As the theme for this year’s Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month is empowerment, I sat and thought about what part of every day is empowering, for me it’s teaching. As Head Nurse and a Clinical Coach, I spend a lot of my time teaching and mentoring various members of the team but particularly our Student Veterinary Nurses (SVNs).
Every SVN undergoes a combination of theory and practical teaching and assessment and during their work placements they are assigned a Clinical Coach or Clinical Supervisor. These can be vets or nurses but at Hollybank we feel a Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN) is best placed to carry out this role as we have been in their shoes and understand the system a little more clearly.
When I did a search for the meaning of empowerment, I got this definition “the process of becoming stronger and more confident”, it fits perfectly with how Clinical Coaches work alongside SVNs. Oddly teaching also helps the teacher, I’ve seen several RVNs who have become Clinical Coaches learn so much from the teaching process. Each time you teach a SVN a new skill it cements how far you have come since you learnt that skill, you now not only know how to do it at a day one level but you have learnt small adaptations to make it more fluid, it’s a bit like driving -suddenly you realise you are doing it without even thinking about the process. It also helps stop you from shying away from areas or skills you felt less confident in as a student, a bit of healthy pressure can bring out a confidence you weren’t aware you had.
The most rewarding part of being a Clinical Coach is seeing your SVN complete their placement and pass their exams. Don’t get me wrong, it’s their hard work and effort that gets them there, but we facilitate and empower them to want to reach that point.
All our RVNs, whether a trained Clinical Coach or not, are involved in the teaching of SVNs and less experienced vets, we also try to help our reception team understand the processes that happen during an appointment or a patient’s stay with us so they can better help you, our clients, as the first point of contact.
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.
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to hear more from us throughout the month.
