Tina Parnell on Acovene: “It’s all about quality”

This year’s BSAVA Bruce Vivash Jones Veterinary Nurse Award recipient is Tina Parnell RVN, Cert AAB, Pg Dip CABC, MA, in recognition of her dedication and determination to provide excellent veterinary nursing education. Currently a lecturer at Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Tina gave us some insights… from the horse’s mouth so to speak.

How did you end up being a veterinary nurse?

As the daughter of a professional jockey, I grew up among horses in Kenya, Ireland, South Africa and India. After high school I moved to the United States where I worked with stallions, thoroughbred breeding horses, trotters and racehorses in Florida, Kentucky and Ohio. I then spent several years in an equine hospital in Kentucky with Robert Coplan DVM. This was a wonderful experience in a practice where there was an intrinsic respect for animals. Back in Ireland, I became a RVN and worked with vets Vincent Nolan and Noirin Ni Shimidh, first as their nurse, and then as head nurse for about twenty years. Recognizing the link between health and behaviour, I decided to do the companion animal behaviour course at the University of Southampton. This enabled me to provide animal behaviour consultations and to incorporate patient-friendly practices into our mainly small animal practice as part of my nursing duties.

How did you end up being a veterinary nurse educator?

At the practice, we regularly had veterinary nurse students, and I realised their course notes on behaviour left much to be desired. So I cold-called ATU and asked them if they were interested in an update of their course material. Initially I was offered a temporary post for sick leave cover at ATU Donegal which I accepted out of curiosity – and as a means of supplementing my income to put a new roof on my conservatory! Later I was offered a permanent teaching job, and I have worked here for thirteen years now. And I love it! As a veterinary nurse you can help change the world for patients and their people – but as a teacher, you can help change the world even more, which is why I did a Master’s degree in education. I’ve always advocated strongly for the safety and best experience of non-human animals within my care or influence. Teaching has provided me with a platform to disseminate this philosophy in tangible and practical applications.

How did you get involved in ACOVENE?

I was already involved in accreditation visits for the Veterinary Council of Ireland. That’s how I met Julie Dugmore, who asked me if I was interested in similar work for Acovene. Since then, I’ve participated in accreditation visits to Oslo, Rome (Abivet) and Portugal (Viseu). A wonderful experience! I like the detail and depth of the accreditation process and the opportunity to speak to the students and course leaders in confidence. It’s a benign organisation, we want to set up schools for success, not catch them out! Acovene should be seen as a critical friend who wants the best, and is there to point out any weak spots – but we won’t just hand over a gold star to anyone.

What is so important about accreditation?

While I agree that there’s nothing inherently “sexy” about being a regulator or doing quality control – aaargh, boring! – high standards are essential to protect patients, clients and colleagues. Everybody wins! Accrediting bodies like Acovene are vital to provide a roadmap and an end goal to strive towards, with support on the way. I must admit that the exit interview of accreditation visits can be tricky, especially if the quality is not up to the required standard. But whatever happens, we aim to stay transparent, pleasant and professional. Even if it’s not always easy to please everyone, it can help improve the quality overall. Because it’s all about quality.

DISCLAIMER: Please note that what veterinary nurses can and cannot do legally may differ per country.