b'EMPOWERED TO INSPIRE, ACHIEVE AND LEAD TOGETHEREMPOWERED TO INSPIRE, ACHIEVE AND LEAD TOGETHEREMPOWERED TO INSPIRE, ACHIEVE AND LEAD TOGETHEREMPOWERED TO INSPIRE, VETERINARY WOMAN CHAMPIONS FOR CHANGEACHIEVE & LEAD TOGETHERnurses are capable of through myWhat motivated you to want to change things?colleagues. Alongside my passion forAnimal welfare, a passion for being an RVN, and the talented animals and people development, atnurses I have the pleasure of working alongside. I know we can the heart of this is a passion for ourIts always the smallest steps, not the giantprofession and veterinary business as aleaps that bring positive lasting change do so much more. The future is going to be very exciting for whole.veterinary nursing. In 2012 I was one of the first of four RVNHow have you encouraged other people to get on board clinical directors in CVS, something IHow do you feel this is making a difference? with your ideas?am still very proud of today.I workedI want our nurses to stay within our profession and to seeHonesty and clarity about where I want us to get to. We wont extremely hard to prove myself as athat they can have a fulfilling and rewarding career for life.get there over night, but we will get there. I am listening to nurse and a competent and capableTransparency around opportunities and what developmentwhat RVNs want and I will make change. leader. From here I went on to multi-siteis available is key, alongside clear direction and support fromWhat are the biggest challenges you have encountered management as clinical director, stillin this journey and how have you overcome them?working in clinical practice across Norfolktheir leaders. and Suffolk.Inclusivity is also important. I think it is incredible that inMy biggest challenge is tempering my own drive for where I I n 2018 I had the opportunity to applyCVS, our nurses get to decide what products, equipment andwant to get our profession to - in ensuring our nurses have for the Regional Director role in Norfolkprotocols are right for us. We have such talent in our nursesthe opportunities for exciting careers. I have so many ideas and Suffolk. This had been a dream joband it is fantastic that we get to ask the right people the rightbut have to keep telling myself its a journey and I cant do of mine, to be able to make a differencequestions. everything right now!to hundreds of colleagues across a biggerWhat has most helped and motivated you along the way?geographical region.In this role I wasThis will make such a difference to retention, job satisfactionThe hundreds of talented nurses I have met over the years and able to provide leadership and guidanceand passion for the profession.the past few months. We have the most incredible talent in to our practice leaders, supporting themour company. I have been so lucky to meet many wonderful in the day-to-day in the running of ourpeople over the past few weeks and I cant wait to discover practices. But first and foremost my rolemore. They inspire me every day to do more!was to ensure we are all doing our very best to deliver on our purpose and visionI also work with an incredibly inspiring and motivating Chief - to give the best possible care to animalsVeterinary Officer, Paul Higgs. Its easy to stay motivated when and to be the vet company people mostyou are as passionate about quality of care and our profession want to work for.as we are.Then in early 2023, I took the plungeWhat is the best advice youve been given, or thatto stretch myself further again. I wasyou would give to someone else, about drivingsuccessful in my application as Chief Veterinary Nursing Officer. I am nowpositive change?responsible for over 3,000 nurses, and myIts always the smallest steps, not the giant leaps that bring geographical area has expanded acrosspositive lasting change. the UK, ROI, NI, Netherlands and Australia.What are your next steps to continue creating changefor the better?Keep learning. Keep sharing. Keep driving positivechange forward. www.veterinarywoman.co.uk 29'