In this VN Times podcast, editor Lacey Pitcher RVN discusses the broad opportunities of a vet nurse passport with Donna Wills, an RVN and animal physiotherapist. Donna shares her career pivots and the decisions that have led her to now support from the other side of the consult table to provide more holistic care for animals and their people. ••• 𝗗…

VN Happy Hour made a triumphant return for Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month 2024, tackling the topic of parenting in the profession and asking, are we progressing? VN Times editor Lacey Pitcher was joined by a brilliant panel who shared their wisdom and candour to bring the community together and answer some tricky questions.Guests included @mort…

In this episode of the VN Times podcast editor Lacey discusses leaving clinical work with Sophie Giddens, a former Equine RVN who has forged a career supporting veterinary clinics while utilising many of her skills acquired in the clinic.Sophie reflects candidly about not necessarily having a plan when leaving her role, and the power of community a…

In this VN Times Podcast, editor Lacey Pitcher RVN discusses careers with Kirsty Cavill. Kirsty has a passion for veterinary nursing that has allowed her to develop and utilise her skills in a variety of ways to not only help improve animal welfare but also provide accessible care in a variety of ways. Kirsty, an award-winning vet nurse, shares her…

In this episode, VN Times editor Lacey Pitcher welcomes experienced RVN Sara Ho-Le to discuss training, leadership and peer mentoring.Sara’s career has been varied and her passion for emergency and critical care has seen her travel to the other side of the world.Sara discusses utilising her career passport to nurse down under and how mentor nurses …

In this episode, VN Times editor Lacey Pitcher welcomes experienced RVN Helen Harris to discuss squiggly careers and falling back in love with veterinary nursing.Helen’s career has been varied including GP, charity and shelter medicine and now, zoo nursing.Helen discusses starting out as a veterinary nurse and how her various workplaces have shaped…

In this episode, VN Times editor Lacey Pitcher welcomes experienced RVNs Jackie Hay and Michelle Barley, two of the nurses behind UK Vet Nurses Worldwide, an initiative dedicated to advancing animal care worldwide by helping facilitate skilled vet nurses sharing their knowledge and education with others to help improve animal welfare. Despite exper…

In this episode, VN Times editor Lacey Pitcher talks to RVN Laura Jones, founder of www.veterinaryinternalmedicinenursing.com and veterinary technician specialist in small animal medicine.Laura is a regular speaker at many big conferences around the UK and further afield, but in this podcast we learn about the person behind the accolades and how sh…

In this VN Times podcast editor Lacey Pitcher speaks to Laura Hughes about the importance of conversations surrounding nutrition.Laura is a veterinary nurse development manager at Purina PetCare who firmly believes that supporting nurses has a direct impact on animal welfare. This conversation includes:• what the Purina Institute offers nurses• Cen…

In this episode, we join Congress Times editor Tom Jackson as he speaks with BVNA president Charlotte Pace, who provides some practical advice for veterinary nurses who may wish to develop the knowledge and skills required to successfully and confidently support cardiology patients in their care.Charlotte looks at the definition of heart disease – …

Arlene Connor, national referral nursing lead (UK referrals division) and Helen Rooney, clinical and development support (referrals) at IVC, join VN Times editor Rachael Buzzel to chat about their career journeys and what referral nursing means to them. They also discuss the launch of IVC Evidensia’s Introduction to Referral Nursing Programme, on w…

Linnaeus chief nursing officer Andrea Jeffery and RVN Sue Badger, who has been in the profession for more than 50 years, join VN Times editor Rachael Buzzel to discuss their new book Professionalism and Reflection in Veterinary Nursing.A project more than 10 years in the making, Andrea and Sue hope the book will support the evolution of the profess…

VN Happy Hour welcomed three of the biggest names in UK veterinary nursing when the hugely successful live event returned on 23 February 2023.The online event saw a lively discussion around the theme of “Protect the title”, during which our panel discussed why it’s so important to protect the “veterinary nurse” title and what this would mean for yo…

RVN and clinical tutor in veterinary nursing at Myerscough College Rachel Pilling has always had a passion for well-being and is a strong advocate in supporting mental health of veterinary professionals.Having always wanted to become a wellness coach, the time never seemed to be right. However, a devastating diagnosis for Rachel paved the way to bu…

As fireworks season approaches, RVN Nikki McLeod joins VN Times editor Rachael Buzzel to advise on how practices can support pet owners and their pets through this unsettling time and why vet nurses are perfectly placed to do this.𝗡𝗜𝗞𝗞𝗜 𝗠𝗰𝗟𝗘𝗢𝗗, 𝗕𝗦𝗰(𝗛𝗼𝗻𝘀) 𝗥𝗩𝗡, 𝗜𝗦𝗙𝗠 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗙𝗡 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗙𝗕 Nikki, a self-confessed “crazy cat lady” and “study geek”, has b…

