Rheumatology nurses can address unmet patient needs by expanding current roles and by adopting additional functions.

Rheumatology nurses can address unmet patient needs by expanding current roles and by adopting additional functions.

I have had the role of ‘teacher’ in many forms over the years. I have seen the training scheme for veterinary nurses evolve from the days of the ‘green book’, through the editions of the Portfolio with the NVQ qualification, and now to the Nursing Progress Log (NPL) with the Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing. Over the years, I have been a trainer, a lecturer in veterinary nursing at Berkshire College of Agriculture, D32/33 Unit assessor, A1 assessor and now a clinical coach. Although the qualifications have changed, my role as a clinical coach still involves what it always has done – to provide a high standard of practical training of nursing skills to student veterinary nurses, while delivering this in a supportive way that encourages the students to be self‐directed and enjoy learning for themselves.

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Objectives To highlight the need for a comprehensive risk assessment to be conducted prior to any decision on a possible high-volume product switch. Methods A multi-disciplinary group of experts met to develop the content of this paper. They discussed their experiences and local Trust procedures and then wrote this paper. The content of this paper represents their consensus on the need to conduct risk assessments when considering a product switch, what parameters should be considered and which stakeholders. Results This paper details the key elements of a comprehensive risk assessment and the consequences of not conducting one. It will encourage a new gold standard approach when assessing whether a high-volume product switch should be considered. Conclusions Before a high-volume product switch is considered, a comprehensive risk assessment should be conducted. Numerous parameters should be included in any risk assessment. It is important that all of the necessary stakeholders, including representation from those who will be affected, are involved in varying degrees in the risk assessment process. Following comprehensive risk assessments, NHS Trusts would proceed with very few switches.