Where will your VN career lead you?
The veterinary nursing profession has many special qualities and opportunities unique to its role and can lead you in many different directions, from all the different aspects of animal healthcare and welfare, to management, academia, conservation, consultancy or even working overseas.
To help you find out more about the diverse career paths available to you, read our new case studies from veterinary nurses in a wide variety of different roles.
Though your own career path will be unique, we hope you will find ideas and inspiration from reading about others.
Whether it’s working with military animals, teaching students in Sri Lanka, managing a busy referral hospital, sitting on BVNA Council, or running VN education programmes, these case studies should give you plenty of food for thought as you plan your own VN Future!
Ruby Lambert RVN
Diversification and opportunities within the profession: My roadmap as an RVN
After qualifying as a veterinary nurse, the natural progression is often viewed as working as part of a team in general practice. But what other opportunities are out there for Registered Veterinary Nurses?
Bethan Pinhey BSc (Hons) RVN PGCert HE FHEA PGCert Veterinary Nursing (Oncology)
What is your job title and what does the job entail?
I am the Programme Manager for Veterinary Nursing at CAFRE. This means I am in charge of the veterinary care and nursing programmes that the college offer.
Krishna Mistry BSc PGCertAVN ECC DipAVN (small animal) VNCert ECC RVN
Jill talks to veterinary nurse Krishna Mistry, who works as a medical nurse in a busy small animal hospital in West Yorkshire.
Lacey Pitcher RVN
Jill Macdonald chats to RVN and Mind Matters Initiative Outreach and Engagement Senior Officer, Lacey Pitcher.
Lacey Pitcher is a Registered Veterinary Nurse who has had a varied career in the veterinary profession. She has worked in a variety of settings including OOH, GP, charity and multi-disciplinary referral.
Amy Miller RVN
Jill Macdonald chats to RVN, Emergency and Critical Care Nurse, Amy Miller.
Amy works as a permanent RVN for Vets Now. She feels working out of hours gives her a great work life balance and she really enjoys her work at Vets Now.
Victoria Bowes RVN, Dip.HE, Dip.RSA
What do you enjoy about your job?
I enjoy being able to support the students through their journey in veterinary nursing. I like to ensure the students are grounded and open minded and non-judgemental with clients when they leave the course. My passion is ensuring animals have all their needs met and that the standards of nursing that the students give are what they would expect for their own animals.
Hamish Morrin MSc RVN FHEA
How did you achieve your current position?
A slow climb! I started as a zookeeper initially, then trained as a vet nurse. I worked in a range of zoos and wildlife hospitals, as well as charity organisations and referral hospitals. Eventually I realised I really enjoyed teaching and supporting students, so I started lecturing.
Lyndsay Hughes RVN
How did you achieve your current position?
I was originally employed as a lead medical nurse, I was then promoted to head nurse, then nursing and operational manager. Having had previous senior and head nurse experience in the past, I have spent some time in leadership roles. I was asked to take on the role of director to bring a different viewpoint to the board.
Albert Holgate BSc(Hons) CVN, DipAVN RVN
Who is your current employer and what do they do?
I currently work at the RSPCA’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital.
The hospital is part of three large RSPCA hospitals serving the UK, with a network of branches giving further support to those that are on low income and those that cannot afford private veterinary treatment.
Kelly Eyre RVN ISFM DipFN
Who is your current employer and what do they do?
Royal Canin Feline Healthy Ageing Clinic at the University of Liverpool.
The Feline Healthy Ageing Clinic is a research project in to how cats age, and aims to improve the welfare of ageing cats through research and education.
Jasmine Curtis RVN
What is your job title and what does the job entail?
My job title is the Veterinary Nursing Enrolment Officer. This involves ensuring a smooth entry into veterinary nursing by enrolling all students from universities and colleges to the RCVS.
Zoe Hall BSc (Hons) RVN ISFMCertFN
What is your job title and what does the job entail?
My job title is Veterinary Nutrition Partner (VNP) for Scotland. This involves working in a field-based role and engaging with veterinary practices in my territory.
Sophie Venables BSc (Hons) RVN
What is your job title and what does the job entail?
My job title is Post Registration Programme (PRP) Manager. This involves creating a structured induction programme for early careers nurses wanting to make the transition from student to specialist veterinary nurse.
Helen Russell CertVNECC RVN
How did you achieve your current position?
I have had a very varied Veterinary Nursing career since I began in 1998 – working in 1st opinion, Referral, an exotics hospital in Dubai and being Principal Nurse Manager for Vets Now.
Nicholas Coleman FdSc RVN
What is your job title and what does the job entail?
I’m an RVN in the Internal Medicine team. My team assist with imaging (ultrasound, x-ray, MRI & CT), endoscopy and cardiology cases. We also assist with any other internal medicine cases that are referred to us.
Samantha Bradshaw RVN
Who is your current employer and what do they do?
Cromwell Veterinary Group - Small animal veterinary practice
VetSkill - Awarding body Self-employed OSCE examiner for Central Qualifications, City and Guilds and College of Animal Welfare.
Claire Speight RVN
What is your current position and what does your job entail?
I am the Head Nurse at Kettering Vets4Pets. My job entails liaising with the JVP’s of the practice to ensure the highest possible standards of care for every patient...
Samantha Thompson RVN
What is your current position? I am the Clinical Services Manager at North Downs Specialist Referrals, a multi-disciplinary hospital in Surrey. My day-to-day role includes...
Carl Rudkin RVN
What is your current position?
I am an Oncology Nurse at Davies Veterinary Specialists, a veterinary referral hospital. My job entails looking after patients in a multi disciplinary referral centre...
Lance Corporal Lucy Hennessy RVN
What can you tell us about your role?
Being an RVN in the Royal Army Veterinary Corps (RAVC) offers a unique opportunity to work with military working animals, in particular dogs and horses...
Susan Howarth RVN
What is your job title and what does the job entail?
I am the Programme Manager for the veterinary nursing course that we offer, which includes the license to practice BSc (Hons) degrees in veterinary nursing, the RCVS DipAVN and postgraduate veterinary nursing courses...
Stuart Ford-Fennah RVN
Who is your current employer and what do they do?
I am employed by Cave Veterinary Specialists a multidisciplinary veterinary referral centre in Somerset. As a centre we only see referral level patients in multiple disciplines which include medicine, oncology...
Nimisha Patel RVN
What is your job title and what does the job entail?
I work as a registered veterinary nurse in a referral practice. I could be running a ward of patients, dogs, cats or exotics to ensure they get their medications and the care they need. I may also oversee the surgeries for the day...
Hayley Walters RVN
What is your current position?
I am the Welfare and Anaesthesia Nurse at the University of Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and have been for over five years. I work in the Anaesthesia Department of our small animal teaching hospital helping to teach final-year vet students...