After a bit of a break, regular hosts Rachael Buzzel and James Westgate hit the ground running with a Medivet sponsored episode titled “Know your worth – are VNs paid enough? How to gain confidence when talking about money”.Our lead interview is with BVNA council member Lyndsay Hughes, who spearheads a nursing network within XLVets and believes emp…

This month, VN Times editor Rachael Buzzel is joined by locum RVN Jack Pye, who specialises in emergency and critical care and has a passion for ultrasonography. Jack is also a member of BVNA council, sits on the VN Times editorial board, and is a regular guest, contributor and official quizmaster on VN Happy Hour.He joins Rachael to discuss his lo…

Building resilience has been the theme of Alexandra Taylor’s year as BVNA president – and she joins us to review some of those initiatives, as well as preview how the campaign will conclude at congress.Charlotte Pace, who will take over as president at congress, also joins us to provide an insight into her aims and objectives around the theme of em…

RVN Nicola Lakeman is the keynote speaker at BVNA Congress 2022 – and her lecture will give an insight into how resilience has played a part in her career.Ahead of congress, Ms Lakeman joined us to share her excitement for the event and discuss how she hopes delegates will be able to relate to her experiences.“Building resilience” is the headline t…

The VN Times VN Happy Hour broadcast on 28 April 2002, entitled “Finding your nursing niche”, looked at how developing a nursing specialism can enhance your clinical career.Guests this month included Emma Gerrard, a specialist staff theatre nurse at a not-for-profit community interest practice and the first VN to hold an officer position for the BS…

Lacey Pitcher tells us all about her new role at the RCVS as part of the Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) team, how the role aligns with her core values and allows her to continue working in practice as a locum RVN. Lacey shares how she balances these two roles, her thoughts on well-being within the profession and her top tips for looking after your o…

Join us for February’s Happy Hour as we discuss dog breeding, as well as highlighting good breed health – the VN’s role in education and the pre-purchase journey (consults, campaigns, social media etc).Our amazing panellists for this month’s VN Happy Hour, which took place on 24 February, were:KATHRYNE WRIGLEY (lead interview)Kathryne has a keen in…

VN Times editor Rachael Buzzel is joined by RVN and chair of the Veterinary Critical Care Nurses (VCCN) region of the British Association of Critical Care Nurses (BACCN), Laura Edwards.Laura shares with us plans for the coming year, and explains how the collaboration between human and animal nurses can open the doors to incredible opportunities and…

VN Happy Hour returned on 25 November for a look at obesity and nutrition in companion animals.Hosts Rachael and James were joined by Nicola Lakeman, a well known and very highly respected veterinary nurse with expertise in the fields of nutrition and nursing clinics, as well as Royal Canin Weight Management Clinic Nurse Georgia Woods-Lee and Nutri…

Have you ever wondered what the role of the vet nurse will look like in the years ahead?Have you thought about how the current shortages of veterinary surgeons could be eased by the skills of vet nurses if you were allowed to do more? Or what future training requirements will be like for vet nurses?October’s VN Happy Hour looked at these and other …

VN Happy Hour returned in September with the theme of “Brachycephalic breeds – the best approach”.This month saw the return of RVN and brachycephalic campaigner Lacey Pitcher in our lead interview slot to answer delegates’ questions on how to support clients with brachycelphalic pets and more.Our panel discussion saw Lacey joined by blogger, vlogge…

August’s VN Happy Hour – sponsored by Bought By Many – was all about behaviour, and how VNs can support owners of pets with behavioural problems and the importance of “fear free” methods for handling pets in a clinical setting.Whether you weren’t able to join us on the 26 August or simply want to listen to our fantastic guest speakers again, we hav…

Sustainability has been the theme of Jo Oakden’s year as president of the BVNA – and this increasingly important topic dominates the agenda for BVNA Congress, which returns to Telford International Centre from 2 to 4 October following its hiatus last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. In this special episode of the VN Times Podcast, Jo explains …

A two-month campaign by the BVNA is aiming to create a better environment for – and a better understanding of – the challenges faced by veterinary nurses who suffer from a chronic illness or condition. The campaign is being led by BVNA junior vice-president Alex Taylor, who joined the VN Times Podcast to discuss its objectives – chief of which is t…

If you haven’t attended one of our VN Happy Hour virtual events yet, you’re missing out. It’s a “power hour” packed with fun, laughter, top tips, prizes, and talks with fantastic and talented panellists.This month we were joined by RVNs Claire Harrison, Claire Bloor and Nicola Lakeman, each of whom expertly answered a number of dentistry-related qu…

Where can your veterinary nursing skills take you?In this month’s VN Happy Hour, the team will be exploring all the angles and showcasing the diverse range of careers and lifestyles on offer to the UK’s “green army” of veterinary nursing professionals.In this episode we hear Belinda Andrews-Jones, Luke Frewin and Fraje Watson answering questions po…

VN Times editor Rachael Buzzel is joined by RVN and manager of the Linnaeus Veterinary Nursing Post Registration Programme, Sophie Venables.The programme launched in early 2020, but Linnaeus had to think fast and adapt as COVID hit and the nation was thrust into its first national lockdown.Sophie talks us through the first year of the programme and…

