10

October

BVN123: ASSESSMENT 3

SUSTAINABLE VETERINARY
NURSING PRACTICES

B Y K A Y L A D A V I D S O N
BVN123: ASSESSMENT 3 SUSTAINABLE VETERINARY NURSING PRACTICES

Petsville North Veterinary Clinic is the leading clinic within the local community and to maintain this
position, it is important the practice adapts a sustainable approach in all aspects of our business.
This includes remaining environmentally friendly, financially profitable, socially aware and up to date
with ethical practices at all times. Staff training, compliance and communication all play a large part in
successfully managing these components of sustainability. This report will aim to highlight changes we
can implement around the clinic, as well as updating current practices to incorporate a more sustainable
approach.

The first area of discussion is environmental and how we can further enhance our eco-friendly effort
around the clinic.
It is important that we ensure our chosen waste disposal companies (sharps containers, bio-hazard bins,
body disposals, etc.) comply with the EPA Industrial Waste Resource Guidelines (Clinical and related waste-
operational guidance, 2009) Not only should our chosen disposal companies comply with EPA guidelines,
they themselves should also be working with sustainable practices in place.
All chemicals used within the clinic will need to be checked to ensure they are compliant with EPA
guidelines as well as environmentally friendly. (Clinical and related waste- operational guidance, 2009)
Single-use equipment, such as syringes, needles, fluid lines and catheters will continue to be ordered
and used around the clinic.
Next is recycling, which is a quick, easy and low cost way to ensure the clinic is eco-friendly and
environmentally sustainable. By ensuring there are recycle bins as well as general waste bins accessible
to staff and clients, we can be assured all waste is disposed of appropriately. Instructing staff to shred all
sensitive documents so they too can then be placed in recycle bins is another inexpensive way to
improve our eco-friendliness. (Options for integrating eco-friendly features into veterinary practices, 2015) As
well as emailing all pay slips and staff communications, we can also update all our information
brochures to PDF format so they can be emailed to clients upon request rather than mailed out.
Staff training and compliance will include reading and understanding each of the MDSD for chemicals
used within the clinic as well as recording any wastage and/or spills that may occur. (Hints and tips for
improving resource efficiency in your business, 2008)
Client education around the importance of early-age desexing is also an effective way to help the
environment, as it well help in lowering the feral population and wildlife destruction, especially within
outdoor cats.

In order to help the clinic remain financially stable while still offering competitive prices for our clients,
we must first assess our outgoing costs and any possible reductions that can be made.
With the rising cost of energy and the large demand running a clinic bears on this resource, ensuring we
are not overspending on energy is important. An energy assessment can be done online at:
EnergyCut.info/bills-calculator. This free service will give insight into the clinics energy costs and any
possible savings that could be made. In John Dees The 20 Step Guide to Cutting Energy Bills in Your
Veterinary Clinic several clinics discuss the savings they have been able to achieve by assessing their
energy spendings and implementing small changes around the clinic. These changes have resulted in
business profitability increasing, which then allows equipment to be upgraded, client discounts (were
applicable) to continue and long term stability for staff and owners alike. (Dee, 2010)
Possible changes that can be considered to reduce outgoing costs are: changing dryers to models that
run on gas, switching to energy efficient LEDS light bulbs (where possible), placing new seals on
fridges/freezers and consider installing additional insulation to improve natural temperature regulation.
All of these changes will not only help to cut costs but will also improver the clinics eco-friendliness as
well. (Dee, 2010)
Minimising stock wastage is another area staff must be trained and complaint in. It is vital that when
staff receives any stock from suppliers that it is checked for damages and/or out of date items before
being signed and accepted. Staff must also be made aware that while we never want to run out of stock,
it is crucial that over-ordering does not occur.

BY KAYLA DAVIDSON 2
BVN123: ASSESSMENT 3 SUSTAINABLE VETERINARY NURSING PRACTICES

If too much stock is kept within the clinic the chances of wastage is increased as products may expire
prior to being utilised. (Options for integrating eco-friendly features into veterinary practices, 2015)
To help lower medication wastage occurring, both in the clinic as well as within clients households, staff
must be sure that clients are aware that certain medications can be given back to the pharmacy. As long
they are still within date, medication that has been given back can be checked by staff and then given to
other clients. Recycling medication and subsidising their cost for clients in financial hardship will not only
help to improve the clinics economical stability, it will also strengthen our relationships with clients and
the wider community.

