (Maki, 1992).
Bacteria may be introduced from the patient’s skin as the
catheter is inserted, or they may migrate down the extra-luminal
surface of the catheter from the skin into the vessel.Thorough
surgical preparation of the insertion site reduces the incidence
of catheter-related infection in dogs (Burrows 1982) and this
approach must be utilised in all species.
Human studies (Chaiyakunapruk et al, 2003 and Van Esch et
al, 2002) found that two per cent chlorhexidine is superior to
povidone-iodine for cutaneous disinfection of the insertion site.
The point of catheter insertion should also be dressed to
prevent bacterial colonisation. Sterile gauze swabs can be used
with or without ointments to prevent catheter-related infection.
Topical antimicrobial agents have been shown to confer modest
benefit in the prevention of infection (Maki & Band, 1981),
although animals should not be placed on systemic antibiotic
therapy simply because they have an indwelling intravenous
catheter (Burrows, 1982).
There has been an increase over the past decade in the use of
impermeable transparent dressings, which enable the nursing
staff to regularly inspect the catheter site – suggested at least
every six hours (Beal & Hughes, 2000).These dressings may
have disadvantages, as when fluid, e.g. blood and exudates,
accumulate under the dressing, they create an excellent culture
medium for organisms (Reynolds et al, 1997).
More permeable dressings which would prevent
accumulation of fluid are available, although results of
comparisons with the impermeable transparent dressings are
5 6 7
Figure 5. A dilator is then threaded over the wire. With a twisting motion, this dilator is advanced over the wire to create a tunnel in the
skin and slightly enlarge the hole in the wall of the jugular vein. Figure 6. The dilator is removed, and the catheter is then advanced over
the guidewire. It is imperative that you never loose contact with the wire, on some occasions it may be necessary to back the wire out so
that you can grasp it at the hub of the catheter, before advancing the catheter over the wire. Figure 7. The catheter is threaded into the
vein up to the hub and the guidewire is removed at this stage. Bungs are placed immediately on the the ends of each port to avoid
excessive blood loss or air being entrained into the catheter. The catheter is flushed to ensure correct placement.
VETERINARY NURSING JOURNAL
miscellaneous features comment catheters news & reports
Vol 22 | No 2 | February 2007 21

news & reports
Over-the-guidewire technique
8 9 10
Figure 8. The catheter is then sutured securely in place. Figures 9 and 10. The catheter is dressed with a transparent permeable
polyurethane layer and then soft dressing material and a cohesive bandage. Please make sure the latter is lose enough so as not to cause
vascular or airway occlusion once the animal recovers from anaesthesia and flexes its neck.
comment catheters
miscellaneous BVNA features council
VETERINARY NURSING JOURNAL
22
equivocal (Reynolds et al, 1997,Tretson-Aurand et al, 1997).
It is possible for micro-organsims to gain access and colonise
the inside surface of the catheter via the catheter hub. Hub
manipulations, e.g. during tubing changes, may increase the risk
of contamination.
Multilumen catheters are associated with higher rates of
catheter infection when compared to single lumen catheters, this
is thought to be due to the increased amount of manipulation
with these devices (Theaker, 2004).
It is good practice to wear gloves when administering
injections, and injection ports should be swabbed with alcohol
and allowed to dry before injections are made. Extension tubing
should be changed regularly, although a randomised trial in
humans has show that delaying tubing changes to four days does
not increase hub contamination rates or catheter sepsis (Stiges-
Serra et al, 1985).
Catheters need to be kept patent by intermittent flushing with
heparinised saline, although frequent invasion of the catheter hub
to perform the flushing may increase the occurrence of catheterrelated
infection (White, 2002).The incidence of phlebitis in
humans appears to be unaffected by twice daily or three times
daily catheter flushing (Dunn & Lenihan, 1987).
It has been suggested that the duration of indwelling of a
catheter is a risk factor for the incidence of infection, although
there is not a linear relationship between duration and infection
(Theaker, 2004).
CVCs may be left in situ for at least seven days, if well
maintained (White, 2002), but must be removed and the catheter
tip cultured if any signs of thrombophlebitis are noted.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank Briony Alderson, Liza Ebeck and Brent
Higgins for their assistance with photography, and Alex Dugdale
for her help with manuscript preparation.
References
Beal, M. W. & Hughes, D. (2000) Vascular Access: Theory and techniques in the small animal
emergency patient. Clin tech in small animal prac 15: 101-109.
Blaiset, M. A., Couto, C. G., Evans, K. L. & Smeak, D. D. (1995) Complications of indwelling, silastic
central venous access catheters in dogs and cats. JAAHA 31: 379-384.
Burrows, C. F. (1982) Inadequate skin preparation as a cause of intravenous catheter-related infection
in the dog. JAVMA 180: 747-749.
Chaiyakunapruk, N., Veenstra, D. L., Lipsky, B. A., Sullivan, S. D., Saint, S. (2003) Vascular catheter site
care: the clinical and economic benefits of chlorhexidine gluconate compared with povidone iodine.
Clin Infect Dis 37: 764-771.
Dunn, D. L. & Lenihan, S. F. (1987) The case for the saline flush. Am J Nurs 87: 798-799.
Vol 22 | No 2 | February 2007
Farrell, J., Walshe, J., Gellens, M., Martin, K. J. (1997) Complications associated with insertion of
jugular venous catheters for hemodialysis: the value of postprocedural radiograph. Am J Kidney Dis
30: 690-2.
Hackett, T. B. & Mazzaferro, E. M. (2006) Chapter 1: Vascular access techniques. Veterinary Emergency
and Critical Care Procedures. (1st edn. Eds Hackett & Mazzaferro.) Blackwell Publishing, Oxford UK.
Hansen, B. D. (2001) Intravenous catheters. Waltham Focus 11: 4-10.
Lehman, T. L., Drellich, S. L., Remillard, R. L. (2003) Use of central venous catheters in small animal
patients. J Vet Emerg Crit Care 13: 164.
Macintire, D. K., Drobatz K. J., Haskins, S, C. & Saxon, W. D. (2005) Chapter 1: Approach to the
emergency patient. Manual of small animal emergency and critical care medicine. (1st edn. Eds
Macintire, Drobatz, Haskins & Saxon). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia USA.
Maki, D. (1992) Infections due to infusion therapy. Hospital Infections. (3rd edn. Eds Bennett, J.,
Brachman, P.) Little-Brown, Boston USA.
Portillo, E., Mackin, A., Hendrix, P. K., Boyle, C., Chrestman, L. (2006) Comparison of the modified
Seldinger and through-the-needle jugular catheter placement techniques in the dog. J Vet Emerg Crit
Care 16: 88-95.
Maki, D. G. & Band, J. D. (1981) A comparative study of polyantibiotic and iodophor ointments in
prevention of vascular catheter-related infection. Am J Med 70: 739-744.
Reynolds, M. G., Tebbs, S. E. & Elliott, T. S. J. (1997) Do dressings with increased permeability reduce
the incidence of central venous catheter related sepsis? Int Crit Care Nurs 13: 26-29.
Stiges-Serra, A., Linares, J., Perez, J. L., Jaurrieta, E., Lorente, L. (1985) A randomized trial on the effect
of tubing changes on hub contamination and catheter sepsis during parenteral nutrition. J Parenter
Enteral Nutr 9: 322-5.
Treston-Aurand, J., Olmstead, R. N., Allen-Bridson, K., Craig, C. P. (1997) Impact of dressing materials
on central venous catheter infection rates. J Intravenous Nurs 20: 201-206.
Theaker, C. (2005) Infection control issues in central venous catheter care. Inten Crit Care Nurs 21:
99-109.
Van Esch, J. (2002) Chlorhexidine reduced catheter tip colonisation more than 10%
povidone iodine in critically ill neonates. Evid Based Nurs 53: 73.
White, R. (2002) Vascular access techniques in the dog and cat. In Prac 24: 174-192.
Table 4.
Recommendations for good nursing care of CVCs
● Thoroughly prepare the insertion site with chlorhexidine
and surgical spirit.
● Insert the CVC in a sterile manner with surgical drapes
and sterile gloves.
● Secure the catheter in position well.
● Place dressing over the catheter, avoiding impermeable
dressing materials.
● Inspect the catheter and vein several times daily.
● Flush the catheter at least twice daily with sterile
heparinised saline.
● Follow aseptic procedures when performing injections,
drawing blood or changing intravenous tubing.
● Remove the catheter at the first signs of infection, and
culture the catheter tip to aid in selection of appropriate
antibiosis.

