Ethical review panel "missing a trick"
Ms Kissick said she was "disappointed" that the proposals did not have more of a veterinary nursing focus.
Proposals to establish an RCVS ethical review panel should cater for veterinary nursing students carrying out clinical research, says VN Council vice-chair Kathy Kissick.
The VN Council were asked to comment on the proposals at their recent meeting, which took place in Telford ahead of the BVNA Congress.
With an increasing amount of clinical research being carried out by vets in practice, the ethical review panel will aim to prevent vets and nurses inadvertently falling foul of the law or their professional conduct responsibilities.
This will also help to ensure that clinical research can be published in peer-reviewed journals - which is unlikely without ethical review.
Many vets and nurses in private practice do not have access to an institutional ethical review framework and, as such, may need assistance.
Commenting on the paper, Ms Kissick said she was "disappointed" that it did not have more of a veterinary nursing focus.
"I would like to see a much bigger veterinary nursing slant on this," she said.
RCVS register Gordon Hockey responded by saying that he would be "hesitant" about providing students with access to the panel. Rather, it is intended for those already working in practice - whether they are a vet or a nurse - without access to ethical review.
Nonetheless, Ms Kissick said the college is "missing a trick" by not opening it up to students, as there is a rising pressure from nursing students who want to do clinical research. They may struggle to get the best advice on ethical review and therefore could be discouraged from carrying out clinical research, she warned.
Mr Hockey suggested a three-way conversation between the RCVS, BVNA and BSAVA could help to address this in future.
The BSAVA has opened submissions for the BSAVA Clinical Research Abstracts 2026.