A large portion of the savings that can be made around the clinic will be invested back into our clients,
particularly those who are eligible for cheaper veterinary services. By offering discounted prices to
pensioners and low-income earners that present with a Centrelink card, we are helping to encourage
pet ownership amongst all members of the community. Although saved funds could be re-invested
elsewhere, if we wish to remain the leading clinic with the local community, it is important that we
advocate this message and demonstrate that we are both socially and ethically inclined within our
practice. We can further demonstrate responsible pet ownership and our appeal to potential clients by
offering free micro chipping to all patients being desexed under 6-months of age.

Social sustainability, although not as commonly discussed as environmental and economic stability, is
just as important to ensure the longevity of Petsville North. It is vital that our clients and the broader
community have a supportive attitude towards the clinic and our values/beliefs. This support will ensure
the clinic attains long-term clients who are more likely to recommend our services to their family and
friends. Communication is key so access to information guides and online resources must be well
promoted and attained from credible and current sources.
Beyond making sure our clients feel well looked after, the most important factor within social
sustainability is the well being and mental health of the veterinary and nursing staff. Given the long and
varying hours, high levels of stress and emotion as well as increasing amounts of complaints lodged
against practices, it is critical that all staff members are not only well trained but also supported
throughout their entire employment at Petsville North. (Smyth, 2014)
Employees already have access to the Employee Assistance Program and our in house Peer Support
Program; however, the addition of a mental health column in the weekly staff newsletter is another way
the clinic can help support staff. One employee should be nominated to take on this responsibility and
do a small write about ways to relax while at work, how to deal with difficult customers and remind staff
of the services available to them.
Developing a workplace that encourages good mental health and offers staff support services will help
employees feel satisfied at work and minimise any inter-personal conflict, leading to long-term
employment. This is beneficial for not only staff as it allows for job security but also practice
owners/managers as it can help to lower wages with less casual staff needed and allow for in-house
promotion, lowering advertising costs.

For Petsville North to continue as the number one provider of veterinary services in the local community
it is crucial we adapt a sustainable approach in all branches of the clinic. The options discussed within
this report for becoming more environmentally, economically, socially and ethically sustainable are
often interrelated, and one will help achieve the other. By establishing our outgoing costs and
performing an energy assessment, we can cut the clinics spendings and increase profitability. This will
then allow us to continue our financial support of eligible clients as well as offer responsible pet
ownership initiatives. This then increases and helps cements the clinics good reputation within the
community, ensuring long term clients.
With all of these factors combined, Petsville North has a higher chance of remaining sustainable for
years to come without compromising on quality of care, environmental impact, staff health and/or
profitability.

BY KAYLA DAVIDSON 3
BVN123: ASSESSMENT 3 SUSTAINABLE VETERINARY NURSING PRACTICES

REFERENCES:

- CLINICAL AND RELATED WASTE OPERATIONAL GUIDANCE 2009, EPA VICTORIA: INDUSTRIAL WASTE RESOURCE
GUIDELINES, VIEWED 9TH OCTOBER 2015,
<HTTP://WWW.EPA.VIC.GOV.AU/~/MEDIA/PUBLICATIONS/IWRG612%201.PDF>
- DEE, J 2010, THE 20 STEP GUIDE TO CUTTING ENERGY BILLS IN YOUR VETERINARY CLINIC, ENERGY CUT:
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRY AND SCIENCE, VIEWED 9TH OCTOBER 2015,
<HTTP://ENERGYCUT.COM.AU/HOME/WP-CONTENT/UPLOADS/2015/02/VETS-EBOOK.PDF>
- HINTS AND TIPS FOR IMPROVING RESOURCE EFFICIENCY IN YOUR BUSINESS, 2008, EPA VICTORIA: PUBLICATIONS,
VIEWED 9TH OCTOBER 2015,
<HTTPS://DOCS.GOOGLE.COM/VIEWER?URL=HTTP%3A%2F%2FWWW.EPA.VIC.GOV.AU%2F~%2FMEDIA%2FPU
BLICATIONS%2F1255.PDF>
- OPTIONS FOR INTERGRATING ECO-FRIENDLY FEATURES INTO VETERINARY PRACTICES 2015, AVMA: ECONOMICS &
PRACTICE, VIEWED 9TH OCTOBER 2015,
<HTTPS://WWW.AVMA.ORG/PRACTICEMANAGEMENT/FACILITIES/PAGES/OPTIONS-FOR-INTEGRATING-ECO-
FRIENDLY-FEATURES-INTO-VETERINARY-PRACTICES.ASPX>
- SMYTH, B 2014, SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE ECONOMICS OF THE VETERINARY PROFESSION IN AUSTRALIA,
AUSTRALIA VETERINARY ASSOCIATION, VIEWED 9TH OCTOBER 2015, <HTTP://WWW.AVA.COM.AU/13176>

BY KAYLA DAVIDSON 4