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Life after children…
Nicola Ackerman, BSc(Hons),VN, CertSAN, MBVNA, shares some lessons learnt
when it comes to motherhood and returning to work
returning to work
VETERINARY NURSING JOURNAL
24
I
have often been asked why I didn’t go into human
nursing.The reason is simple, I don’t do people very
well; I much prefer animals, as they can’t moan or
complain.Though they can bite and scratch.
Nearly everyone has been put in the situation where that
vet asks for your help in a consult, to be offered the choice of
holding the pet or the small snotty child.The pet is my choice
every time; even if is the most savage untamed beast that has
ever walked this land.
Everyone keeps telling
you things will change
when you have one of
your own.Yes, things do
change, but my dislike of
other people’s children
does not. Don’t
misunderstand me, I love
my daughter to bits, she is
the best thing that has ever
happened to me. However,
the whole “working whilst
being pregnant” is a health
and safety minefield, trying
to get back into work can
be a nightmare; and the
people on the end of the
BVNA legal helpline can
become your best friends.
Your rights
Whilst pregnant, make sure
you are fully aware of your
rights, and what duties you
should be able to
undertake. Every person’s
pregnancy is as individual
as the baby inside. I personally hated every second of being
pregnant, whereas other people love being pregnant.
What midwives advise pregnant VNs also differs. Some
midwives, including mine, instructed me that I had the worst
job in the world to perform whilst being pregnant, and that I
should go on maternity leave as soon as possible. Cats were
deemed the spawn of Satan, and she felt that veterinary health
and safety protocols were something out of the dark ages.
Using your common sense whilst at work, and deciding
what you should and shouldn’t do is vital. I was advised not to
aid in theatre because of the leaking anaesthetic gases.
I asked what happens to pregnant anaesthetists in human
medicine, to be told that they carry on as normal.This was
because they have proper scavenging and use ET tubes, don’t
you know, and that veterinary practices simply can’t be that
up to date and as efficient!
Vol 22 | No 2 | February 2007
Returning to work has enabled me to have an identity, rather than just being a
mum. For my own clinical sanity, I needed to get back to work, and I feel that I
am a better mum by having “me time” each day.
If your experience is something similar to mine, why not
invite the midwife, or, as we did, the chief of obstetrics for the
local heath trust, to see what actually does occur in veterinary
practice! He never did take us up on our offer.
Returning to work
Returning to work after a period of absence is always a
daunting experience. In the majority of cases, this is after
maternity leave. I have
returned to work after a
period of six months’
maternity leave, and
returning to work proved
to be a stressful period.
Whether you decide to
return to work or not, it is
now the mother’s
responsibility to notify the
business owners at least 28
days before the last day of
statutory maternity leave,
of your decision. In many
cases, this will be a request
to return to work under
flexible working hours, i.e.
to work part time.
The business owners
have to reply back to you
within 28 days, either with
an agreement, or if not, to
a formal meeting to discuss
your request to return to
work under flexible
working protocols.
The BVNA fact sheet
(number 15) details
specifications for flexible working.The website of ACAS is a
huge source of information, and don’t forget the BVNA legal
helpline (worth the BVNA membership fee on its own!).
Sanity
So, you’ve agreed the hours you want to work, and you have
chosen a nursery for the baby, managed to squeeze back into
your old uniform, and it is day one. For me, I was dying to
get back to work, not just for the social aspect, but also for
some intellectual conversation.
Returning to work has enabled me to have an identity,
rather than just being Elle’s mum. For my own clinical sanity, I
needed to get back to work, and I feel that I am a better
mum by having “me time” each day. Elle also gets to socialise
and build-up her immunity by seeing other babies, and to be
independent for herself.

Keeping up to date
Keeping up to date during my maternity
leave was important. So much can happen
in six months, especially in veterinary
medicine. In my case, the
reclassification of medicines, new
medications on the market, changes to
our OOH systems, new staff
members, new occupational standards
and portfolios, digital x-ray processor
and new shift patterns, to mention a
few!
The first day back
Day one equals stress! Leaving Elle at
nursery was upsetting for me, not her; she was
merry as could be. My first two anaesthetics were
put to sleep on the table, I spilt tea all over myself, a dog
urinated on me; this was followed by a list of moans and
groans about rotas, stock and holiday. But even so, I really
enjoyed being back at work.
Whereas before baby, I used to complain that work was
tiring – nothing is as exhausting as a baby that hasn’t slept
for more than four hours at a time for the last six months.
Being back at work, in comparison, was almost relaxing.
Remembering how to make appointments on the
computer took a little bit of effort.
When offered the
choice of holding the
pet or the small snotty
child, the pet is my
choice every time; even
if is the most savage
untamed beast that
has ever walked
this land
Check points
It is recommended, for longer periods of absence, or if you
feel rusty, to have a refresher session.Whether this is for
how to use the computer, or in anaesthetics.
Things move on in veterinary medicine rapidly, this also
includes members of staff ’s relationships, so try not to put
your foot in it!
The practice has got on and functioned without you for
six months. Other people have undertaken roles that you
were previously performing. Returning back to work can
mean that you take these roles/tasks back. In some cases,
people will be delighted by this, others might not be, and a
little tact may be required.
Other points to remember: check what has happened to
regular clients’ animals. Don’t put your foot in it by asking
about Fluffykins, to discover Fluffykins was run over last
month. Check that your uniform fits at least a couple of
weeks before you are due to start back. It gives you a
couple of weeks to order a new one, if needed that is.
If baby does end up in “baby prison”, as my husband
refers to nursery, ask your practice for childcare vouchers. It
will save you and the practice money. Basically, your
employers pay the nursery, and then deduct the amount
from your wages.You don’t pay tax on the amount, and the
practice saves on NI contributions.
For nurses returning to work after a longer period of
time and into a new job, it can be exceptionally difficult.
Some practices seem to be very reluctant to want to
employ part-time workers, or those with family
commitments. I recently read a comment from a vet who
said he had to use a “suitably trained person” to perform
anaesthetics, as he had insufficient quantities of work to
keep a qualified VN interested. I urge these practice owners
to start “thinking outside the box”.Why not employ a parttime
VN to perform the surgical aspects
of the day, admitting the animals,
administering pre-meds, monitoring
the anaesthetics, and employ a
qualified ANA for the rest of the
day?
These nurses bring a wealth of
experience and knowledge to
the practice, and should be
actively encouraged to return to
veterinary nursing post-baby.
Changing priorities
Having a child will change your
priorities, whether you like it or not.
But I would recommend it to anyone.
Poor average VN wages can be a major
factor for returning to work, especially if you have to pay
for childcare. Up to 50% of an average VN wage can go on
childcare payments. But my biggest piece of advice: if your
practice tells you that you can’t return to work in the role
that you were originally performing because you have a
baby now, or that the role cannot be performed by
someone working part time; use the BVNA legal helpline.
Use your common sense, you know what you are capable
of doing, or not doing, when you are pregnant; don’t let
anyone bully you into doing something that you are not
happy about. Lastly, enjoy yourself on maternity leave; spend
as much time as possible on maternity leave with baby. It
goes exceptionally quickly, and baby will grow even
quicker.
Midlands- Maternity Leave Cover.
We are looking for an enthusiastic, qualified VN to
work as part of our friendly team. This is a
progressive and busy 100% small animal, 1st
opinion practice with 4 clinics.
All our nurses play an active role, in a practice
where nurse clinics and schedule 3 are
encouraged. You will be involved in surgical and
medical nursing, ensuring high quality patient care.
The position is full time, including Saturday
morning surgery.
There is a good salary, no OOH, on call or phone
duties allowing a good work/life balance.
For more information or an informal chat phone
Head Vet Rebecca on 07968 052189
returning to work
VETERINARY NURSING JOURNAL
Vol 22 | No 2 | February 2007 25

