VN Council rejects proposals to add post-nominals to the register
VN Council members raised concerns that adding post-nominals could be confusing to the public.
‘Keep it simple’ was the call yesterday from members of the Veterinary Nurses Council, as they debated whether to allow additional post-nominals on the register of veterinary nurses.
At the February 3 council meeting, members planned to consider adding more post-nominals, other than RVN and DipAVN, onto the register. However, some members argued in favour of removing the DipAVN, so that only RVN is displayed.
Liz Branscombe raised concerns that adding post-nominals at a time when the profession is trying to promote the title RVN, could be ‘very confusing’ to the public. She also said she would be happy for the DipAVN not to be displayed.
Sue Proctor agreed: ‘I think RVN is crystal clear', adding, ‘If we keep DipAVN, how can we exclude other degrees and diplomas?’
In the paper put forward by Julie Dugmore, it was proposed that only qualifications at level four or above would be displayed on the register of veterinary nurses, meaning post-nominals for vocationally trained nurses would not have been included.
During the debate, caution was urged by RCVS registrar Gorden Hockey, who raised concerns about removing the DipAVN and then having to add it back in again at a later date. ‘Sometimes it is reasonable to make no change at all,’ he said.
Last year’s proposal to remove post-nominals other than MRCVS and registrable degrees from the register of veterinary surgeons was met with significant consternation among the profession and prompted an online petition. The decision was later overturned.
Speaking at the VN Council meeting today, former RCVS president Neil Smith proposed that RVN and DipAVN continue to be displayed on the register and suggested an advanced register be developed, which would recognise nurses’ other post-nominals.
This was agreed by council members and a working party to review the DipAVN will incorporate these proposals.
The BSAVA has opened submissions for the BSAVA Clinical Research Abstracts 2026.
