Hartpury University is thrilled to announce that its Veterinary Nursing programmes have been fully accredited by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons’ (RCVS) Veterinary Nurse Education Committee (VNEC) for the next five years.
A panel of five experts from the RCVS attended Hartpury University for three days earlier this year, carrying out a thorough examination of the university’s programmes and visiting three veterinary nursing placement practices. The visit resulted in full accreditation for the following:
- BSc (Hons) Veterinary Nursing
- BSc (Hons) Equine Veterinary Nursing
- Diploma in Professional Studies in Veterinary Nursing
- Diploma in Professional Studies in Equine Veterinary Nursing
The panel commended Hartpury University on several aspects of its veterinary nursing department including:
- Enthusiastic and dedicated staff: The panel recognised the commitment and passion of the university’s staff in delivering veterinary nursing degrees.
- Wellbeing support for students: Hartpury University places great emphasis on the mental and physical wellbeing of its students. The panel praised the comprehensive support available to students both on campus and placement.
- Staff induction policy: The university’s induction policy for new staff members was commended for its effectiveness and was supported by the positive experiences of newly appointed staff.
- Integration of coaching: The inclusion of coaching in the BSc/BSc (Hons) provision was identified as a key strength of the programme. Students from both year 1 and year 4 cohorts acknowledge the value of coaching in their courses.
- Placement provision: The university’s provision of placements for students was recognised as clear and well-documented. The placement team was commended for its proactive support in identifying potential placements and ensuring students develop transferable employment skills.
Catherine Phillips, Head of Veterinary Nursing at Hartpury University said: “We’re delighted to receive full accreditation for our veterinary nursing programmes. This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff, who are committed to delivering an exceptional educational experience for our students.
“We’re proud of the positive feedback received from the panel of experts, particularly regarding our focus on student wellbeing - something that my colleague Suzannah Harniman (Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Nursing at Hartpury University) has explored in her own research activities. I was also pleased to see acknowledgement from the panel relating to our coaching as well as the provision of high-quality placements. This accreditation reaffirms our commitment to producing skilled and compassionate veterinary nurses who go on to make a significant impact in the field.”
Veterinary Nursing at Hartpury University
It’s an exciting time to study veterinary nursing at Hartpury University. Student veterinary nurses at Hartpury get to apply theory in a real-life setting through a variety of seminars, lectures, research, and debate.
Notably, one initiative that sets the BSc (Hons) Veterinary Nursing and BSc (Hons) Equine Veterinary Nursing degrees apart from most other veterinary nursing qualifications is a research dissertation in the final year. This allows students to pursue an area of interest and to contribute to real-world practice.
Explore Hartpury University’s undergraduate veterinary nursing programmes here.
At the postgraduate level, the first UK cohort of Registered Veterinary Nurses (RVNs) studying the Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) in Advanced Equine Veterinary Nursing (Critical Care, and Diagnostic Imaging and Rehabilitation streams) graduated from Hartpury University in November.
Explore Hartpury postgraduate veterinary nursing programmes here.