Council characters
miscellaneous council characters comment clinical/practical news & reports
VETERINARY NURSING JOURNAL
26
BVNA Council member,Amy Poultney, tells us about her experiences with
thermometers and client handbags!
Name: Amy Poultney, BSc,VN,A1.
Job title: nursing manager.
Significant others: John (boyfriend),
Nemo (cat).
What’s your most memorable
moment in practice?
Helping a vet to remove a lung
lobe and the dog “Tia” making it
through (I stayed with her all day
and all night).
What is your most embarrassing
moment in practice?
I once lost a thermometer up a dog’s
bottom – in front of the owner.The owner
then over-reacted, nearly fainted and had to
be brought a glass of water and a chair! I will
never forget the wonderful vet who got it
out for me without surgery and no lasting
effects on the dog!
What is the funniest thing a
client has said to you?
I complimented a lady’s
handbag (although I didn’t
actually like it, I was just being
nice) and she said “You can
have it”! No matter how much
I insisted I didn’t want it, she
still emptied her bag into a
Hill’s carrier and gave me the
bag – I still have it!
BVNA Behaviour Course
Module 1 Dogs and Cats: understanding the
difference – Saturday March 24
(Canine domestication, feline domestication, canine social systems and
communication, feline social systems and communication, video clips and
discussion, communication games, normal behaviours as they relate to
behaviour problems)
Module 2 The Front Line Approach to Behavioural
Problems - Sunday March 25
(Nurses on the front line, “Can I help you?”, the communication challenge,
Vol 22 | No 2 | February 2007
What’s the most bizarre case you have
ever seen?
I am torn between the tortoise that ate a
watch battery and a caesarean on a
marmoset monkey!
What’s your dream holiday?
Hot and relaxing, but I would love to
go to Borneo to help with orangutans.
What do you do in your
spare time?
Shop.
What’s your favourite food?
Mushy peas.
What’s your claim to fame?
I was on People’s Vets on ITV for all
of five seconds!
Name three things we
didn’t know about you:
● I can eat things like
pie and mash for
breakfast.
● Despite high standards
at work, my house is
chaos.
● A sad RSPCA advert
can make me cry – in
fact, just about anything
can make me cry!
let’s communicate, prevention – the first line of defence, legislation and
liability – knowing your limitations, getting the message across)
Module 3 Common Canine Conundrums: a
commonsense approach – Saturday July 7
(Learning theory as it relates to behaviour therapy, control problems at
home and away, anxieties, fears and phobias, canine aggression, rank
problems, puppy parties – the practicalities)
Module 4 Frequent Feline Foibles: a
commonj28sense approach – Sunday July 8
(Bonding problems, house-soiling problems, fears, phobias and anxiety
related problems, feline aggression, bizarre behaviours, case histories)
These courses take place at Myerscough College, Preston, Lancashire, and may be taken as stand-alone modules or as a
complete course, and may be attended in any order. For more information, contact the BVNA on 01279 408644 or
e-mail lisa@bvna.co.uk.

Ten top tips towards
well-being
Sally Cooper, BEd, CMIM, qualified, accredited life coach, advises on creating and
maintaining a sense of well-being
M
ost of us know what we have to do to lead a healthy
life. Funny then that so many of us choose not to do it!
Well-being concerns our physical and mental health,
fitness, diet, environment and lifestyle.
We know what illness is (it is to be avoided!), but do we
understand well-being and how to create it? Wouldn’t it be
better to take preventive steps with our health, rather than
just reactionary steps, such as visiting the doctor when we
become ill?
Good news then – because we can take steps towards
creating well-being. However, for many of us it means
changing some long-established habits!
We are adept at providing excuses for not changing our
self-harming habits, do these sound familiar to you?
Lack of exercise
“I’m too busy”,“I hate exercise”,“I don’t have time to
exercise”,“I can’t afford a gym subscription”,“I never stick
with it”,“I’m too old to start now”.
Changing the diet
“I’ve tried before and failed”,“I can’t prepare different meals
for all the family”,“It’s more expensive to buy fresh fruit and
veg”,“I haven’t the time to prepare ‘proper’ food”,“I’ll only
put the weight back on again”,“I’ve no willpower”.
Stopping smoking/drinking
“I’ll start next week”,“I’m under pressure at the moment, it is
not a good time to start”,“My friends all drink/smoke so it’s
difficult”,“I’ll only put on weight because I’ll eat more”,“It
helps me sleep at night”.
Having a positive outlook
“My upbringing was tough so I’m bound to feel miserable”,
VETERINARY NURSING JOURNAL
news & reports
clinical/practical
comment
miscellaneous
your life
Vol 22 | No 2 | February 2007 27

news & reports
clinical/practical
comment
“Nothing ever goes right”,“It’s everyone else who needs to
change”,“I’ll feel different tomorrow”.
and so on… I’ll come to some counter arguments later, but
first here are 10 pointers to working towards WELL-BEING.
Well-being 1
Well-being is a holistic concept.You have to deal with the
“whole you” not just the parts.
It is your body, mind, spirit and environment together that
make you who you are and so attending to only one part of
you will not work in the long term.
Well-being 2
How you view yourself is crucial.You need to be able to care
for and about yourself, which means you have sufficient selfesteem.That
view of you needs to be a long-term view to
allow for making changes and maintaining your motivation. If
there is something holding you back, preventing you from
respecting yourself enough to want to improve your wellbeing,
then you have to find out what it is and get help to
deal with it.
Where do your thoughts about your wellbeing come from?
What was the prevailing attitude of your family as you grew
up and of the friends you are now surrounded by?
Well-being 3
Friends keep friends well.Who you surround yourself with is
so important.You need to create supportive relationships that
are mutually beneficial. Loved ones, friends and acquaintances
can encourage you or feel threatened by your behaviour and
attempt to sabotage the changes you wish to make.
Well-being 4
You have far more choices in life than you realise.Working on
well-being means making wise choices and they don’t have to
concern big issues. Being selective by reading the label on the
food tin, or walking up the stairs instead of taking the lift can
be so effective.
You need to be conscious of the way you act, what you say
and how you feel. Choose to take control of your life rather
than becoming a victim in it.Take responsibility for the effect
you have on other people and work on creating healthy
relationships.
Well-being 5
Communicate and connect. It is possible even in the middle
of a busy life to feel isolated, which can lead to depression.
Such feelings can quickly spiral out of control with disastrous
consequences. See yourself as a part of the life that surrounds
you, whether at work, at home, in the community, or in
nature.
Take an interest in the issues at work, in your
neighbourhood and/or the nation. If you make the effort to
connect with your physical and social environment, you’ll
experience a sense of belonging.You only pass this way once
and it will be gratifying to feel you’ve connected and made a
difference, however small.
Well-being 6
You are probably aware of many of your rights, but how often
do you also consider your responsibilities? You have a personal
VETERINARY NURSING JOURNAL
your life
miscellaneous
Cartoon: John Hallett.
28
Vol 22 | No 2 | February 2007

