Congratulations on qualifying as an RVN. What was your route into the profession?
Thank you. After I left school, I went to Myerscough College in Preston and completed a Diploma in Animal Management. This opened the pathway to the veterinary nursing degree at the college, which I graduated from after three years.
How does it feel to be fully qualified? You must be very proud.
It feels very surreal. To finally be able to call myself a registered veterinary nurse is an incredible feeling. I am proud of my achievement and to be in this profession.
Did you always want to be an RVN? If so, why, and if not, what inspired you to want to join the profession?
I have wanted to work with animals since I was a child. I was constantly playing with animal toys and plastic stethoscopes.
I always believed I was supposed to become an RVN, as no other job excited me in the same way.
You have a rare genetic condition called Ehlers-Danlos syndromes – what is this and how does this affect you?
Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) are a group of rare inherited conditions that affect connective tissue.
Connective tissue is found in skin, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, internal organs and bones. In total, 13 known types of EDS exist – the most common of which is hypermobile EDS, the one I suffer with.
Receiving my diagnosis took seven years, as so many possible symptoms exist. EDS causes my joints to move beyond a normal range, causing pain and dislocations. This has resulted in me getting surgery to rebuild my joint with donor tissue to prevent future dislocations. I also suffer from fragile skin, which bruises and scars easily.
My EDS causes digestive and urinary tract problems, along with chronic fatigue, insomnia, low mood and anxiety.
What challenges did your condition present during your studies and how did you overcome them?
During my degree, I struggled with the constant fatigue. University is a stressful time for anyone, but trying to stay on top of deadlines and lectures was a daily battle with EDS.
Although I was prescribed medication to help my symptoms, I would often have to deal with the unwanted side effects, such as brain fog and lack of concentration. Pain is a big distractor, and as pain was a daily occurrence, I was always struggling to focus and complete my work.
Perhaps one of the most difficult challenges I faced was the lack of understanding from my peers. Although I could understand this – as EDS can be an invisible illness – comments were often made about my health that were not coming from a good place. Very few people asked if I was okay and just assumed I was skipping class.
I dealt with this by starting to accept help and confiding in people who then became my close friends.
However, Myerscough was incredibly supportive and helpful. My tutors were understanding and empathetic, and they helped me achieve my full potential.
How does your health condition affect your working day and what measures do you have in place to help you?
I would often struggle in work with pain in my joints – especially as I was on my feet for at least eight hours a day. This would then make it hard to focus and I was running on empty by lunchtime.
Through trial and error, I eventually found a good combination of medications that relieved my pain, but didn’t make me want to fall asleep. This was key and took many years to figure out.
I also adapted ways to try to alleviate any future pain by sitting instead of standing – where this was appropriate. I would also be smart and not lift anything more than 10kg alone, and make sure I took full advantage of any breaks provided.
I learned, however, that working full time was not an option for me, so I started to locum, which has really helped me both physically and mentally.
How do your colleagues and employers help you?
They help by ensuring I get my breaks, and checking in every now and then just to ask how I am coping and if there is anything they can do to help.
In a recent locum position, without even asking, my colleague would get me a stool ready if I were monitoring a long anaesthetic. Little things like that really make a huge difference and I was so grateful.
What advice would you give to other aspiring vet nurses with health issues who may be worried about disclosing them to potential employers?
I would say that if you don’t want to disclose your health issues at an interview, you don’t have to. There is nothing wrong with wanting your CV to speak for itself as you’ve worked so hard to achieve your degree, despite your health condition.
You may want to wait until you have been offered the job before you decide to disclose this information. However, if you feel comfortable discussing your health issues at your interview, it may mean any adjustments your employer needs to make for you can be made before you start the job.
If you disclose this information at the interview, write down what your condition is, how it affects you and any help you feel you may need.
As someone with EDS, what has been your experience of applying for jobs/discussing this during interviews? Has it been an issue or have you had good experiences?
I have had mixed experiences when applying for jobs with my health condition. Even though it is my right to not disclose my health issues at the interview, I have had an employer become unhappy when I have informed it about my health after I have been offered a job.
On one occasion, I disclosed my health issues during an interview, and have felt the atmosphere changing and suddenly the interview becomes all about my health. However, this is the only negative experience I have had from waiting to tell an employer about my health. Other employers have been supportive and understanding once I have told them.
Overall, I have had some amazing employers who care about me and do not doubt my ability to be a good RVN.
A lot of ongoing work supports people with mental health issues – do you think enough is being done to support those with physical issues?
Being an RVN is a physically demanding job, so it’s easy to forget that hidden physical illnesses can and do exist within the industry.
I became very good at hiding it because I knew I had signed up for a job that expected me to be on my feet for long hours, and I felt that if I shared my health conditions people would have no sympathy.
I think if we can change that belief, and encourage a conversation between colleagues and education between employers about invisible illnesses, people may not be as scared to open up. I believe once we have made this a safe place for people to not feel as though they may be judged or not offered that job because of their health, then that’s half the battle.
I do think we need to educate both employers and colleagues on invisible illnesses, as well as mental health in the workplace.
What are your aspirations for your future career?
I am a locum RVN, but in the future I would like to find a permanent role with a practice that understands my condition, and allows me to grow and learn on an equal playing field.
I have also always had an interest in exotic animals and hope one day I will have the chance to work with them.
I would also like to teach future RVNs, whether that be at university as a lecturer or as a clinical coach in practice, as I feel I could particularly help students who also suffer from a health condition.
Any other key messages for our readers?
Even though talking about my health condition makes me feel vulnerable, I believe it is important to start a conversation about invisible illnesses in the workplace. You shouldn’t have to feel as though you need to hide who you are or your health. Being an RVN with EDS is something I am so proud of.
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