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VPMA is continuing its commitment to support veterinary nurses who are moving into management roles by supporting the College of Animal Welfare’s Head Nurse Congress for the second year.
Once again VPMA directors will be on hand to answer nurses’ queries about the association and practice management in general. Delegates will be asked to complete a questionnaire by VPMA about their management experiences and what topics they would like more training in, and will be entered into a prize draw for one head nurse to win a year’s membership to VPMA.
The results from last year’s survey of head nurses were used by VPMA to inform their membership strategy going forward, and a series of New to Management webinars was launched to help support VNs and new managers alike. The results from 2017’s survey of head nurses will be used for future webinars and in the development of unique resources tailored to the association’s membership.
Caroline Fordham from Kinfauns Veterinary Centre in Essex won a year’s free membership at the 2016 Head Nurse Congress. She said: “I have found the membership very useful, especially as the lunchtime webinars and New to Management webinar CPD are available on the website.
“I work full time, so this means I can watch the webinars at a time that suits me. Our practice does not have a practice manager and my responsibilities include, HR, health and safety, purchasing equipment and first-aid, so I have found the topics very relevant and beneficial to my role.”
VPMA junior vice-president Julie Beacham is also speaking at the event on the ever-popular topic of dealing with complaints. At some point, everyone in veterinary practice will have to deal with an upset client. The challenge is to handle the situation in a way that leaves the customer feeling listened to and valued, advises Julie. In fact, this is a great opportunity to turn an unhappy client into an ambassador for your practice – just by handling it in the right way, she says.
VPMA president, Renay Rickard, an RVN herself, was proud to be involved with Head Nurse Congress. She said: “We are delighted to be the sponsor for Head Nurse Congress again and are looking forward to meeting and chatting to many nurses, who, along with their clinical duties, also have management responsibilities.
“On the back of VPMA’s attendance last year, we developed the New to Management webinar series, which has been very well received. We listened to the feedback from managers with limited experience and the areas they felt least confident in. We then delivered a series of six webinars by top speakers to support those newly in management roles.
“This year, it will be great to be able to inform other nurses about the webinars and what else the VPMA can offer. The way veterinary businesses are owned and managed is changing rapidly and VPMA will be there to offer guidance and support to those who find themselves involved in practice management... and that is nearly all of us in some way or another!”
The Head Nurse Congress will be held at Whittlebury Hotel and Spa in Towcester over the weekend May 20-21. The full congress includes 12 hours of CPD.
Visit the website for details www.caw.ac.uk/events/head-nurse-congress