esponsibility to maintain yourself.There may be nothing you
can do about pollution, viruses, genetics and suchlike, but
your emotional disposition and life-style determine your
health and well-being more than anything else.
When you fully realise this then you will feel more in
control of yourself.You CAN choose to make changes; it is
your responsibility not that of someone else!
Well-being 7
Nothing succeeds like success.When you achieve small steps
along the way to a goal it gives you confidence to carry on.
You grow tremendously as you realise your ability to achieve
and what once seemed daunting becomes just another step
along the way. Acknowledge your successes, praise and
celebrate your achievements, as this will feed your self-respect
and self-confidence. In this way, you will learn to expand your
horizons and develop to your full potential.
Well-being 8
Don’t be afraid to switch off.You are not
opting out, but reflecting on yourself
and the world around you. People
who are too busy to reflect on
what they have done waste the
opportunity to learn from what
has worked and what has not.
Find out how to relax, it
doesn’t have to be for
very long, but be
aware of it and
make time for it.
Spending time
alone enables you
to gain clarity
about the way
forward and the
priorities in your life.
Well-being 9
You must be kind to
yourself. For instance, when
giving something up, don’t
condemn yourself if you give in
on one occasion … it is not the
end of the world and nor does it
mean you have failed and must return
to your old ways.
Don’t allow a new healthy habit to
become an obsession because that in
itself is unhealthy. No one is perfect so
why should you suddenly become
perfect? Perfectionism is draining and
impossible to achieve, so why set yourself up to fail?
Well-being 10
We send children into the playground to relax, unwind,
exercise, release energy, socialise, have fun and recharge their
batteries in preparation for the next bout of concentrated
effort.We call it play.You need to play for all the same reasons
as a child, but do you ever find the time? All work and no
play makes you dull, a workplace that lacks humour and fun is
an unhealthy one.
Find a time and place to have fun and play (whatever that
means for you) even if you have lots of issues to deal with. It
really will help you to lighten up and see things afresh.
No excuses
These top 10 tips are not the only ways to create well-being
and you must find what works for you and do more of it.
Now some counter arguments to the procrastinations
written at the outset…
Lack of exercise – a busy life ... that’s why you need to
exercise to build stamina and strength to cope with the
demands made on you, you don’t need a gym go for a walk,
you are never too old!
Changing the diet – start slowly, don’t cut everything out
at once, shop sensibly, encourage the family to eat healthily
too, write down why you want to change your diet
and what you are aiming for and display it in a
prominent place, don’t punish yourself if you go
off course, do praise yourself for sticking to
your intentions.
Stopping smoking/drinking –
only stop if it is what you really
want to do, otherwise you won’t
succeed, create a strategy for
stressful moments when
you may succumb to
temptation, inform
everyone what you are
doing so they can help
you to stay focused, mix
with new friends who
don’t indulge.
Having a positive
outlook – you are in
control of your life – no
one else is, what
happened in the past is
over – you must take the
reins of your life now, write
down all the things that have
gone right each day, it’s mostly
you that suffers if you are miserable –
everyone around you will be getting
on with their lives.
Well-being has to be worked for and
once it is achieved it has to be maintained.
You do this by being concerned with your
physical, psychological, social and spiritual environment. I
think you’ll find it rewarding so give it a go. Good luck!
If you would like help with a well-being issue then contact
Sally. As a qualified life-coach she works with clients on a one
to one basis, face-to-face and on the telephone.
● E-mail: Sally@freshacre.com or telephone 01982 553166.
VETERINARY NURSING JOURNAL
miscellaneous your life comment clinical/practical news & reports
Vol 22 | No 2 | February 2007 29

A tale of tails
miscellaneous kittens
comment clinical/practical news & reports
VETERINARY NURSING JOURNAL
Chris Stalker,VN, shares an unusual case that happened to her Burmese kittens’ tails
M
y hobby is showing and breeding Burmese cats. Just
over a year ago, one of my queens gave birth to her
second litter of kittens. Her first litter, the year before
had been totally uneventful – an easy birth and no
complications.The second litter, however, resulted in a caesarean
section and an unexpected complication – one I had never
encountered in 30 years of veterinary nursing and assisting with
hundreds of cats’ caesarean sections.
On the 61st day of pregnancy, my two-year old queen (Millie)
started “spotting”. My vet (and former employer) Dave Walker,
examined her at home, at my request and was unconcerned at
that point about the spotting, as the queen was eating, fit and
well.There were no abnormalities on palpation and her
temperature was normal.
The spotting continued to the morning of the 63rd day and
Dave visited Millie again. Despite everything appearing to be
normal, as before, Dave decided to perform a caesarean section,
rather than risk losing the, then obviously live, kittens.
As I had previously worked at Dave’s practice in Cheshire, he
permitted me to accompany him back to the practice with
Millie, so that I could join his team of nurses in the theatre.
Now that I am a “client”, and not an employee, I had to
promise to leave the monitoring of the anaesthetic to the nurses,
but was allowed to assist in the kittens’ resuscitation.
Once the abdomen was opened it was apparent that one
kitten was lying laterally, across the cervix, preventing any
progression of labour.This kitten and the remaining six were
delivered easily, but it was noted that the placentas were very
friable.All seven kittens were “very flat” and took an awful lot of
reviving, by myself and another veterinary nurse.
We administered Dopram drops,“Nutridrops” and oxygen.
Despite all this, the kittens were still virtually unresponsive,
“blue” and their breathing was sporadic and shallow.
Resuscitation was proving to be almost fruitless and as a
desperate measure, I suggested that we employ a hairdryer to
warm the kittens (in addition to the heated pad, which was
already in place underneath the kittens).The application of heat
from the hairdryer suddenly did the trick! Almost at once, the
kittens started to “pink up”, move about and mew!
The queen was given antibiotics and analgesia and I took the
new family home to their nursery. Dave was very pessimistic
about the kittens’ chances of survival, as he was concerned over
the length of time that they had been deprived of oxygen.
Intensive care
I had left an oil-filled radiator on whilst we were at the surgery,
so that the kittens’ nursery would remain warm and cosy for our
return. Dave advised me to keep the kittens very warm, night
and day, and wished me luck in hand rearing them, until Millie’s
milk “came in”. I used Royal Canin Baby Milk to feed the
kittens, by syringe, rather than the bottle provided in the pack, as
the kittens were so tiny.
For the first 24 hours, I fed the kittens every hour, on the
hour. In addition, I gave them a drop of Nutridrops every half
Kittens at 48 hours, note the affected ear tips and tail tips (top), and one
of the kittens at five days – note the necrosing tail tip.
hour, for the first six hours.
During the following 12 hours, I fed them every 90 minutes
and then every two hours for a further 12 hours.The nursery
was kept at 80° and I wore shorts and a T-shirt! I was very warm
indeed, and in between feeds, I rested on a mattress on the floor,
beside the nesting box. Proper sleep was just not an option and I
really don’t know how I kept going.
My husband provided me with food and I had a flask of
coffee on the go constantly.A fellow breeder gave me a
wonderful tip to encourage Millie to bond with her kittens –
this was to smear sardine oil on Millie’s teats and on the kittens.
This action resulted in Millie managing the kittens toileting
needs herself.
Exactly 48 hours after the caesarean section, Millie’s milk
“came in” and, bless her, she took over from me completely!
What a relief it was to see all seven kittens suckling with gusto. I
continued to “top up” the two smallest kittens for another day,
but was able to stop this too when the weighing scales
convinced me that all the kittens were gaining weight.
A mystery
Two days after the birth, I noticed that the kittens’ tail tips were
navy blue in colour and they had darkened spots on their toes
and ear tips. I was aghast! Was this a result of over-zealous revival
using the hairdryer?
I took a photograph and showed this to Dave the following
day. Dave reassured me that these symptoms were not my fault,
but he believed they were caused by the oxygen deprivation due
to the difficult birth. He explained that the condition is known
30
Vol 22 | No 2 | February 2007

