The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) has introduced free equine vet nurse student membership to enhance support for student equine nurses and ensure that they are also part of the BEVA community from day one.
The offer, which follows the success of the introduction of free vet student membership back in 2020, is part of BEVA’s increased support for equine veterinary nurses, instigated by immediate past President David Rendle.
It has been made possible due to the generosity of Baker McVeigh, CVS Equine, IVC Evidensia, Newmarket Equine Hospital, Rossdales, VetPartners and XLVets.
Vet nurse student members have free access to a network of more than 4,000 members, BEVA being one of the largest equine veterinary associations in the world.
Other benefits of membership include:
- Online access to BEVA’s Equine Veterinary Education and Equine Veterinary Journal
- Access to a special student rate to attend BEVA Congress – the largest equine veterinary conference in Europe
- Free access to the BEVA online learning platform – which hosts a range of equine veterinary learning resources
- Free access to BEVA’s practical veterinary apps
- Exclusive discounts on a wide variety of everyday things from cinema tickets to grocery shopping through BEVA’s partnership with PG Mutual
- Free student membership is part of several equine vet nurse initiatives introduced by BEVA over the past few months.
Earlier this year BEVA introduced their new Schedule 3 Guidelines. These have been specifically designed to support equine veterinary professionals and businesses by describing how equine Registered Veterinary Nurses (eRVNs) are permitted to work.
BEVA Congress, held last September, saw the introduction of a new Vet Nurse Empowerment Award. This award aims to highlight the invaluable skills and versatility of equine nurses by commending any individual within the profession who is actively championing the role of the equine nurse. It was presented to regular Veterinary Practice author Marie Rippingale during Congress’s formal Awards Ceremony.
This year CPD has been increased for vet nurses and they also had their own dedicated stream at BEVA Congress.
Vet nurses also have a direct voice within BEVA via the VN committee, and dedicated forum, accessible via the BEVA Buddy app.
“Historically, equine veterinary nurses have been undervalued in practice but thankfully this is now changing,” said immediate past President David Rendle.
“Veterinary nurses have invested huge amounts of time and effort to become highly skilled and it’s great that their talents, versatility and commitment are being supported and celebrated in these ways.”
BEVA president Roger Smith said: “It is great to see free student membership being extended to veterinary nurses, another feature of our strategy to create an ever-closer bond between the equine veterinary nursing community and equine vets.”
BEVA launched an affiliate membership scheme in 2018, in collaboration with international equine veterinary association partners, offering vets who are members of their home association a 50 percent discount on our ordinary membership. Nineteen countries have signed up to date.
Student nurse membership marks the next step in BEVA’s aim to bring the whole of the global equine veterinary profession together to help the profession thrive, collectively.
For further information about student membership of BEVA visit their website.