VN Times editor Rachael Buzzel sits down with RVN and university lecturer Amanda Curtis to discuss wound care, management and the VN’s role in this complicated process.There are a lot of factors to consider when it comes to wound care and it is important vet nurses understand what can go wrong when caring for these injuries. Amanda Curtis talks us …

On 27 May 2021, VN Happy Hour 5 – sponsored by AnimalCare – focused on the topic of senior pets.Hosted, as usual, by Vet Times editor James Westgate and VN Times editor Rachael Buzzel, the evening featured a lead interview with RVN Kirsty Cavill and an expert panel comprising Nicola Lakeman and Emma Gerrard.…

This month VN Times editor Rachael Buzzel is joined by locum RVN Molly Fiander to chat about life as a locum, coping through COVID-19, and her love for helping VNs find/rediscover their passion and get the most out of their qualification.Molly qualified as a vet nurse in 2017, but has had a huge passion for animal welfare since she was a little gir…

VN Happy Hour 4.0 saw vet nurse, writer, educator and leading blogger Jane Davidson feature in our main interview to discuss her perspective on physical and mental well-being, before joining our expert panel for a broader debate on some of the big issues in the veterinary nursing profession.RVN panellists Aoife Smith, Elle Payne, Jane Davidson, Zar…

Following on from the monster success of our first two events, we were delighted to lift the winter blues and blow away the cobwebs by hosting Vet Nurse Happy Hour version 3 on 28 January.January’s online event saw Lacey Pitcher in the lead interview slot, followed by a panel discussion with a team of expert speakers (Kirsty Cavill, Gisela Luckhurs…

Following the monster success of our first VN Happy Hour event, we decided to do it all over again – and our second event took place on 26 November 2020.For those that missed the event, however, this podcast includes “Exotic encounters: fFrom lizards to llamas” – our big interview with VN Council chair and leading exotics nurse, Matt Rendle.Also, c…

VN Times editor Rachael Buzzel is joined by RVN and veterinary manager at Pet Blood Bank UK (PBBUK) Caroline Peacock.Caroline tells us all about her work with the UK charity set up to support vets by providing a blood service for pets, and the vital role of the VN in its work.To find out more about how you can get involved with the charity, read “P…

VN Times sits down with Linnaeus chief nursing officer Andrea Jeffery to talk Schedule Three and what it means for the future of the veterinary nursing profession.Andrea discusses how proposed legislative changes could have the biggest impact on this crucial role in decades.Di VN Times

A huge advocate for the VN role, Helen speaks to VN Times about how her nursing team has helped take the drama out of the corona crisis.– Helen Manning is an RVN with more than 20 years experience in a variety of different roles and practices settings. She has worked in industry as well as independent and corporate practices and is now both manager…

This month, RVN John Redbond joins VN Times editor Rachael Buzzel to discuss dermatology, what piqued his interest in this speciality, and how VNs who share this passion can get involved. – John qualified in 2004 and worked at Castle Vets in Reading for 17 years. From 2011 he also ran a dermatology clinic at the practice and completed the BSAVA Mer…

Following fantastic social media feedback about her article “Charging for VN consults: will owners pay for services?”, RVN Helen Tottey joins VN Times editor Rachael Buzzel for a chat about what inspired her to tackle this important topic and to offer advice to VN colleagues who may be considering broaching the subject with their practice.Helen qua…

2020 looks set to be another exciting year for RVN, blogger, author and lecturer Jane Davidson.In the latest VN Times podcast, former editor Holly Kernot catches up with Jane, who chats about her career journey so far, becoming an author and embarking on a PhD looking at the history of the veterinary profession.She also discusses getting lost in Th…

This month, former VN Times editor Holly Kernot speaks to Flick Caldwell, who, in the August 2019 issue of the magazine, shared her experience of working as an RVN, despite suffering with a condition that causes chronic pain. Here, Flick talks more about her condition and the symptoms that affect her everyday life, and how she copes, as well as how…

Almost 90% of BVA members think vets should play a more active role in the sustainable agriculture agenda, so this year’s BVA Congress – being hosted by London Vet Show – will open by discussing ways to “green the profession”.Ahead of the show, Ellie West of Davies Veterinary Specialists – who will be taking part in the session – discusses why sust…

More than two-thirds of people experience the impostor phenomenon at some point in their lives – so how can they overcome this oft-debilitating emotional experience? Step forward Kate Atkin – who will explore the concept in her keynote lecture at BVNA Congress and offer tips on how to manage it. Ahead of congress, Kate discusses how she discovered …

As a boy with an interest in animals, Matt Rendle was given two options by his careers advisor: be a farmer, or work in an abattoir. Not quite what he had in mind (but those were the 1980s for you).Thankfully, he didn’t heed the advice and went his own way.Listen in to hear how he forged a career as an RVN, worked in one of the UK’s most iconic zoo…