as peripheral ischaemic necrosis.There was nothing I could do
to remedy this condition, other than continue to keep the
kittens at a constant, warm temperature. It would be a case of
wait and see.
Progress
Within another week, the kittens’ toes
and ear tips were completely normal
in appearance, but five of the seven
kittens’ tail tips remained blue/black.
Over the ensuing weeks, those
affected kittens’ tail tips dried up and
eventually the dead tissue fell off.
Three kittens had noticeably
shorter tails, two lost a tiny tip and
the remaining two had full-length
tails.The five kittens with shorter tails
were not unattractive, but for show
purposes, they fell short of the
Burmese “Standard of Points”, which
meant they could not be shown in the
future.
I understand, from consequent
consultations with several vets, that they
have seen this condition in puppies, but not
in kittens. I can find no references to this
condition, other than in cases of neonatal
isoerythrolysis (NI).
Neonatal isoerythrolysis is a major cause of the fading kitten
syndrome in purebred cats, caused by a blood type
incompatibility between the queen and her kittens. Since blood
The kitten
(above), pictured at 21
weeks, was the most
severely affected of the five
that lost their tail tips.
The kitten, pictured at 24
weeks (right), was one of
the two that did not lose
their tails (photo by
Alan Robinson).
type A is dominant over type B, the mating of a type A tom to a
type B queen produces type A kittens.When the type A kittens
nurse the type B queen, they ingest colostrum containing
antibodies to their blood type.These anti-A antibodies in the
colostrum are absorbed from the intestine into the blood during
the first day of life.The antibodies rapidly destroy the kittens’ red
blood cells, similar to a transfusion reaction.
If washed red blood cells (taken from the
queen) are given intraperitoneally, surviving
kittens usually recover to full health, but may
develop necrosis of the tail tip at two weeks
of age. However, as Burmese are generally
accepted to be universally type A and the fact
that the tail tip necrosis was apparent at 48
hours post-parturition, I do not think that NI
was involved and, therefore, conclude that
either the slow
resuscitation or
possibly the lack of
oxygen in utero, via
the friable placentas,
caused this
condition. One
veterinary surgeon
suggested that he
suspected this
condition does exist,
but is not normally seen because such traumatised neonatals do
not survive at all.
If anyone has had experience of the above, please e-mail me at
chris@vintarnburmese.com.
news & reports
clinical/practical
comment
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Science is improved understanding

Your regional BVNA CPD contacts
Scotland
South West
Metropolitan
Lisa O’Donnell, VN, MBVNA
Tel: 0131 2580973
lisao_donnell@hotmail.com
Jackie Lamb, VN, MBVNA
Tel: 07706 012594
jackielamb01@aol.com
Northern Ireland
Emma McGowan, VN, MBVNA
Tel: 07736 051211
baldrick2000ie@yahoo.com
Tracy Nicholl, VN, MBVNA
Tel: 07745 415962
tracynicholl@tiscali.co.uk
North West
Kerry Brennand, VN, MBVNA
Tel: 07866 611152.
kerrylouise1100@aol.com
Midlands
Regional co-ordinator
NEEDED!
South Wales
RCO: Claire Dorey-Phillips, VN,
MBVNA
Tel: 01793 724140
E-mail: cdp1837@yahoo.com
East Anglia – Equine
bandaging and hydrotherapy
Laura Simm, VN, MBVNA,
assistant RCO for East
Anglia, writes…
RCO: Daniella Ramsier, VN,
MBVNA
Tel: 07736 308761
dramsier33@aol.com
Channel Islands
Regional co-ordinator NEEDED!
North East
Darren Kirk, VN, A1, MBVNA
Tel: 07729 272927, E-mail:
darrenkirk@hotmail.co.uk
Hayley McLeod, VN, MBVNA
Tel: 07831 672105
hayleymcleod1980@hotmail.com
East Anglia
Sara Woods DipAVN(Surg), VN,
MBVNA
Tel: 07990 896547
sdovn@aol.com
Assistant RCO: Laura Simm, VN,
MBVNA
Tel: 01493 661833
The evening on equine bandaging and
hydrotherapy started with mulled wine
and mince pies, always a good way to
start in a cold yard.
Sixteen people attended the event at
Aquus Wood Farm, near Ongar, in
December.We split into two groups,
one for bandaging, one for
hydrotherapy. Camilla Tveit, a
veterinary surgeon, showed us how to
bandage a horse’s leg with a Robert
Jones bandage. She explained the
technique and then got a few people
of the group to have a go themselves.
When we were finished in the
bandaging room, we swapped with the
other group to watch the hydrotherapy.
Becky, who was in charge of the
hydrotherapy, was very informative
about the benefits and advantages of
Rachel Lumbis, VN, MBVNA
Tel: 01707 666242
rlumbis@rvc.ac.uk
Kent
Louise Atkinson, VN, MBVNA
Tel: 07985 418750
islou@hotmail.com
Surrey & Sussex
Beshlie-Ann Carver-Carpenter,
VN, MBVNA
Tel: 01424 772148
beshlie-ann@hotmail.co.uk
South
Kirstie Shield DipAVN(Surgical)
VN MBVNA
Tel: 07793 223247
kshield@hotmail.com
Devon & Cornwall
Regional co-ordinator
NEEDED!
Welshpool
Judy Blythe, VN, A1, MBVNA
Tel: 01691 654105
JudyBlythe@aol.com
equine hydrotherapy. She told us the
water was at a constant temperature of
between two to four degrees Celsius to
reduce inflammation and speed up the
healing process.
A horse was walked into the
hydrotherapy unit and started the
treatment.We watched as the water
started to fill the tank to massage the
lower leg area.The horse seemed to
enjoy the experience, even though it
was the second time that evening she
had been in the spa! After we had
watched the hydrotherapy treatment
we retired back into the room with tea
and coffee and mince pies to round the
evening off with a raffle.The prize was
the left over bandaging materials from
the evening.
I would just like to thank everyone
who came and a special thank you to
everyone at Aquus for such a
wonderful evening, especially Helen,
Margaret, Becky and Camilla.
RCO team leader
Donna Lewis
Tel: 01322 331231
donnaleighlewis@hotmail.com
South West CPD
Dentistry in Rabbits & Exotics
Sponsored by Protexin Veterinary
& Burtons
● February 21 – Langford Vet
School, Bristol – 7.30pm.
Diabetes Nurses Management
Sponsored by Intervet &
Hartpury College
● April 25 – Hartpury College,
Gloucestershire – 7.30pm.
Pain Management
Sponsored by Boehringer
● May 16 – Langford Vet School,
Bristol – 7.30pm.
Cost: BVNA Members £7,
Non-members £14
Contact: Daniella Ramsier
on 07736 308761 or e-mail
dramsier33@aol.com
your region
VETERINARY NURSING JOURNAL
Vol 22 | No 2 | February 2007 33

