The role of the Registered veterinary nurse (RVN)

When you come into the practice with your pet, you might meet one of our veterinary nurses! Our RVNs trained for 2-4 years at colleges and universities across Scotland, including Dumfries, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Once qualified, they were then placed on the RCVS register for veterinary professionals. RVNs must also complete 15 hours of continued professional development per year to remain on the register and improve their role within the practice!

One aspect of the job is surgical nursing. RVNs prepare patients for their surgeries by placing intravenous catheters, drawing up and administering anaesthetic drugs, clipping the surgical area, assisting the vet with anaesthetising the patient and preparing the surgical site. They then monitor the anaesthetic closely to ensure a good depth is maintained before giving the patients lots of cuddles when they wake up!

As well as anaesthetists, RVNs are also laboratory technicians. They collect blood and urine samples from patients which are then analysed in our in-house lab. This includes running different profiles in our blood machines, manually testing urine, creating slides for microscopy and much more!

You may have met our RVNs in one of our nurse consultations. Nurses perform postoperative checks, weight clinics, flea and worming consults, bandage changes, pet health club check, 2nd vaccinations and much more! One of our nurses also offers physiotherapy consultations which are beneficial for patients who have undergone surgery, are recovering from an injury or need a little help improving their mobility.

Inpatient care is an aspect of the role which all our nurses love! This involves looking after the poorly patients who have been admitted for hospitalisation. The nursing methods required are different for each patient, so nursing assessments are used to determine the best method of care for the individual. Nursing treatments include enticing patients to eat, preparing and administering medications, maintaining fluid therapy, keeping the accommodation clean and cosy, monitoring patient parameters (heart rate, respiratory rate and temperature), and of course lots of cuddles and attention!

Our RVNs can also be spotted assisting the vets at our outreach clinics or large animal visits! All of our nurse’s love getting out and about to the clinics in Kinlochleven, Acharacle, Kilchoan, Fort Augustus and Mallaig.

If you have an interest in veterinary nursing, send the practice an email or give us a call and we can help you get started!

1963 – 2023

(Mallaig)

Suddenly and unexpectedly, at home, on Wednesday 22nd March 2023, John Ewan MacDonald, known to many as Kojak, aged 59 years, Lovat Terrace, Mallaig, seafarer for his entire working life. A treasured son to Chrissie and the late Allan, a much loved brother to Joan, Allan and Ronnie, a loving dad to Michael, John and Leah, a wonderful grandpa to Lincoln and Finlay, a dear relative and a good friend. Greatly missed.

CROSS – JOHN

1943 – 2023

(Glencoe)

Peacefully, in the care of the HDU, Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, on Thursday 23rd March 2023, John Cross, aged 79 years, Ault Mhor, Glencoe Village, owner of the former “paper shop”, Kinlochleven, John was also an avid hill walker who spent so much of his time in the Mamores and Scottish Mountains in the Highlands, a place he loved so much. A beloved husband to the late Evelyn, a loving dad to Mandy, Keith, Jennifer and Jack, a wonderful grandad and great grandad to all his grandchildren, a caring brother to Agnus and Thomas, a much loved relative, neighbour and a good friend. Greatly missed.

HARDIE – THOMAS

1939 – 2023

(Fort William)

Sadly but peacefully, in the care of Highview House Care Home, Inverness, on Monday 27th March 2023, Thomas Hardie (Tommy), aged 83 years, Kinross Place, Fort William. Beloved husband to the late Sandra, a treasured dad to Lesley, Nicola, Donna and the late Neil and father-in-law to Lee and Neil, a proud grandpa to Stewart, Stephen, Beth, Jack and Layla, a caring brother to Elizabeth and George, master to his loving dog Fly, a good friend and neighbour. Forever loved and missed.

MCLEAN – PETER

1926 – 2023

(Mallaig)

Peacefully, in the care of the Belford Hospital, Fort William, on Saturday 18th March 2023, Peter McLean, known to all as Petie, aged 96 years, retired fisherman and former Owner/Skipper of ‘The Maggie McLean’. Beloved husband to the late Chrissie, a loving dad to Moira, Audrey, Christine and the late John and Peter, brother-in-law to Alice and Andrew, a wonderful granda and great granda to all his grandchildren, a caring brother to Cathie Sutherland, a much loved uncle, neighbour and a good friend to many. Sadly missed.

ELDER – JANET

1957 – 2023

(Lochyside)

Sadly, but peacefully at home, on Thursday 23rd March 2023, Janet Elder, aged 65 years, Castle Drive, Lochyside, Fort William. A loving wife to Donald, a treasured mum to Fiona and Claire, a wonderful granny to Amber, Ellie and Summer, a much loved relative and friend. So dearly loved and missed.

