CVS introduces first UK Equine Nursing Committee to help support clinical decision-making
CVS Equine has established the UK’s first Equine Nursing Committee to help develop clinical governance and to support decision-making on issues that affect its 22 equine sites.
The Equine Nursing Committee is constituent of members of CVS Equine Nursing practice teams from across the country. They have a broad base of experience and represent all types of equine nursing roles. It is supported by senior nursing team members within CVS Group.
The committee’s focus will be to support the delivery and continuous improvement of CVS Equine’s high standard of care right across all of its practice sites. It is a sub-group of CVS Group’s over-arching Clinical Advisory Committee.
Its remit will be for nurses to; review and appraise the evidence supporting new-to-market therapies; make clear and transparent appraisals of treatments and equipment; and provide guidance and insight of the impact of decisions at practice level – including antimicrobial stewardship.
It is also expected that the group will; identify and share the most important clinical developments; provide technical knowledge and feedback on clinical policy; regular review and update clinical guidelines; and disseminate the clinical decision-making process.
In addition, developing nursing career pathways and student nurse support programmes, creating psychologically safe working environments, and forming support programmes for nurses are also within the Equine Nursing Committee’s remit.
Tara Ryan, Chief Veterinary Nursing Officer for CVS, said:
“Our new Equine Nursing Committee is made up of colleagues from across our practices.
It will facilitate the active participation of our equine nurses in the clinical direction of CVS Equine – and provide a structure for nurse collaboration, engagement, and communication.
Our committee has been tremendously busy deciding on their areas of focus and priorities for the coming year, reviewing products and sharing knowledge across the division. Members of the committee are also updating our infection control policies and involved in our company-wide antimicrobial stewardship programme. In addition, our equine nurses are also working up a curriculum for our Equine Nursing Career Pathway. There is a lot of exciting activity going on.”
CVS Group operates across small animal, farm animal, equine, laboratories and crematoria, with over 500 veterinary practices and referral centres in the UK and Australia. In 2023 the group set stretching targets with the aim of becoming a more sustainable company. CVS progress and targets are outlined in the company’s 2024 Sustainability Report.