Q: Can you share with us the highlights of your career journey leading up to your role as a Clinical Educator at the ‘’Veterinary Anursethesia’’, as well as a speaker at the BVA Live 2024 event?

A: Thinking about my achievements makes me realise, that like many people in the veterinary profession, I don't celebrate them enough. However, I think my career highlights are personal accomplishments like publications, my writing, speaking, and continued studies. Speaking at congresses and engaging in public teaching since 2019 has been one of my biggest career highlights, as it has helped me gain the trust of my peers. For me, it's not about the frequency of speaking engagements, but rather the impact on individuals, whether by improving clinical standards or boosting confidence, and ultimately enhancing patient care. Another highlight is my writing journey, with numerous publications in journals worldwide, including three chapters in a recent book published by Wiley. Recently, I signed a book proposal to co-edit a pioneering textbook on mechanical and manual ventilation in veterinary anaesthesia, involving about 20 contributors nationwide. Pursuing further education has also been significant, such as obtaining a Postgraduate Certificate in veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia with distinction from Edinburgh University. These achievements, both personal and collaborative, bring me immense joy and fulfilment.

Q: Reflecting on your career thus far, what achievements or milestones are you most proud of and why?

A: Regarding my achievements, I obtained my nurse certificate in anaesthesia from Improve International, which introduced me to the educational opportunities available for veterinary nurses in the UK. Then, with encouragement from my colleague Niamh Clancy, I began writing, eventually winning the British Veterinary Nurse Association's VNJ Writer of the Year award in 2020, which was just incredible. Also, during my time at Burton's Medical Equipment, I was honoured with the Employee of the Year award for getting their clinical team off the ground and supporting their initiatives. Additionally, I was nominated for the Nurse Empowerment Award by the British Veterinary Nurse Association in 2023 which was another significant recognition. Another major milestone for me was graduating from Edinburgh University with a distinction in the Postgraduate Certificate for Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia. Career-wise, gaining the confidence to deliver talks at many congresses and private practices around the country has been incredible. I’ve become much more independent and established my brand, Veterinary Anursethesia, primarily through social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Sharing my knowledge and experiences online has gathered a substantial following, which has helped me become a trusted peer in the industry. These experiences have been big stepping stones in my career journey.

Q: Your upcoming lecture at BVA Live 2024, titled ‘Troubleshooting the Highs and Lows of Anaesthesia Monitoring’ will explore the topic of anaesthesia and monitoring equipment. Why do you consider this topic crucial for the veterinary community?

A: My lecture will cover “the six big things” that can happen in everyday anaesthesia, which I am always asked about —such as slow heart rates, fast heart rates, low and high blood pressure, and low and high levels of expired carbon dioxide. It’s really important to understand their underlying causes. By focusing on fluctuations in heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure, I aim to give RVNs everyday confidence and equip them with the knowledge to address common challenges effectively. This session aims to empower attendees with the ability to discern when intervention is necessary and how to troubleshoot effectively. I anticipate participants will leave feeling informed, reassured, and equipped to navigate anaesthesia challenges with confidence. Personally, I am excited about the opportunity to delve into this topic, as it sheds light on everyday occurrences in veterinary anaesthesia, offering practical insights that can make a big difference in patient care.

Q: Could you provide a brief summary of your lecture's content and learning outcomes?

A: Of course. When performing and monitoring general anaesthesia, we encounter different disease processes, anaesthetic drugs, and surgical procedures affecting different body systems, including the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. For example, we’ll analyse how changes in breathing might correlate with changes in heart rate to gain a clearer picture in our patients’ anaesthesia depth and analgesia requirements. We're going to cover how to use monitoring equipment effectively and then how we can troubleshoot the abnormal physiological parameters. When it comes to the learning outcomes of my lecture, we’re going to build some foundation knowledge on what the pathophysiology is of bradycardia and tachycardia, hypotension and hypertension, and hypocapnia and hypercapnia. It's essential to understand potential inaccuracies or limitations in our equipment, as we won't always obtain definitive values but must interpret the data holistically.

Q: Finally, what piece of advice would you like to give individuals that are at the start of their veterinary career?

A: It’s okay not to be an expert in everything! I felt overwhelmed when I first started my career, wanting to know everything about every aspect of veterinary medicine. Remember, learning continues throughout your career—I've been nursing for 15 years and still learn every day.

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