Veterinary Woman Role Model - Kath Howie

Kath Howie is a Clinical Nursing Manager at Vets Now, based at one of the UK’s largest multidisciplinary referral hospitals. In this role, she leads and supports a diverse team spanning soft tissue and orthopaedic surgery, internal medicine, oncology, diagnostic imaging, anaesthesia, and one of the country’s busiest emergency and critical care (ECC) departments. Alongside her leadership position, Kath plays an active role in the annual Vets Now ECC Congress, helping to drive forward standards of excellence and innovation in emergency and critical care nursing.

Passionate about her team, her patients, and the progression of the veterinary nursing profession, Kath is dedicated to fostering growth, collaboration, and continual learning within her workplace and the wider industry.

Please summarise your journey:

Took A levels in sciences with the plan of becoming a vet originally.
Qualified as an RVN in 2000.
Started out in general practice, which gave me a solid foundation in all aspects of nursing and client care.
Moved to a referral practice in Woking for 18 months, a steep learning curve that sparked my passion for advanced nursing and emergency work.
Completed my ECC qualification in 2009 and knew this was where I wanted to focus my career.
Became Out-of-Hours Principal Nurse Manager in Farnham, developing my leadership, team management, and decision-making skills.
Three years ago I moved to Glasgow to take on the role of Clinical Nursing Manager in one of the UK’s largest multidisciplinary referral hospitals.
I’m fortunate to work alongside highly skilled teams across soft tissue surgery, internal medicine, orthopaedic surgery, diagnostic imaging, anaesthesia, and oncology, as well as one of the country’s largest ECC departments and our extensive Out-of-Hours team.
I also support the annual Vets Now ECC Congress, which brings together veterinary professionals from across the UK to share knowledge and continue pushing the standards of emergency and critical care nursing forward.

Describe your typical day from waking to sleeping:

Up at 5:30am and the first job is feeding my two dogs, River and Ivy.
We head out for a walk before work, which gives me a moment to think about the day ahead.
I arrive at the hospital in time for morning rounds, starting with surgery at 8:15am, followed by medicine and ward rounds.
The rest of the morning is spent checking in with the teams, supporting case discussions, and making sure everything runs smoothly across the hospital.
As one of the UK’s largest multidisciplinary referral and emergency centres, no two days are ever the same. I could be supporting ECC triage one minute, and discussing anaesthetic plans, oncology cases, or imaging schedules the next.
A big part of my role involves management and planning for the hospital’s future, looking at clinical strategy, investing in new technology, and supporting our people through training and development.
The afternoon is often filled with meetings, problem-solving, and finding ways to help our teams deliver the best possible care.
After work, I take River and Ivy to a secure field for a good run, which is my favourite way to unwind.
Evenings are quiet, usually spent reading or relaxing before another early start.

How would you describe yourself in a sentence?

Dedicated and calm under pressure, with a genuine passion for people, patients, and progress in veterinary nursing.

How would others describe you in a sentence?

An inspiring and knowledgeable veterinary nurse who leads from the front in ECC and is committed to supporting and developing others in the profession.

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

Passing my VTS in ECC was a huge milestone. It showed how far veterinary nursing has come and how much nurses can achieve within this field. The process taught me the value of persistence, curiosity, and leaning on others for support when you need it. It also reinforced my belief that veterinary nurses play a vital role in emergency and critical care, and that with the right encouragement, training, and mentorship, we can keep pushing the profession forward.

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

Being diagnosed later in life with ADHD helped me understand myself better and rethink how I work. It made me realise that the way my brain processes information can actually be a strength, especially in a fast-paced ECC environment. It has also made me more empathetic towards others who might think or work differently. I’ve learned to create systems and strategies that play to my strengths, and to encourage neurodivergent colleagues to do the same in a way that works for them.

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

Moving into management has naturally meant less hands-on clinical time, which I do miss. I’ve had to learn to find satisfaction in different ways, like supporting the wider team and helping others grow in their roles. It can be a challenge to balance operational responsibilities with clinical engagement, but being part of such a large multidisciplinary hospital helps — I still get to be involved in complex cases, planning, and mentoring.

Anything is achievable if you work hard and stay open to learning.

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

Anything is achievable if you work hard and stay open to learning. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or to try something that pushes you out of your comfort zone. The biggest growth often happens in those moments.

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

Incredible mentors and colleagues who believed in me, encouraged me to keep learning, and helped shape my career.

What are your three top likes?

Dogs, especially pugs.
Reading.
Kayaking in the Scottish lochs.

What are your three top dislikes?

When dogs are judged on breed rather than behaviour or poor ownership
Forced social activities, organised fun is hellish!
Decaf coffee- what’s the point?

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

The Chimp Paradox by Professor Steve Peters. It helped me understand how emotions and logic interact, and how to respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively, both in work and in life.

Many thanks to Kath Howie 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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Veterinary Woman Role Model – Kath Howie