RCVS Change in Practice Hours Requirements for SVNs from September 2016
In RCVS News (June 2016 edition) the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) announced that the minimum number of total hours in training has been reduced by 300 hours to 2,990 hours of which at least 1,800 hours must be placement hours. The requirement to complete these hours in a minimum of 94 weeks in training (excluding holiday and sick breaks) has not been changed.
With regard to students of The College of Animal Welfare, the RCVS minimum amount of total hours is 2,990 of which at least 700 is covered by the students college course leaving a minimum practice hours requirement of 2,290 hours to be completed over not less than 94 weeks of training.
Impact on Employed Student Veterinary Nurses
This change will not impact employed veterinary nurse students and apprentices as they are subject to the contracted working hours agreed under the terms of their continuing contracts of employment.
Impact on The College of Animal Welfare Non-Employed Students
With regard to non-employed veterinary nurse students of The College of Animal Welfare, the RCVS rules require a minimum of 2290 hours of practice placement to be undertaken in not less than 94 weeks.
At the end of the day every student needs to complete the Nursing Progress Log (NPL) and be deemed to be competent in order to achieve the qualification, and since many students take longer with NPL completion or require additional training time in practice the reality is that most students will complete more practice hours than the minimum during the 94 weeks of their training programme.
Students must be able to evidence that some form of training has taken place in each of the 94 weeks of training undertaken, and therefore at The College of Animal Welfare we recommend that placement time is spread out over the programme and balanced with the academic requirements of the course.
Students and their placements may mutually agree their placement hours to suit particular circumstances although in order to maintain the RCVS student veterinary nurse status under Schedule III of the Veterinary Surgeons Act (1966) the College must be informed prior to implementation.
Need further advice? Please contact Vice Principal (Academic) Karen Davidson kdavidson@caw.ac.uk or Leslie Heaton-Smith at lheatonsmith@caw.ac.uk.