Training and development

Training and development

Training and development

From getting the most out of CPD, to supporting staff growth: articles from the archive and exclusive content.

Graduate support: looking after the next generation

As leaders, we have the privilege of supporting new graduates through their first months and years in practice. We are shaping the next generation of vets, and those first few years will undoubtedly influence their future in this profession, writes Rebecca Robinson


26 mins

This latest VBJ Congress Insight feature explains how your practice and your team can benefit from the association’s upcoming annual event.

15 mins
Taking a trained approach to closing the skills gap

Running a successful veterinary practice requires a myriad of different skill sets and it can be a real headache identifying staff training needs. By using an analytical approach, however, finding training that boosts both your profits and your people can be a relatively painless process


20 mins
Making the most of RVNs: it’s time to play to their strengths

Recruitment and retention issues, and unprecedented demand for services have created a perfect storm that is stretching many practice teams to the limit. With a sizeable number of VNs leaving because they feel undervalued, underpaid and underused, one solution to increasing profits may be staring us in the face


27 mins
Vet nursing career pathways – CPD, upskilling and ‘VN passports’

Lacey Pitcher, reflecting on her experiences, looks at how VNs can develop their careers and showcases nurses’ journeys, highlighting how they often look different, but share a similar start point.

50 mins
EMS and neurodiversity: advice for students and clinicians

People who process, learn or socialise differently to what is considered “typical” are often referred to under the umbrella term “neurodiverse”. Emily Moore, a veterinary student at the University of Glasgow, has EMS advice for neurodiverse students and the veterinary practitioners they may encounter.

22 mins
CPD that works for your people and your practice

Carefully tailored CPD plans can provide the perfect platform for team members to develop their careers and learn new skills. But it is important to ensure the needs of the individual and the business are aligned


22 mins
Grad expectations: how to grow new graduates into pillars of your...

Adjusting to the demands of practice life can be a daunting prospect for many new graduates. It is vital to have the right support in place to smooth what can be a tricky transition from classroom to consult room


27 mins
CPD: too many choices and too little time?

Never before has so much CPD been on offer across such a wide variety of platforms and in so many different formats. This has delivered many exciting new ways to access continuing education, but it's important to think carefully about your own personal learning needs


23 mins
Managing and training high-performing teams

Veterinary practices are often pressure cooker environments that make huge demands of those who work within them. So managing those people requires a highly considered and carefully tailored approach, as Alan Robinson explains


How to train your dragon new grad: part six – solving...

In the latest instalment of this series on training recent graduates, Jacqueline Buck addresses when things aren’t going well and out-of-hours work.

34 mins
How to train your dragon new grad: part five – differentials...

In the latest instalment of this series on training recent graduates, Jacqueline Buck addresses covering some of the basics once they’ve settled in.

34 mins
How to train your dragon new grad: part four – teaching...

In the latest instalment of this series on training recent graduates, Jacqueline Buck addresses covering basic techniques and diagnostics with your new employee.

38 mins
How to train your dragon new grad: part three – clients...

In the latest instalment of this series on training recent graduates, Jacqueline Buck advises on how to introduce your new employee to the practice’s clientele.

37 mins
Post-pandemic – now is the time to add a new skill...

Becky Keeble uses laparoscopy as an example of how introducing a new service with live in-house training can motivate and inspire team members, and prepare practices for a brighter future


22 mins
How to train your dragon new grad: part two – first...

In the latest instalment of a series on training recent graduates, Jacqueline Buck suggests how employers can structure their young employee’s first shifts.

37 mins
How to train your dragon new grad: negotiating the interview process

In the first of a new series on training recent graduates, Jacqueline Buck offers advice for potential employers and potential employees on the hiring process.

37 mins
Mentoring and constant personal growth – making the most of you

Following the introduction of the RCVS Veterinary Graduate Development Programme, Steve Bailey discusses the importance of appreciating mentoring as a skill and discipline, and shares some guiding principles to make it effective.

30 mins
Team talk: developing strong teams in every area of practice

If you are one of nature’s wonders – good at everything – then good for you; you truly are a rarity. Mere mortals like the rest of us, or those who want to grow and develop their practice to be more than a “one-man band”, will need a strong team to ensure they can deliver the performance and standard of care patients and clients deserve


27 mins
Become more T with your CPD

The concept of T-shaped skills is a metaphor often used by recruiters to describe the abilities of persons in the workforce. It is also an excellent framework to plan a veterinary CPD programme that’s going to deliver plenty of bang for your bucks


20 mins