VICKERS – JOYCE

1930 – 2023

(Caol)

Peacefully, in the loving care of the Telford Centre, Fort Augustus, with loved ones by her side, on Wednesday 22nd March 2023, Joyce Mabel Vickers, aged 92 years, Erracht Drive, Caol, Fort William. Beloved wife to the late Johnny, a loving mum to Janice, Jim, John, Jerry and Pamela, a much loved grandmother and great grandmother to all her grandchildren, a caring sister to Donald and Tony and a good friend to many. RIP.

KIRKBY – JOHN

1950 – 2023

(Kilchoan)

Peacefully, at home, with his loving wife by his side, on Saturday 18th March 2023, John Peter Kirkby, aged 72 years, Doirlinn House, Kilchoan. Beloved husband to Jennifer, a much loved brother to Julia and Susan, a caring uncle, neighbour and friend. Greatly missed.

ROSS – ANGUS 1936 – 2023 (Muirshearlich)

Suddenly but peacefully, at home, surrounded by his loving family, on Wednesday 22nd March 2023, Angus Ross (Angie), aged 86 years, Muirshearlich by Fort William. A loving husband to Theresa, a much loved dad to Iain and Sine, a wonderful papa to Ben, Eva and James and so dearly loved and missed by all in his extended family. RIP.

MACINNES – KATE

1944 – 2023

(Fort William)

Sadly, but peacefully, in the care of the Belford Hospital, Fort William, on Tuesday 21st March 2023, Kate Effie MacInnes (Katie), aged 78 years, Argyll Terrace, Fort William. Beloved wife to the late Joe, a treasured mum to John, Gus, Norrie, Mary and Pat and mother-in-law to Laura, Alison, Karen, Gary and Tony, a wonderful granny to Kieran, Bailey, Aoife, Eilidh, Robbie, Sophie, Lauren and Liam, a proud GG to Joseph, a kind and caring neighbour, parishioner and friend. RIP.

MORRISON – DOUGALL

1935

– 2023

(Claggan)

Sadly but peacefully, with his loving family by his side, in care of Invernevis House Care Home, on Monday

13th March 2023, Dougall Morrison, aged 87 years, formerly of Melantee, Claggan, Fort William. A beloved husband to the late Ena, a treasured dad to Anne Marie, Michael, Donald and Moira, a wonderful grampa and papa to Donald, Niamh, Natalie, Lewis, Shaun, Christopher and Laura, a much loved relative, resident and a good friend to many. RIP.

HENDERSONGRINDROD – SYLVIA

1935 – 2022

(Fort William)

Every day in some small way, memories of you come our way. Though absent, you are ever near, still missed, still loved, and ever dear.

From her loving children Karen, Andrew, Jane, Simon, Tim and Loui.

GRANT – NEIL

1942 – 2023

(Fort William)

Peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, in the care of the Belford Hospital, Fort William, on Sunday 19th March 2023, Neil Stewart Grant, known to all as Neilie, aged 80 years, MacBrayne Apartments, High Street, Fort William, former shift boss at Glensanda Quarry for over 15 years. A loving husband to Doreen, a treasured dad to Shirley and Stewart, a wonderful grandfather to all his grandchildren and great grandchildren, a caring brother to Margaret and a good friend to so many. So greatly loved and missed.

ALLAN – THERESA

1946 – 2023

(Spean Bridge)

Sadly, but peacefully, in the care of the CAU - Belford Hospital, Fort William, on Monday 6th March 2023, Theresa Allan, aged 76 years, Ivy-Lea, Spean Bridge, by Fort William. A much loved wife to John, mum to Louise, Annette and Stephanie, ‘Granny Spean’ to Marie, Christina, Kayleigh, Roslyn, Leanne, Frances, Siobhan, Arienne, great granny to Liam and Harry and a good friend to many. So sadly missed.

HYND – JOHN

1933 – 2023

(Caol)

Peacefully at home, on Monday 13th March 2023, John Eillot Revie Hynd, known to all as Jock, aged 89 years, Blar Mhor Road, Caol, Fort William, former Railway Signalman and latterly in the Recon Department and a Rodding Room Operator with British Alcan (Lochaber Smelter). A beloved husband to the late Jean Hynd, a loving dad to Sheena, John, Joyce and David, a wonderful papa to his 14 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren, a much loved brother of Margaret, so dearly loved by all in his wider family and a good friend to many. Greatly missed.

SAMBROOK – KYLE

1989 – 2023

(Pontefract)

Tragically, in the mountains of Glencoe after a fatal accident, on Saturday 25th February 2023, Kyle Paul Sambrook, aged 33 years, Featherstone, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, sadly found alongside his beloved dog Bane, his best friend and trusty companion. Kyle was so dearly loved by all his family and friends and will be greatly missed.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the local communities for the overwhelming support and compassion given to them during this extremely difficult time, they would also like to give a special thanks to the Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team and all the Mountain Rescue Teams that were involved in the search for Kyle and Bane and to the staff at The Loch Leven Hotel, North Ballachulish for their kindness and care towards the family during this time.