A dedicated programme emphasising the breadth and value of the RVN’s role in practice is a key element of this year’s VET Festival. Leading RVNs including Rachel Lumbis, Course Director at the Royal Veterinary College; Louise Northway, Clinical Nurse Lead and recent recipient of the RCVS Inspiration Award and Nicola Ackerman, Head Medical Nurse and past recipient of the BVNA/Blue Cross Award for animal welfare, are among the speakers. They will cover a wide range of clinical, animal welfare and management-related topics.

Among the clinical lectures, aimed at refreshing delegates’ knowledge and increasing their confidence, are topics including small animal nutrition, feline nursing, anaesthesia and capnography. In a ‘first’ this year, a session led by RCVS Specialist in Dermatology Anita Patel will reveal ‘the magic of the practice microscope’, explaining how nurses can use it to carry out investigations into skin cases, supporting both the vet and the patient.
The nursing programme will also highlight ways in which RVNs can contribute to raising clinical standards in their practice and to supporting animal welfare. For instance, Nicola Ackerman will discuss the value of nurse clinics and advise on running them successfully while RCVS Specialist in Feline Medicine Steph Sorrell will discuss making a practice cat-friendly.
Recognising challenges in the veterinary nursing profession, Louise Northway will run a session called ‘Finding and maintaining your RVN mojo’, during which she aims to offer inspiration to help RVN’s to find their niche, overcome obstacles and make the most of their career.

She said: “I’m really excited to be speaking at VET Festival for the first time. I hope to create some ‘lightbulb moments’, inspiring nurses to push for positive change in their practice, whether from a clinical and non-clinical perspective. My lectures are relaxed and offer scenarios that I know will be familiar to many of us. Whether I’m talking about anaesthesia, quality improvement or teamwork, my message is that RVNs can make a huge difference and I hope they will return to practice ready to do just that.”

In total, VET Festival 2020 will feature 18 separate education streams covering small animal clinical topics with 135 lectures being offered to suit those at every level of clinical practice. Delegates will collect 14 hours of CPD over the two days with nurses welcomed at all lectures, in addition to those in the nursing stream. This year, also for the first time, a spacious arena will enable well-being activities to run alongside lectures, offering delegates the opportunity for practical sessions in yoga, movement, fitness and mindfulness to improve their day to day well-being.
Global experts from all areas of veterinary medicine are on the programme for VET Festival 2020, the two-day learning event for the veterinary team, that uniquely combines world-class continuing professional development (CPD) with an inspiring, outdoor, ‘festival’ environment.

Tickets for VET Festival can be purchased here: https://www.vetfestival.co.uk/delega...et-information