In my position as a lecturer and programme manager, I sometimes act as a mentor for my students, particularly for those who have nobody else to turn to. This last week I was approached by a student who thanked me for some advice I had given her several months before. She was now going for her speciality certification in intensive care and loved her new job. She was convinced that the advice had saved her career.
When she had initially come to me for advice, her problem was surprisingly common, and personally familiar to me. She began by stating that she was considering leaving the field altogether, that she feared veterinary nursing was not her calling. That particular statement is a red flag to me, and I proceeded to tell her the same story that I have told dozens of students in the past…
Before moving to New Zealand, I worked in a general practice in California. It was a beautiful clinic, well equipped, and well staffed with two veterinarians and four veterinary nurses. The atmosphere was friendly and we all got along very well. From the outside it seemed to be the ideal place to work. Once I arrived in New Zealand, I took a year long holiday and in that time became certain that I no longer wanted to be a veterinary nurse. I didn't want to go back into practice. I was burned out.
A few months before the end of my holiday, I was asked by a friend to help out in her clinic which was desperate for relief staff. It transpired that they were looking for a head nurse and practice manager and were hoping that I would take the role. To cut a long story short, I did take the position and for the first time in over 5 years, I felt alive again.
The new practice wasn't fancy and we were so busy that we usually ended up working late, but I loved it. I wondered how I could go from being completely disinterested in the field, to being more inspired than ever. I reflected back on my old workplace in California. Why didn't it inspire me like this practice did? I wasn't being bullied; I had interesting cases and lovely coworkers, I was even paid well and had good hours. To this day, I still am not entirely sure why that place just wasn't right for me but I think some of it may be related to the owner being tired, burned out and wanting to retire early. Whatever the reason though, it wasn't good for me, but I didn't realize it until I had got out and tried something new.
Today, when students come to me and tell me that they don't think they want to be a veterinary nurse anymore, I tell them to consider trying something new, even just for a short time. Volunteer at a new practice. Don't just look at the fancy equipment, uniforms or facility. Look at the people. Are there a lot of veterinary nurses working together? Are there support staff to assist the veterinary nurses? Do they allow nurses to do intensive care nursing? What species do they treat? These are all things that can make the difference and seeing different types of practice will help keep perspective on what is the core reason we are veterinary nurses.
We have all dedicated our lives to this profession. We have spent countless hours studying and taking tests. We may have been run off our feet in a busy hospital or stayed up all night with a critical case. We may have started out as kennel assistants or even as student volunteers. We have done the hard yards and we are still here. The little things we learn along the way are critical to our success and are gems that we can pass on to our colleagues who are just entering the field. What do you have to share? We hope you enjoy this issue of The Veterinary Nurse.