CPD
Get
£10
or more off
all CPD!
BVNA members
Courses for 2007
BVNA CPD SCHEME
If you are a member of the BVNA you will receive £10 off each of these CPD
courses. If you are a course provider and would like to work together with the
BVNA in providing quality CPD contact VNJ for further details.
VETERINARY NURSING JOURNAL
Clinical/practical
The Puppy Seminar
● Tuesday February 27 –
Godmanchester
Tel:The College of Animal
Welfare, 0870 062 1122
or e-mail rfranklin@caw.ac.uk.
Dentistry In Rabbits &
Exotics
Sponsored By Protexin
Veterinary & Burtons
● Wednesday February 21 –
Langford Vet School, Bristol –
7.30pm.
Cost: BVNA members £7, nonmembers
£14.
Contact: BVNA South West
region Daniella Ramsier on
07736 308761 or e-mail
dramsier33@aol.com
Anaesthesia Refresher for
VNs and Assessors
● Tuesday February 27 – Leeds
Tel:The College of Animal
Welfare, 0870 062 1122
or e-mail rfranklin@caw.ac.uk
Dentistry for Veterinary
Nurses
● Wednesday March 7 – Leeds
Cost: £155 (lunch included)
Tel:The College of Animal
Welfare, 0870 062 1122
or e-mail rfranklin@caw.ac.uk
Emergency & Critical Care
● Friday March 9 – Potters Bar
Cost: £140 (lunch included)
Tel:The College of Animal
Welfare, 0870 062 1122
or e-mail rfranklin@caw.ac.uk
Fur, Feathers and Scales
(basic nursing techniques for
exotic species)
● Saturday March 10 –
Edinburgh
Cost: £155 (lunch included)
Tel:The College of Animal
Welfare, 0870 062 1122
or e-mail rfranklin@caw.ac.uk
CPD - Bitesize - Problem
Solving in Anaesthesia
● Thursday March 15 –
Edinburgh
Cost: £15
Tel:The College of Animal
Welfare, 0870 062 1122
or e-mail rfranklin@caw.ac.uk
Emergency Feeding & Fluid
Therapy
● Thursday March 15 – Chester
● Tuesday March 20 – Newcastle
Tutors:Ava Firth & Amanda
Boag/Sophie Adamantos
Cost: £99.88
Contact: wendy.busby@vetsnow.com
or leigh.grainger@vetsnow.com
01383 627605.
Airways & Oxygen and Pain
Management
● Friday March 23 – Belfast.
● Tuesday March 27 –
Edinburgh.
Contact: wendy.busby@vetsnow.com
or leigh.grainger@vetsnow.com
01383 627605.
Animal Physiotherapy
● Tuesday April 10
Cost: £84 for BVNA members
£94 for non-members
Contact:Animal Therapy
www.animaltherapy.org
katie@animaltherapy.org
01844 290512.
Surgical Nursing Schedule III
Procedures
● Monday April 23 – Leeds
Cost: £155 (lunch included)
Tel:The College of Animal
Welfare, 0870 062 1122
or e-mail rfranklin@caw.ac.uk.
Diabetes Nurses Management
Sponsored By Intervet &
Hartpury College
● Wednesday April 25 –
Hartpury College,
Gloucestershire – 7.30pm.
Cost: BVNA Members £7, nonmembers
£14.
Contact: BVNA South West
regionDaniella Ramsier on 07736
308761 or e-mail
dramsier33@aol.com
Pain Management
Sponsored By Boehringer
● Wednesday May 16 – Langford
Vet School, Bristol – 7.30pm.
Cost: BVNA Members £7, nonmembers
£14.
Contact: BVNA South West
region Daniella Ramsier on
07736 308761 or e-mail
dramsier33@aol.com
Veterinary Reception
Distance learning
correspondence course.
Contact: 0870 730 8433
www.animalcarecollege.co.uk
Transport and Restraint
(Level 2 – 2 units)
Distance learning correspondence
course.
Contact: 0870 5730 8433
www.animalcarecollege.co.uk
Advanced Nutrition
for Dogs & Cats
Distance learning correspondence
course.
Contact: 0870 730 8433
www.animalcarecollege.co.uk
Diploma in Companion
Animal Bereavement
Counselling
Distance learning correspondence
course.
Contact: 0870 730 8433
www.animalcarecollege.co.uk
Diploma in Animal Physiotherapy
Distance learning course, plus
hands-on practical training.
Contact:Animal Therapy
www.animaltherapy.org
katie@animaltherapy.org
01844 290512
Head Nurse
Supervisory Skills Certificate
Module 1
● Wednesday February 28 –
Birmingham
● Wednesday May 16 – Oxford
To book call Inspyr on 01865
377797 or email:
training@inspyr.co.uk
www.inspyr.co.uk
Supervisory Skills Certificate
Module 3
● Tuesday March 13 – Oxford
● Tuesday March 20 –
Birmingham
To book call Inspyr on 01865
377797 or email:
training@inspyr.co.uk
www.inspyr.co.uk
Supervisory Skills Certificate
Module 2
● Thursday March 15 – Oxford
● Thursday March 22 –
Birmingham
To book call Inspyr on 01865
377797 or email:
training@inspyr.co.uk
www.inspyr.co.uk
Health & Safety Training
Fire Safety Training
On-line learning
For more info call Inspyr on
01865 377797 or go to
www.inspyr.co.uk
Training
Assessor Training (A units)
● Wednesday April 4 – Leeds
● Tuesday April 17 – Edinburgh
● Tuesday April 24 –
Huntingdon
Cost: £625 (lunch included)
Tel:The College of Animal
Welfare, 0870 062 1122
or e-mail rfranklin@caw.ac.uk
Laboratory Techniques for
VN’s & Assessors
● Thursday April 19 – Leeds
Cost: £140 (lunch included)
Tel:The College of Animal
Welfare, 0870 062 1122
or e-mail rfranklin@caw.ac.uk
Behaviour
“So you want to be a pet
behaviourist”
● March 4 – Salisbury,Wiltshire
Tutors: Dr Peter Neville and Jo
Scott
Contact: COAPE on 0800 783
0817
www.coape.org
BVNA Behaviour
Module 1 Dogs and Cats:
Understanding the Difference
– Saturday March 24;
Module 2 The Front Line
Approach to Behavioural
Problems – Sunday March 25;
Module 3 Common Canine
Conundrums – Saturday July 7;
Module 4 Frequent Feline
Foibles – Sunday July 8.
Venue: Myerscough College,
Preston, Lancashire.
Contact: BVNA 01279 408644,
lisa@bvna.co.uk.
Understanding Typical
Behaviour Problems
● Wednesday April 11 –
Huntingdon
Cost: £140 (lunch included)
Tel:The College of Animal
Welfare, 0870 062 1122
34
Vol 22 | No 2 | February 2007

