I completed my veterinary nursing degree at Harper Adams University and completed my sandwich year placement here at Hollybank! I qualified in the summer of 2022 which was when I returned to Hollybank as an RVN. Since qualifying I have really enjoyed getting stuck into the RVN role and putting all that I have learned at university into practice. I have particularly enjoyed meeting and getting to know lots of our lovely clients and their pets during nurse consultations as well as spending quality time with our inpatients during both day and night shifts and nursing them back to health. I also have interests in canine behaviour and am looking forward to utilising the behaviour referrals advice service to offer support to our clients whose pets may be experiencing behavioural issues.

I have also been keen to learn more and improve my nursing skills through carrying out CPD. I have so far completed a course in anaesthesia to increase my knowledge and better enable me to provide our patients with the best anaesthetic experience possible. I am currently undertaking an Oral Care Nurse certificate which will allow me to perform dental scale and polishes on our patients. As RVNs we are required, by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, to carry out 15 hours of CPD each year. This enables us to keep our knowledge and skills up to date as well as giving us the opportunity to explore areas of interest further.

I am really enjoying my first year as an RVN although, as with every new role, there are challenges to be faced!

Completing my training during covid meant that life as a newly qualified nurse in more ‘normal times’ was very different. Clients are now actually allowed in the building and in appointments with their animals, which meant having to adjust to not having another member of the team holding patients and having an audience whilst carrying out nursing consultations – something that I did not experience during my training. However, I have really enjoyed being able to communicate more easily with clients (without all the PPE!) and really getting to know them and their pets. Communication is a hugely important role of the veterinary nurse and being able to build up a rapport with clients enables them to feel comfortable with us so that they can ask any questions they may have and makes them more likely to trust and implement the information/advice that we give.

Another challenge that comes with being a new grad veterinary nurse is no longer being under the direct supervision of your student mentor, it can be a bit daunting initially  but becomes less so as your confidence improves and we always work under the guidance of  a veterinary surgeon.

Lone working e.g., night shifts can also be a little daunting at first but being able to spend quality time getting to know your inpatients; their likes and dislikes; and how they perk up once they start feeling better can be a valuable and rewarding experience! It is also reassuring that one of our vets are always on-call should we have any concerns.

Each May we celebrate Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month (VNAM), which was
started by the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA). The purpose of VNAM
is to spread the word to the veterinary profession and pet owners about the
importance of the role of the veterinary nurse, and the provision of responsible pet
care to the general public. This year the theme is ‘empowerment’ to raise awareness
of empowerment within the veterinary nursing profession, and the myriad of jobs
nurses have within the veterinary team and wider veterinary profession.

Here at Hollybank we have 9 Registered Veterinary Nurses (RVNs) and 5 Student
Veterinary Nurses (SVNs) who work across both our Sandiway and Winnington
practices. Nurses are very much involved in the team effort to provide the best
possible care for your pets. A lot of the nurse’s roles are behind the scenes, so stay
tuned this month to hear from all our nurses about what their jobs involve, what they
enjoy about it and how they feel empowered.

First up we are hearing from some of our student nurses about how they found their
way into veterinary nursing and what they are enjoying so far.

Kiera

I’m Kiera, a 22-year-old Student Veterinary Nurse on a year placement at Hollybank
Vets. As a child my family would take me on day trips to petting farms and zoos
where I found an interest for a wide range of animals. When I turned 10 years old, I
began volunteering on a city farm that housed small animals such as rabbits and
guinea pigs and larger animals such as horses and cows. I decided that with my caring nature and love for animals I could become a Vet Nurse; a job that differs day to day, case to case, with a wide range of roles such as monitoring anaesthetics, inpatient care, physiotherapy, and consulting with clients.

I spent 4 weeks work experience at a few local veterinary practices which solidified
for me that I wanted to work towards becoming a Veterinary Nurse. I decided that I
wanted to move away from home to university to study Veterinary Nursing. However,
I did not receive the A-level grades I needed so thought I would not be able to fulfil
my dream. However, upon research I found that there were other routes such as a
diploma and through an access course. Harper Adams University offered me a place
on a special access course in Animal Behaviour and Welfare, which if I passed the
year, I could move onto BSc Veterinary Nursing with Small Animal Rehabilitation. I
have spent 2 years learning about diseases, disorders, nursing care, medical care,
anaesthesia and more, and I am now on my 3rd year learning how to put what I have
learnt into practice. I have 1 year left at university to complete my dissertation and
take my exams and OSCE’s. After this, my hard work will have hopefully paid off and
I will be a Registered Veterinary Nurse!

Jess

I am currently completing my BSc (Hons) degree at University Centre Reaseheath
and I am on my placement year at Hollybank. I have always loved animals and I
began working in the veterinary field since the age of 16, and since then my love for
nursing and all things veterinary has grown! I really enjoy the university route as you
gain the important knowledge and skills first before applying them to real life cases,
but you also gain the hands-on experience by completing a placement year.
Veterinary nurses are a valuable part of the veterinary team, and we have many
roles and responsibilities, such as providing inpatient care, performing laboratory
tests, and assisting and monitoring your pet during surgery (as well as much,
much more!)
Veterinary nursing opens the door to many other opportunities, as you can complete
further qualifications in a broad range of areas. Nurses can specialise in a vast array
of areas ranging from emergency and critical care to wildlife rehabilitation, and even
physiotherapy. Personally, I have an interest in small companion animal behaviour
and I intend to specialise in this when I have qualified as a Registered Veterinary
Nurse.
It is a very rewarding career path, with new challenges being faced everyday as
each day is different from the last. To be a veterinary nurse, I believe you must be
very dedicated to providing the best care to every patient and have a love for what
you do.

Katie

I am studying Veterinary nursing at Harper Adams University as part of a bachelor’s
degree, this is a 4-year course with a year spent on placement at a veterinary clinic
such as Hollybank. I always wanted to work with animals from a young age and was
set on being a Veterinary Nurse after completing work experience and seeing the
nurse’s full role behind the scenes. Veterinary Nurses are a huge part of taking care
of your pets within a veterinary setting. Not only do they conduct consults such as
giving flea and worm treatment, puppy clubs and repeat injections; they also assist
with surgeries. During a surgery, a Veterinary Nurse will monitor the anaesthetic to
ensure your pet is safe and pain free during the procedure.

A Veterinary Nurse may
also scrub into surgeries to assist the Veterinary Surgeon in a more practical way.
Once the surgery is complete the Veterinary Nurse ensures your pet recovers well
from the procedure and monitors their progress throughout the day until they are
returned home to you. I love being a Veterinary Nurse and giving a high quality of
care to patients as well as creating relationships with owners and supporting them
through their visits to the veterinary practice. All Veterinary Nurses should be
applauded for their hard work and dedication, and I am proud to be part of a loving
profession.

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