This week we caught up with Claire....

As its Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month we'd like to share with you our amazing nursing team. This week we caught up with Claire Ashworth, Head nurse at our Cardiff Hospital.

If you ask any member of the Valley Vets team to describe Claire, they would say she’s extremely hardworking, very caring, passionate about exotics and most of all a fantastic veterinary nurse!

Read on to find out what Claire loves most about her role and how proud she is to be a Registered Veterinary Nurse…

Did you always want to become an RVN?

I can’t say I always wanted to be an RVN as when I was younger I didn’t even know there was such a thing. However, I have always had a passion for animals and wanted to care for and help them, even fighting for animal rights. Before joining Valley Vets I worked with an animal charity. On occasions the charity would need to bring animals to the vets which I would help with, and this was how I discovered that there were people other than vets working in veterinary practices behind the scenes. From that point on all I wanted to do was work in a vets and help animals get better. So I bombarded the entire veterinary practices of south Wales with letters asking if there were any vacancies. Valley Vets replied and here I am.

How long have you been with Valley Vets?

I have worked at Valley Vets since 2002 when I was taken on as a trainee nurse. That really makes me sound old doesn't it?

What do you love most about your role?

I love so many aspects of my role. From passing on my knowledge and training new student nurses, seeing a small puppy or kitten come in for the first time and see them through every step of their little lives. Nursing a critically ill patient and seeing them take small steps on their recovery until you see a bouncing ball of fur coming back through the door for a follow up check to be signed off.

I love educating and helping clients, taking radiographs, laboratory work, anaesthesia, helping with surgical cases. Also I really love the fact that Valley Vets has an interest in exotic species and we get to see all sorts of weird and wonderful patients from chickens, parrots, reptiles and wild life. I could be here all day listing what I love about my role.

One more thing that I love is the fact that RVN's are no longer behind the scenes support staff, they are a profession in their own right and are in the forefront of many practices.

Do you have any additional certificates?

I have my Registered Veterinary Nurse Certificate and also my certificate in Veterinary Nursing of Exotic species. Both of which I am very proud of.