BVNA Council Nominations 2024

BVNA Council

Elections 2024

Meet the Candidates

BVNA will once again be holding an election for 2024. There are 7 nominations in total for the full (RVN) seats. The coming term has just three full (RVN) seats so we would like you to meet this year’s candidates…

Simone Bennett RVN

“I started my nursing career in 1987, and I remember my first day only too well: I was asked if the cat we were examining had passed a stool? - A what?! A German shepherd had its splenic mass removed, and I did my first over-night on-call. All of this was done under the incredibly supportive guidance of my head nurse.

I worked in first opinion - hospitals, branches, head nurse positions, I have had the responsibility for quality improvement, health and safety, RCVS practice standards, and remained a clinical nurse and coach supporting new staff. Consistently maintaining a passion towards two things which are fundamental to me. 1. To make animals better and relieve suffering 2. To ensure all staff felt empowered and free.

In 2020 I found myself in a situation where I needed to forward my career into a different direction and I moved to referral practice, and found a new love for cardiology nursing. During this path I have suffered greatly with my own mental health from industry and social experiences, and I have found myself realising that many of the staff within the veterinary profession have difficulty with their mental health or neurodiversity.

Having been a member of the BVNA since 1990, this is my first year as a nominee for council. I have very strong views about mental health in the workplace now, and as a mental health first aider with the MHFA I believe there is far more work required at ground level within our industry.

Should I be elected for council then my aim would be to work with the BVNA to help take physical action to combat this. Hopefully encouraging our young recruits to experience self-actualisation and esteem. Allowing them to also remember their first day with vivid positivity.

Jessica Bold RVN

“I qualified from Harper Adams University with a veterinary nursing foundation degree in 2015. Since then, I have worked predominantly in first opinion practices, with some locum work in both emergency out of hours and referral hospital settings.

I have developed a passion for the education side of the profession and also canine behaviour. I am always finding new courses to further my knowledge and develop my skills, and am always keen to encourage and support student nurses in their training.

I feel that it is crucial that nurses have access to as much opportunity for development as possible, and with a variety of pathway options to pursue their interests and skills.

I am incredibly proud of being a veterinary nurse and would love the opportunity to be a part of a more widespread support system for others within the profession, which is why I have applied to join the BVNA council.

“ Chloe Carpenter RVN

Qualifying in 2020, amidst unprecedented challenges, isn’t the start I imagined for my career. It wasn’t easy. The first job I took wasn’t the perfect fit, but it taught me invaluable lessons. It’s why I believe every nurse, regardless of their start, can reach their goals with determination.

I’ve moved around a lot, through what could be seen as frequent job changes and defying the norm and started locuming early in my career. Some may view that unfavourably, but it’s allowed me to gather a breadth of knowledge and skills and shaped me into the nurse I am today.

I want to empower nurses to follow their path, unapologetically. The industry is tough; we don’t need judgment on top of it. Every nurse is valuable, regardless of their journey. I aim to champion that belief.

Mental health in our industry is critical. If elected, I’ll prioritise it. I want to help ensure practices of all sizes have resources to support staff. I’ll advocate for nurses at every stage, from SVN to RVN, to make the choices that are right for them, even if it’s unconventional.

I aim to empower nurses to thrive, to prioritise their well-being, and to know their worth, and ensure they still remember the reasons they joined the profession.

“ Hamish Morrin RVN

Hi! My name is Hamish, and I’m standing for BVNA council.

My passion is human support. VNs work as an integral part of teams of animal health and welfare specialists, and our contribution is unique. We work with clients, vets, management, students and many others. We can give support to our teams, and receive it in return, if the right systems are in place.

However, because so many vet nurses think of their work as a calling, it can be easy for their dedication to be exploited through lack of renumeration and support. The BVNA has been working for many years to change this, and to get VNs the recognition they deserve. I came to veterinary nursing later in life, and being an RVN is now an integral part of my identity. I’ve benefited from becoming part of this profession and from my BVNA membership and now I want to give back and help other VNs improve their situations.

The most important thing a BVNA council member can do is listen to the needs of the profession. VNs have expressed concern about lack of recognition, incivility, support for long-term health issues, the need for flexible working arrangements, and limited career opportunities. As part of VN council, I would listen to the concerns of VNs and SVNs, and work to bring them to discussions with industry, regulators and educators. I believe that anyone who wants to be a VN, and has the capability to do so, should have the opportunity. We need to work collaboratively to bring down the barriers and let VNs build careers that work for them.

