Lauren Pratt is Client Care Lead – Digital Marketing & Complaints Handler at Optivet Referrals. She fills us in on her career transition from RVN to practice support role, and reveals how a friend’s advice to pull a sickie got her veterinary career started.

Lauren Pratt

Please summarise your journey / biography:

  • Baby nurse to RVN
  • Wanted to push myself and moved to referrals (Optivet & still here).
  • Having my daughter, I realised I couldn’t do the 10-hour shifts and weekend OOH rota so moved within the business to a new admin role alongside animals, called ‘Client Care’.
  • Love my role, still part of the team, my role is varied and very busy!

Describe your typical day from waking to sleeping:

Get everyone in the house fed and watered (including myself); but first is my mad toddler Florence, two hungry Labradors, Margot and Winnie, and partner Ollie. Throw everyone in the car for nursery drop off and off I go to work. Busy day handling client queries, marketing, organising veterinary events, running our social media & website, plus handling complaints when they arise.

How would you describe yourself in a sentence?

Utterly bonkers, driven, loud, kind, and caring.

How would others describe you in a sentence?

Passionate, exuberant, loud, outgoing and a whirlwind.

What has been your top success and what have you learned from this?

Becoming an RVN after 3 years of training at MYF was a very proud moment in my career. Accepting an RVN role at Optivet Referrals felt like a huge step for me, working alongside specialists in their field – I was in awe. Now in April 2024, I am set to start my ‘Operations and Departmental Manager – Level 5 course’ and I cannot wait to become a certified manager. 

What has been your biggest challenge, setback or failure and how have you overcome it? How did you grow or change as a result?

COVID / lockdown was a very scary time, as the world just stopped with no warning. I love my job and to be told I couldn’t go to work was tough. I’m pleased that’s all behind us now.

What compromises have you had to make and what, if anything, could have helped?

Sadly, work/life/family meant I’m unable to own my own horse now, which I have done all my life. Horse riding is my favourite thing in the world and my down time, so thankfully I have a beautiful loan horse I can ride and love on Sunday mornings – which keeps me sane!

Lauren Pratt

What advice would you have given to your younger self, that you would now give to others wanting to follow your path?

Always go for every opportunity. If it’s a no, at least you tried!

Years ago, a close friend was Head RVN for a small mixed practice and I was working in an office. She told me to pull a sickie (oops) and volunteer at her vet practice for a day and I never looked back. Without taking that chance I wouldn’t have started working at that practice, become an RVN and ended up at Optivet, where I am now – so I am truly grateful.

 I couldn’t have got where I am today without…

Support from my partner, our now grandparents with childcare, and amazing friends, including some close colleagues. When times are tough and I need to vent they’re always there to tell me I’m not crazy, and take five minutes.

Lauren Pratt

What are your three top likes?

Animals

Wine

Cheese

What are your three top dislikes?

I hate being late to anything – it makes me all flustered.

When people say ‘bear with me’ – unless there physically is a grizzly bear next to you, don’t say that!

Mrs Hinch – NO one has a house that immaculate – plus everything is so grey (just my unpopular opinion).

What is the most helpful book you’ve read and why?

I loved ‘This is going to hurt’ by Adam Kay, then repeatedly binged the series on BBC One.

It resonated with me that any medical profession (be it humans or animals), all have really awful days then we have to sleep, be normal and continue the next day with a smile.


Many thanks to Lauren for sharing her story to inspire veterinary women to aspire and grow into their full career potential.

If you would like to share your story please get in touch at info@veterinarywoman.co.uk


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