RCVS Code of Professional Conduct

Question 1

What year is the Code of Professional Conduct?

Answer 1

2012

Question 2

What are the five principles of practice with the CoPC?

Answer 2

1. Professional competence
2. Honesty & integrity
3. Independence & impartiality
4. Client confidentiality & trust
5. Professional accountability

Question 3

Veterinary Nurses & animals

Answer 3

• RVNs must make animal health & welfare first consideration.
• Keep within own area of competence & refer cases responsibly.
• Provide appropriate & adequate care.
• Provide emergency first aid & pain relief.
• Supply and administer medicines.
• Communicate with Vet Surgeons & staff to ensure health & welfare of animals.

Question 4

Veterinary Nurses & clients

Answer 4

• Must be open & honest with clients, respect needs & requirements.
• Provide independent & impartial advice.
• Provide appropriate information about prices.
• Communicate effectively.
• Must keep clear, accurate & detailed nursing records & client records.
• Must not disclose information about the client/client’s animal to other parties.

Question 5

Veterinary Nurses & the profession

Answer 5

• Must take reasonable steps address adverse physical/mental health or performance that could impair fitness to practice.
• Must maintain and develop knowledge and skills relevant to their professional practice & competence.

Question 6

Veterinary Nurses & the veterinary team

Answer 6

• Must work together with team members within practice.
• Ensure tasks are delegated to those who have appropriate competence & qualifications.
• Maintain minimum practice standards.

Question 7

Veterinary Nurses & the public

Answer 7

• Ensure protection of public health, animal health & welfare, consider impact of actions on environment.
• Must report facts and opinions honestly.
• Comply with legislation.

Question 8

What year is the Veterinary Surgeons Act?

Answer 8

1966

Question 9

What year was Schedule 3 amended in? Under the Vet Surgeons Act.

Answer 9

2002

Question 10

What is the Veterinary Surgeons Act?

Answer 10

Legislation for all vets to follow.
- Diagnosis of diseases & injuries to animals, including diagnostic test performed on animals.
- Giving medical advice based on diagnosis.
- Medical or surgical treatment.
- Performing surgical operations on animals.

Question 11

What is Schedule 3 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act?
Explain what it is.

Answer 11

Schedule three essentially allows a certain exemptions under the act where people other than A Vet can treat an animal
- Allows minor medical treatment to be given to an animal by the owner.
- Allows for nurses to give medical treatment or minor surgery, i.e. dental scale & polish, suturing and minor lump removals that don’t go into a body cavity.
- First aid treatment.

Question 12

What is the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct?

Answer 12

Guidance for RVNs & outlines responsibilities of veterinary nurses in relation to animals, clients, the profession, the veterinary team, the RCVS and the public.

Question 13

What year did the Royal Charter come into place?

Answer 13

17th February 2015

Question 14

What is the Royal Charter?

Answer 14

When this came into place, the ‘list’ and ‘register’ of veterinary nurses that had existed prior to that date, were merged into a single register.

The charter is a step towards statutory protection of the title ‘veterinary nurse’ - however currently it is still not protected.

It does strengthen the argument for statutory protection & underpin the regulation of veterinary nurses.

Question 15

What is whistleblowing?

Answer 15

Commonly used term for reporting or exposing malpractice in the workplace; could be something improper, illegal or negligent.
OR
Used when an employee raises concerns over an act, or acts of wrongdoing they believe to be going on in the workplace.

Question 16

What two organisations can be approached for guidance in cases of whistleblowing?

Answer 16

The Veterinary Defence Society (VDS)
The British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA)