Source: Vet Times
New research from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) has raised the possibility of creating a future Veterinary nurse prescriber role requiring additional qualifications and training. Between December 2025 and April 2026, researchers assembled two panels of veterinarians and veterinary nurses with 10 to 20 years of experience to assess whether experienced nurses could identify conditions during small animal vaccine consultations.
The panels agreed that veterinary nurses with at least five years of clinical experience could identify 34 conditions that might arise during these consultations. For eight conditions where consensus was not reached, participants generally believed nurses would appropriately refer the animal to a veterinarian. Additional experience or training could be necessary for conditions involving older animals, rabbits, or abnormalities detected through listening or palpation. RCVS Veterinary Nursing Director Julie Dugmore said the findings support further exploration of a prescriber role that could increase veterinary nurse autonomy, better utilize their skills, and free Veterinary surgeon time.