Dissecting the Role of the Surgical Nurse

One hour of online CPD!

Sign up before 4pm on the day to receive the Zoom invitation to join the webinar.

Speaker: Flick Caldwell BSc(hons) CVN, DipHECVN, DipAVN (Small Animal), RVN

After qualifying in 2006, Flick followed her passion for surgical referrals.

Flick holds the RCVS DipAVN (Small Animal) & a BSc(hons) degree in Clinical Nursing.

Flick is an experienced referral nurse in surgery, anaesthesia, and ICU nursing. Working alongside specialist teams of Diplomats, she developed her clinical knowledge through mentorship initiatives. Flick moved into education and academia, teaching VNs & animal biosciences. Flick is completing the ISVPS AdvNCert (Surgery), alongside a MSc AVN, specialising in PgCertAVNs for surgery and pain management. Flick manages her EDS & POTS alongside her Labrador co-worker, Bowie, a Medical Alert Assistance Dog.

Lecture Synopsis:

Veterinary nurses (RVN) should be recognized as essential and critical members of the surgical team in any veterinary practice. However, their full potential is often underutilized and misunderstood. Surgical RVNs can significantly enhance the efficiency of the increasingly busy surgery list in any practice, positively impacting both surgical patients and client care.

This lecture seeks to uncover effective strategies for broadening RVNs’ responsibilities in surgical nursing, offering practical, easy-to-implement advice for everyday clinical settings. Beyond their pivotal role in patient care from admission to discharge, RVNs possess a multitude of technical and professional competencies that are vital during the perioperative and recovery phases.

While some practices actively encourage RVNs to immerse themselves within the surgical department and perform Schedule 3 minor surgical procedures, many RVNs feel unsupported and underutilised. This often leads to decreased job satisfaction and limits opportunities for career progression. Student veterinary nurses are taught how to perform minor procedures and achieve competency as part of their training; however, they may quickly lose confidence in such skills due to a lack of continuation and practice of surgical skills.

Through a blend of clinical insight, guidance, and case-based discussion, key topics that will be covered include:

• Revolutionising the evolving role of the surgical RVN
• Professional and clinical benefits of RVN utilisation throughout the surgical patient pathway
• Maintaining clinical skills, overcoming delegation barriers, and championing positive change in the workplace.
• Building, leading, and supporting a collaborative surgical team with a culture of trust.

Learning Points:

1. Understand how to advocate for and implement expanded surgical roles for RVNs.
2. Identify training and support structures needed to develop confidence and competence within the surgical environment.
3. Gain confidence in navigating the legal and professional boundaries of minor surgery.
4. Be inspired to lead change within their teams and champion the valuable role of the surgical nurse in practice.

BVNA Scotland Advocate: Leona Anderson, BSc(Hons), MISAP, RVN Leona has worked in veterinary practice doing a variety of duties since the age of 14 and qualified as an RVN via the Level 3 City and Guilds diploma in November of 2018. Since qualifying she went back to university to complete her top-up degree in veterinary nursing. She currently works in a private mixed animal practice in Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire. Leona loves learning and is always looking for the next area she can improve on! She enjoys all aspects of nursing, in particular medical management consultations such as diabetes management, wound management and dermatology, but also surgical nursing and diagnostic imaging. She has recently returned from a 6 month sabbatical with her partner where they travelled the world, visiting 12 different countries, which included working in Australia, Malaysia and Tanzania along the way; from locuming, to a conservation project with turtles, to shelter medicine. Since returning home she has started working towards her next goal which is a masters in Veterinary Physiotherapy.

If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact; cpd@bvna.co.uk

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