CPD
or e-mail rfranklin@caw.ac.uk.
“You and Your”
correspondence courses:
You and Your Cat
You and Your Rescue Cat
You and Your Dog
You and Your Horse
(You and Your Rescue Dog is
in preparation for 2007)
Contact: COAPE on 0800 783
0817
www.coape.org
Think Cat!
Fully accredited, 6-month,
home-study course in feline
behaviour.
Tutor: Peter Neville.
Contact: COAPE on 0800 783
0817
www.coape.org
Think Dog!
Fully accredited, 6-month,
home-study intermediate and
advanced course in canine
behaviour and training.
Tutors: Sarah Whitehead/Pamela
Mackinnon
Contact: COAPE on
0800 783 0817
www.coape.org
Think Dog Practical
A course in practical handling
and hands-on treatment treatment
of dogs that dovetails with
COAPE's Think Dog course
Tutors: Sarah Whitehead BA MSc
and Stella Bagshaw
Contact: COAPE on 0800 783
0817
www.coape.org
Talk Dog!
Fully accredited, 3-month,
home-study course in canine
body & facial expression.
Tutor: Sarah Whitehead
Contact: COAPE on 0800 783
0817
www.coape.com
Training for the Future
Fully accredited, short,
intensive course designed for
VNs in puppy class
instruction.
Tutor: Sarah Whitehead.
Contact: COAPE on 0800 783
0817
www.coape.org
2007 BVNA Congress
dates for your diary
Scottish BVNA/BSAVA Congress
May 11-13.
St Andrews Bay Hotel, St Andrews, Fife.
Look out for your registration forms, being sent out to
all members in December.
Topics include:
● Friday: pharmacy – new legislation and SQP update.
● Saturday and Sunday morning: internal medicine,
including A&E, blood transfusion, fluid therapy and
nutritional support.
Saturday afternoon: acupuncture and hydrotherapy,
with practical in acupuncture.
Diploma in Practical Aspects
of Companion Animal
Behaviour and Training
Tutors: Peter Neville,Val Strong,
Sarah Whitehead and Robert
Falconer-Taylor.
Contact: COAPE on 0800 783
0817
www.coape.org
An Introduction to
Psychology
Correspondence course in
formal psychology in the
context of canine and feline
behaviour.
Tutor: Robert Falconer-Taylor.
Contact: COAPE on 0800 783
0817
www.coape.org
Behavioural Modification for
Professionals
Distance learning
correspondence course.
Contact: 0870 730 8433
www.animalcarecollege.co.uk
Modern Theories of Canine
Behaviour, Psychology and
Training
Distance learning
correspondence course.
Contact: 0870 730 8433
www.animalcarecollege.co.uk
Hydrotherapy
Introduction to Hydrotherapy
ABC Awards Level 3
Certification
● Wed & Thurs March 28/29 –
Nuneaton
● Wed & Thurs April 25/26 –
Nuneaton
(2-day course run monthly) Cost:
£750 incl VAT
Tel: Sue Hawkins, 02476 350221
Susan.hawkins@btconnect.com.
www.hawksmoorhydrotherapy.
com
Canine Hydrotherapy
NPTC City & Guilds Level 3
Certification
Limited places. Please contact for
prospectus.
Tel: 01379 652776
E-mail: training@animalrehabinstitute.co.uk
Introduction to Hydrotherapy
(2-day course, run monthly)
Day 1 Theory, hydrotherapy
& water care
Day 2 Practical, underwater
treadmill, swimming and spa
Cost: £600 + VAT
Tel: 01379 652776 for a
prospectus
E-mail: training@animalrehabinstitute.co.uk
Northern Ireland BVNA/BSAVA
Congress
May 26-27.
Slieve Russell Hotel, Cavan, County Cavan, Ireland.
Main topics include:
● Saturday May 26:
Alistair Gibson – “Mending that broken heart” and
cardiology and Sarah Ellis: Common feline behaviour
problems and how to correct them.
● Sunday May 27: falconry display and workshop. Life
coach, Des Rice: how to get the balance right (to be
confirmed).
BVNA Annual Congress
October 19-21.
Kettering Conference Centre, Northamptonshire.
More details will become available in 2007.
your region
VETERINARY NURSING JOURNAL
Vol 22 | No 2 | February 2007 35

ecruitment
positions vacant
If you are looking to recruit ... call the
BVNA today to book your on-line and
VNJ recruitment space.
Job Ref:
Region:
Practice Type:
Salary:
Holiday per Annum:
Hours:
Contact:
Practice name
and address:
tel: 01279 408644
e-mail: bvna@bvna.co.uk
Permanent Part-time Qualified VN
SV12
Metropolitan
Small Animal
Dependent upon experience
To be advised
Hours are negotiable but you will be required to
work 1 in 4 weekends and some evenings until
7.30pm. We require an experienced nurse who is
happy to work in reception.
Carol Hoy
Risedale Vet Surgery
4 Risedale Road Hemel Hempstead
HP3 9NN Hertfordshire
01442 281994 01442 281995
Exciting Opportunity
Kent and Somerset
2 VN’s required to join our
friendly team to work in our
busy clinics on Isle of Sheppey, Kent and Yeovil,
Somerset. You must have a sense of humour and
want to utilise your skills to the fullest whilst
receiving a good wage, please phone Gordon
on: 07886035596 or email your CV to:
gordon.roberts@wellpetsanimalhospital.co.uk
www.wellpets.co.uk
Permanent Full-time Qualified VN
Job Ref: SV14
Region: Overseas – Bermuda
Practice Type: Small Animal
Salary: Approx £21,400
Holiday per Annum: 10 days
Hours: As well as general nursing duties there are shifts on
reception & in the boarding kennels. Weekends & Bank
holidays are shared on a rota. Average 40hr week. No
nights. Must love Sunshine!!
Contact: Jennifer Hume CV by Fax
Practice name
and address: Endsmeet Animal Hospital P.O Box DV330
Devonshire Bermuda DVBX001
441236 3292 001 44 1236 9049
endsmeet@northrock.bm
VETERINARY NURSING JOURNAL
Permanent Full-time Qualified VN
or Enrolled 2nd Yr Student VN
Job Ref: SV13
Region: North East
Practice Type: Mixed
Salary: £13,500-14,500
Holiday per Annum: 22 Days
Contact: Emma Wrigglesworth
Practice name
and address: Bishopton Veterinary Group
Mill Farm Studley Road Ripon
North Yorkshire HG4 2QR
01765 602396 01765 690505
enquiries@bishoptonvets.demon.co.uk
Permanent Full-time Qualified VN
or Enrolled 1st/2nd Yr VN Student
Job Ref:
Region:
Practice Type:
Salary:
Holiday per Annum:
Contact:
Practice name
and address:
SV15
Southern
Small Animal
Negotiable
Ideally you will have a full clean driving licence.
20 days
Linda Hoskins CV by Post or Fax
Abbey Veterinary Group 62 London Road
Reading Berkshire RG1 5AS
01189 871693 01189 751912
abbeynet@btconnect.com
36
Vol 22 | No 2 | February 2007

