All over the UK, veterinary practices and schools are celebrating Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month (VNAM).
Past events have included sponsored skydives, pet health checks in local parks and open days in numerous practices, to promote awareness and understanding about this invaluable profession.
VNAM began as a single day of awareness in 2005, then grew to a week-long celebration, and has now become a well-loved month-long campaign, during which pet owners have the opportunity to get to know those that work hard in their local veterinary surgery to
provide care for the animals we love.
This year, VNAM invites you to participate in three competition events: best pet selfie, best VNAM event and best celebratory display. If you’re interested in getting involved, you can request a free VNAM pack from the British Veterinary Nursing Association BVNA website ,which will be filled with useful promotional items to help you make a stunning display in your college classroom or practice reception.
The three values at the forefront of the campaign are knowledge, compassion and welfare. You can visit their thriving Facebook page and engage with the community that, nationwide, is coming together to recognise the skill and dedication show by those in veterinary nurse jobs every day of the year. As well as a vibrant string of pet selfies (to which the VNAM page encourage you to add your own!) you can also find out about VNAM events happening near to you. For example the Lead Veterinary Nurse from Abbey Veterinary Centre, Chester-Le-Street, visited a local primary school to engage the children in the practices of animal care and wellbeing.
If you’re interested in studying veterinary nursing or science, why not look online at the BVNA website, or at the VNAM Facebook page to find an event near you. Whether hoping to study or looking for vet jobs, you can use this month as a fantastic opportunity to get a feel for the services available in your area, make a few contacts, and maybe discover some internship or job opportunities. Surgeons, nurses and experts in the field of veterinary science will be on hand and ready to share their personal experience with all those keen to learn more about a practice which touches so many lives.
The BVNA’s charity of the year 2016 is the British Hen Welfare Trust, which works to educate consumers about the importance of good quality eggs in the food we eat, so they can make a more informed choice when shopping. They re-home badly cared-for hens, introducing them to free range establishments, saving them from slaughter and ensuring a higher quality of life for the animals that produce the world’s most-consumed meat. All funds raised are hugely appreciated and go a long way to enable this charity to do their important work.
Get involved this month, by attending an event or simply by spreading the word to your friends and family. Happy May, everyone! And happy Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month from all of us here at SynergyVets Recruitment!