Nichi Cockburn, RVN and practice manager at Valley Vets in Cardiff, achieved a European School of Veterinary Postgraduate Studies (ESVPS) certificate in anaesthesia and critical care (NCert[A&CC]) in 2011.
Promoted to her current position in 2012, she gained an Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) Level 3, became a certified canine rehabilitation practitioner (awarded by the University of Tennessee, US) in 2015, and gained the advanced certificate in veterinary physiotherapy and the “top student” award in 2017 after two years of intense study – while working full time.
How long have you been a VN, and what do you enjoy best about your job?
I qualified in 2000, having started as a kennel maid when I was 15 years old. I was a head nurse at 22 years old. I count myself lucky every day to be able to work with animals and make a difference to their quality of life, and am an advocate for the relationship between the pet and their owners. The human animal bond cannot be underestimated.
My mantra has always been we should never stand still; the more we know, the more we can help.
I am hugely passionate about working with my patients, their owners and my veterinary colleagues to provide the upmost care.
Talk to us about the – additional qualifications you’ve taken – how did you came to choose them?
I was an emergency RVN for many years and had a particular interest in anaesthesia, critical care and pain management, which led to the NCert(A&CC) qualification. When I left the world of antisocial hours, I became clinical nursing manager and eventually practice manager in 2012. My studies then went in the direction of management and employment law.
After a number of years in management (with some moonlighting as an emergency nurse – I couldn’t quite give it all up), I started to crave my previous clinical life. After all, I was born to care for animals.
One weekend, I nursed a special, older Labrador retriever and acknowledged that, although we had addressed the clinical reason he had presented to us (severe gastroenteritis), we had not acknowledged the fact he had extensive OA, and this, ultimately, retarded his recovery. This chap ignited my passion for rehabilitation.
How have these qualifications changed things for your working life, and how have they benefited your place of work?
I am in the process of transitioning from practice manager to a 100 per cent clinical role as a veterinary physiotherapist. We, as a practice, are now able to offer physiotherapy and rehabilitation programmes for all of our patients, from the more obvious postsurgical cases to our chronic pain and older patients.
This has added revenue to the business, by adding an additional service. It has allowed us to provide gold-standard postoperative care, with a number of RVNs trained in postsurgical rehabilitation and therapeutic laser. Our clients and patients benefit from our amazing multidisciplinary team. I work closely with my fellow RVNs, nursing assistants, surgeons and medics, including a pain management vet who also performs acupuncture. This means we can provide each patient with a very personal treatment package.
What advice do you have for RVNs interested in developing their careers?
Just go for it. Never underestimate what you are capable of. I still recall a vet telling me I was “just a nurse” when I expressed an interest in the world of rehabilitation and physiotherapy. I took little notice and here I am (just a little more grey).
So many career pathways are available for RVNs. Historically, we either became a head nurse or, sadly, left the profession. We have so many more opportunities. Never let anyone put a dampener on your enthusiasm. That’s the key.
An array of courses are available to RVNs, which are well advertised in the veterinary press and online. We also have the advantage of being part of VetPartners, which is super keen on career progression, and our personal fulfilment and well-being.
What are your aspirations for the future?
I am focusing on personally developing my skills and the services we provide to our pets and their clients. I shall be working with a canine arthritis management team to improve how we educate our clients on arthritis and develop RVN mobility clinics in the practice. I am going to be the lead on rehabilitation at our practice.
I have been approached by a number of nurse training providers to lecture the next generation of RVNs. I may go on to do my master’s, I may not. At the moment, I am enjoying every appointment with the knowledge I am providing the very best care for my patients along with my colleagues. Oh, and there is no such thing as being “just a nurse”.
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