The Vet Nurse Skills Podcast

Ep.12 - Have I Completed Nursing? Not Even Close! (feat. Laura Jones)

In this episode, we're thrilled to welcome Laura Jones, RVN, VTS, senior medical nurse at the Ralph and founder of the Medical Nursing Academy.
Laura shares her incredible journey from accidentally discovering internal medicine nursing to creating a thriving educational platform that supports nurses worldwide. Discover how she transformed feelings of isolation and imposter syndrome into a mission to showcase what's truly possible for veterinary nurses in medical roles - from running blood transfusions and placing central lines to coordinating complex patient care.
Laura opens up about the realities of referral nursing, offers practical advice for nurses considering the leap from general practice, and reveals the behind-the-scenes work of building courses, podcasts, and social media content (with a little help from Heidi, her very real virtual assistant!). 

Ep.11 - Pregnant Pauses and Presidential Pressures (feat. Lyndsay Hughes)

In this month's extended episode we are extremely lucky to be joined by a truly inspirational member of the veterinary nursing profession - outgoing BVNA President, Lyndsay Hughes. In this episode, we'll cover:
Lyndsay's journey into veterinary nursing
Overcoming health challenges and gaining leadership experience
Becoming a director and overcoming imposter syndrome
The role of the BVNA president and the work behind the scenes
Challenges in nurse utilisation and the reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act
Importance of communication and advocating for the nursing profession

Ep.10 - Bites, Blocks and Burty! (feat. Stacey Parker)

Stacey Parker, a qualified RVN since 2014, has achieved various post-qualification certificates and now works as a referral nurse at Perry Referrals. Alongside her clinical role, she runs her own CPD business - Burty's Boutique - offering education in a wide range of topics. Stacey's nursing journey began unexpectedly when she took in a rabbit, leading her to pursue a career in veterinary nursing. She has since gained extensive experience in anesthesia, dentistry, and emergency and critical care, and is a trained CPR rescuer; in this episode she shares advice on how to improve your skills and boost your confidence. Burty's Boutique was born out of Stacey's desire to share her knowledge and passion for veterinary nursing, with the goal of making learning enjoyable and accessible for her colleagues.

Ep.9 - Organising Chaos with The Locum Whisperer (feat. Molly Fiander)

In this month's episode, Molly Fiander - an RVN and founder of Management for Locums - discusses her journey into locum work and the challenges she faced, leading her to create a platform to support locum nurses. Molly emphasizes the importance of organization, financial management, and building a supportive community for locum nurses to thrive.

Ep.8 - The Mangoes With The Manatees (feat. Alyssa Mages)

In this month's episode, the team invites an inspiring guest from the States to join the podcast - Alyssa Mages. Alyssa is a certified veterinary technician with 20 years of experience, who joined the hosts to discuss her journey from marine biology to the veterinary field, before discussing burnout, her passion for empowering veterinary teams, and the importance of communication and inclusivity in the profession.

Ep.7 - 'Formal' and 'Professional' are not the same (feat. Lacey Pitcher)

Lacey Daniels, a passionate veterinary nurse, shares her career journey with the VN Skills team, from starting in a small-town practice to championing the nursing profession in various roles.
She discusses the challenges of early leadership positions without proper training and support, and how this inspired her to create platforms like RVN Speaks to give veterinary nurses a voice. Lacey's diverse experiences - from working in charity hospitals to the RCVS - have shaped her belief that veterinary nurses should be empowered to explore opportunities beyond clinical practice. Lacey also discusses the challenges of allowing your personality to shine with confidence whilst remaining professional.
Most recently, she has launched Warren Consultancy and PetLink Mag to build connections and provide accessible, evidence-based information for the veterinary community and pet owners. Throughout, Lacey emphasizes the importance of fostering supportive environments and celebrating the talents of veterinary professionals.

Ep.6 - The Wisdom(ness) of 'You Do You' (feat. Emily Holmes)

In this month's episode, Amelia Sherwood RVN & Dr Kirsten Ronngren welcome Emily Holmes RVN to the studio; Emily is a vet nurse who moved from clinical practice to starting her own business as a veterinary content creator. This episode explores her journey, how content creation and social media can help practices, how to excel at it, and how to forge your own path within the industry. Also some discussion of a chicken called Notorious BIG...

Ep.5 - "Looks dead, actually just sleeping!" (feat. Carly Kilby)

In this episode, the VN Skills team welcome BVNA Advocate and multi-certificated RVN, Carly Kilby. Carly shares her career journey which has spanned continents and subject areas, whilst also giving advice on nurses who are happy with a broader focus.

Ep.4 - It's All About The Journey (feat. Inge Breathnach)

In this episode we welcome the highly qualified Inge Breathnach DipVN, DipAVN(Small Animal), CertAVN(Oncology), RVN to the podcast. Inge has a passion for treating oncology patients and gives her tips on providing the best possible care for patients and clients alike, as well as sharing what a day in the life of an oncology nurse entails.

Ep.3 - Overcoming Ultrasound Fear (feat. Jack Pye)

The Vet Nurse Skills PodcastEp.3 - Overcoming Ultrasound Fear (feat. Jack Pye RVN)
In this episode we welcome RVN Jack Pye to the podcast. Jack discusses how he overcame his fear and loathing of getting involved in cases requiring ultrasound, to now training VN's across the country in ultrasound (and even teaching an ultrasound course!).