Amber Smith RVN

“I’ve been fortunate to enjoy many roles within my veterinary nursing career moving from an animal care assistant to deputy head nurse, to working as a district nurse in the community, to supporting multiple practices and referral centres as an experienced locum RVN. I’ve also taught the Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing and love to mentor and support the next generation of vet nurses.

I currently work as an ECC nurse for a large referral centre and as an OSCE examiner in my spare time. I enjoy being challenged and have a lifelong love of learning which has led me to pursue further qualifications in teaching and assessing as well as additional post graduate nursing certificates. I am on the RCVS register of advanced veterinary nurses and have joined the first ever cohort on the new Level 5 Advanced Diploma in Emergency and Critical Care. I am also in my final year studying for an MSc in Advanced Veterinary Nursing Practice with the University of Glasgow.

I am applying to join the BVNA council as being part of an organisation that is supporting the veterinary nursing profession to continue to thrive and cultivating awareness of the important role of the veterinary nurse would be an incredible opportunity and something I’d love to be a part of. I am extraordinarily passionate about protecting the title of veterinary nurse and would love to be involved in supporting a future that fully utilises the remarkable and diverse skillset that RVNs hold. As I’ve had such a varied background in veterinary, I feel that I have a well-grounded understanding of both the challenges we face as nurses as well as acknowledging some of the amazing achievements the profession as attained.

Helen Stewart RVN

“I am a hard-working, self-motivated veterinary nurse who believes passionately in this profession, throughout my 23-year career, I have always striven to advance myself professionally and academically whilst applying the highest standards across all aspects of my work.

An important professional goal for me was to undertake my Graduate Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Nursing (Anesthesia and Analgesia), which I successfully achieved in 2023. Balancing studies with the challenges of a busy professional role and a young family was not easy, but it was important for me to have an opportunity to fulfill my potential, as an individual, and to pursue an area of special interest. I wanted to do this for my own self-esteem and to give me the confidence to undertake my role as a nursing professional independently.

I believe that veterinary nurses need to be encouraged to become independently confident in areas of interest to them, and to be facilitated to do so. To achieve this, I believe that regulatory changes are needed within the RCVS to recognise the capabilities and experience of veterinary nurses. RVNs are subject to higher levels of supervision than we perhaps require and allowing us to fulfill our potential as autonomous professionals, not only benefits us as individuals, but also the veterinary industry by maximising resources.

Having worked in first opinion, emergency, and referral practices, I understand the challenges experienced by veterinary nurses within a variety of sectors. I firmly believe that for us to achieve our full potential we need to be happy, healthy, and valued at work. It is my ambition to help veterinary nurses achieve their full potential in areas of specialty or management. To do this, I believe that changes in working conditions, hierarchy and regulations of the profession are fundamental to those goals and need to be addressed.

Leanne Walsh RVN

“I have had a passion for animals for as long as I can remember and always knew I wanted to be part of the veterinary profession. I became aware of veterinary nurses at the age of 12 and knew it was the career for me.

After several summers of work experience through my teenage years I secured a job as an ACA, where after a year, I started my diploma to qualify as an RVN.

Eleven years later I remain at the same practice having completed a certificate in exotic nursing, become a mental health first aider, a clinical coach and I am now a deputy head nurse.

I believe my time and experience in practice and the variety of roles I have undertaken have given me a good understanding of the challenges and rewards each face, from balancing study with full time work to splitting time between clinical work and team management.

Due to the lack of awareness of Veterinary Nurses, one of my main focuses if elected would be to broaden people’s knowledge of the profession, understand what we do and protect the RVN title. My other focuses would be on diversity and inclusion, the retention of nurses, mental health and student support. Having worked with so many great nurses, I feel that it is vital that people want to stay in the profession. The continued high pressure and long working hours are not sustainable and cause many nurses to leave, often with mental health struggles.

I am passionate about finding solutions to alleviate these struggles, keeping people in the role they are so good at. Finally, student support is high on my agenda as I feel we need to help create and be proud of the future of veterinary nursing.

Thank you for your time.