ecruitment
Job Position Required:
Permanent Full-time
Enrolled 2nd Yr VN Student
Small Animal
Region required: Scottishegion :
Live in or live out
Prepared to do nights and weekends
Holds a driving licence
Personal statement:I have been working at my current practice for almost 5 years. I am flexible
and reliable and have no problem working on call, nights or weekends.
To contact this candidate, call the BVNA today and quote ref: SW16
Job Position Required::
Job Position Required:
Permanent Full-time
Student Animal Nursing Assistant
Small Animal
Region required: Surrey & Sussex
Live Out
Able to work weekends
No driving licence
Personal statement: I have taken an Animal Health Care Course with the Animal Care College &
Canine Studies Institute Ascot. I also achieved a merit in Advanced Health Care Of Cats And Dogs in
June 1999.
To contact this candidate, call the BVNA today and quote ref: SW94
Job Position Required:
Job Position Required:
Permanent Full-time
Student Animal Nursing Assistant
Small or Mixed Animal
Region required: Surrey & Sussex
Live Out
Able to work nights and weekends
No driving licence
Personal statement: I have worked voluntarily at my local wildlife hospital for over a year
cleaning & feeding the animals and wish to start my A.N.A. training. I have also recently been to
Africa taking part in a volunteer project at a wildlife sanctuary called Harnas.
To contact this candidate, call the BVNA today and quote ref: SW17
Position Required:Job Position Required:
Job Position Required:
Full-time
1st Yr VN Student
Mixed/Equine
Region required: Scotland
Live in or live out
Able to work nights and weekends
Holds a driving licence
Personal statement: I wish to begin my VN training after working in stables for over a year. In this
time I have dealt with various ailments and injuries in both horses and dogs. I have also spent 3 wks
with my local vet learning about sheep ailments and lambing.
To contact this candidate, call the BVNA today and quote ref: SW18
Job Position Required:
Permanent Full-time
Enrolled 1st Yr Student VN
Small/Mixed/Large
Region required: East Anglia/Southern/South West/Metropolitan/Kent/
Live in or live out
Able to work nights and weekends
Holds a driving licence
Personal statement: I wish to have a career working with animals & am now in a financial
position to undertake 2 yrs as a trainee. I am prepared to relocate at short notice. I have worked as
an animal sitter and grew up with dogs and horses.
To contact this candidate, call the BVNA today and quote ref: SW19
Job Position Required:
Permanent Full-time
Enrolled 1st Yr VN Student
Small Animal
Region required: East Anglia/Metropolitan
Live Out
Able to work nights and weekends
Holds a driving licence
Personal statement: My current position includes rehoming stray animals which requires an
understanding of the needs of both the animal & the public. I also worked voluntarily at Cats
Protection in Chelmsford. I am now looking for a new challenge and wish to pursue a career as a
VN.
To contact this candidate, call the BVNA today and quote ref: SW20
Job Position Required:
Permanent Full-time
Student Animal Nursing Assistant
Small Animal
Region required: Metropolitan/Kent
Live in or live out
Able to work nights and weekends
No driving licence
Personal statement: I have been working at Lewisham Animal Trust for 2 yrs where my duties
include feeding, cleaning & grooming the animals. I also completed 2 weeks work experience at Foal
Farm which has given me experience in dealing with the public.
To contact this candidate, call the BVNA today and quote ref: SW21
Job Position Required:
Full-time
Enrolled 1st Yr VN Student
Small/Mixed
Region required: London/Essex
Live Out
Able to work nights and weekends
Holds a driving licence
Personal statement: I have a BTEC First Diploma in Animal Care and my Keyskills Qualifications
required to enrol onto the NVQ in veterinary nursing. I have worked voluntary for the RSCPA for 2
yrs and now work at my local community farm as a volunteer.
To contact this candidate, call the BVNA today and quote ref: SW4
Job Position Required:
Job Position Required:
Full-time
Enrolled 1st Yr VN Student
Small/Mixed Animal
Region required: Scottish
Live Out
Able to work nights and weekends
Holds a driving licence
Personal statement: Since March 2004 I have been working as an Animal Nursing Assistant. I
work well both independently, and as part of a team, and am currently looking for a position to
undertake my VN training.
To contact this candidate, call the BVNA today and quote ref: SW29 :
VETERINARY EMPLOYMENT SERVICES
Permanent Jobs!
Are you ready for a change?
We have an exciting selection of permanent jobs
throughout the UK - we may have the
perfect position for you
Just tell us what you are looking for and let us do
all the searching
***
Locum Jobs!
Do you want new experiences and challenges?
Travel around the UK
See different practices and new environments
Enjoy the flexibility of the locum lifestyle
VETS has over 23 years experience
in successfully finding the right locum or
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We deal exclusively with the vet profession – and our
service to you is absolutely free!
Tel: 01425 482888
Fax: 01425 482999
Email: vets@vetsemployment.com
Website: www.vetsemployment.com
Vol 22 | No 2 | February 2007
VETERINARY NURSING JOURNAL
37

February crossword
Sponsored
by
crossword features comment clinical/practical news & reports
VETERINARY NURSING JOURNAL
Are you up to date on all the veterinary nursing issues? Check your recall of the news
and information in the last VNJ by simply completing this month’s crossword.You could
receive the winning prize of a case of champagne to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your
loved one (or you can just drink it yourself!).The runner-up prize is a Molton Brown
gift set and a novelty red Direct Line phone.
Send the completed crossword, along with your name, address
and telephone number to: February Crossword, VNJ, JCA Group,
Lion Lane, Needham Market, Suffolk IP6 8NT, or fax
to 01449 723801, before March 12 (photocopies are
acceptable).The winners will be chosen at random
from the correct entries.
If you are stuck, all of the questions to this month’s
crossword are based on information found in the
January issue of VNJ.
ACROSS
1. Toxins in the blood caused by portosystemic
shunts can lead to these types of problems, for
example, aggression, pacing, seizures, etc. (12)
5. What document records details of your earnings,
tax and NI? (7)
7. Exciting new member …….. were announced last month. (8)
9. What substance can you use to help wounds heal, but also
put in your tea? (5)
10. The Australian marsupial often referred to as a bear. (5)
12. Puppy parties help puppies with this. (13)
15. P45, P46 and P60s are all types of what form? (4)
17. What major organ is involved in portosystemic shunts? (5)
19. Understanding an owner’s psychology can help you …..
the pet more successfully. (5)
DOWN
2. Nominations to stand for this VN Council close
on February 23. (4)
3. Pet Health Counsellor. (3)
4. Surname of BVNA Council member who
has also been Mayoress of Newmarket! (6)
6. Forward planning. (11)
8. Saying: are you a glass half …. or a glass
half empty person? (4)
11. To accept something is true without
proof. (6)
13. RCO provide regional … (3)
14. Some people treat their pets as surrogate
……. (8)
16. For some people pets are a …… statement,
a possession, like a showpiece. (6)
18. What should be worn whilst dressing
wounds to observe aseptic technique? (6)
Name:__________________________________
Address:__________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
Telephone:_______________________________
E-mail:___________________________________
Celebrate
Valentine’s Day
with a CASE of
champagne!
38
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