Thank A Veterinary Nurse

Re: Thank A Veterinary Nurse

Martin Atkinson — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 12:18:03 GMT

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]Unfortunately it's (of course) not just about the merits of the nominee, but the nomination itself.[/quote]I won't pass comment on the quality of the nomination!

Still I win whatever, even though it wasn't about me or a competition I felt Alice should have won by a country mile, because I know I've got the best nurse in the world. In the end that is all that counts. Over and out.

Re: Thank A Veterinary Nurse

Arlo Guthrie — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 11:15:24 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]I admit I am a very poor loser as its not something I experience very often but this is not about 'my' nomination. I genuinely feel that Alice was the best candidate for going the extra mile. Still c'est la vie. You're all forgiven, I'm sure the winner is truly AWESOME. [/quote]

Unfortunately it's (of course) not just about the merits of the nominee, but the nomination itself. We voted. For me, whilst there was hardly a fag paper between yours (and a few others), Peter Haworth's nomination read as more succinct and enthusiastic (and I am not just referring to the use of the word 'awesome'; I certainly thought more deeply about it than that) summary of a set of skills and attributes that are so vital to practice.

Re: Thank A Veterinary Nurse

Martin Atkinson — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 09:49:40 GMT

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]I'm sure you don't mean it to, but that reads very much like sour grapes, Martin. [/quote]I most certainly did mean it Arlo, and the grapes are very sour indeed.

I admit I am a very poor loser as its not something I experience very often but this is not about 'my' nomination. I genuinely feel that Alice was the best candidate for going the extra mile. Still c'est la vie. You're all forgiven, I'm sure the winner is truly AWESOME.

Re: Thank A Veterinary Nurse

Arlo Guthrie — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 08:58:58 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]Our nominations didn't win Kate because we didn't realise it was a competition to include the word 'AWESOME' as many times as possible! .[/quote]

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]Can we have the full story for the winner then, or was that it?[/quote]

I'm sure you don't mean it to, but that reads very much like sour grapes, Martin.

[quote user="Kate Richardson""]Bugger- no runners up prize then! Anyway, you are always welcome to pop in en route anytime, and I'll shout you a drink instead[/quote]

I'll take you up on that when I get a chance, Kate, thank you!

Re: Thank A Veterinary Nurse

Martin Atkinson — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 08:49:44 GMT

[quote user="Kate Richardson"]

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]Martin and Kate, you were JUST pipped at the post. I was particularly sorry yours didn't win, Kate, because not only was it a really strong nomination, your practice is nearly en-route from here to my Mum, and I would have loved to have delivered the prize personally. And drink half of it myself.[/quote]

Bugger- no runners up prize then! Anyway, you are always welcome to pop in en route anytime, and I'll shout you a drink instead

[/quote]Our nominations didn't win Kate because we didn't realise it was a competition to include the word 'AWESOME' as many times as possible! .

Re: Thank A Veterinary Nurse

Kate Richardson — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 18:57:31 GMT

Bugger- no runners up prize then! Anyway, you are always welcome to pop in en route anytime, and I'll shout you a drink instead

Re: Thank A Veterinary Nurse

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 18:49:18 GMT

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]It didn't go missing, Martin. I just didn't reproduce the whole story on the nominations page. [/quote]Can we have the full story for the winner then, or was that it?

Re: Thank A Veterinary Nurse

Arlo Guthrie — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 18:47:10 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"][quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]Martin and Kate, you were JUST pipped at the post. [/quote]Would Alice not have had a better chance of winning if half the nomination hadn't gone missing?[/quote]

It didn't go missing, Martin. I just didn't reproduce the whole story on the nominations page. A few of the particularly long ones got abridged, or the page would have stretched down to Australia. But we read through and considered every one in full.

Re: Thank A Veterinary Nurse

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 18:37:58 GMT

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]Martin and Kate, you were JUST pipped at the post. [/quote]Would Alice not have had a better chance of winning if half the nomination hadn't gone missing?

Re: Thank A Veterinary Nurse

Arlo Guthrie — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 17:59:20 GMT

Well, we've picked the winners. Some incredibly heart-warming entries, one of which came from this forum. Martin and Kate, you were JUST pipped at the post. I was particularly sorry yours didn't win, Kate, because not only was it a really strong nomination, your practice is nearly en-route from here to my Mum, and I would have loved to have delivered the prize personally. And drink half of it myself.

Anyway, we've created a wall of fame here: http://www.vetnurse.co.uk/microsites/thanks/default.aspx, where I hope the nominees will all take great pleasure and pride in seeing their nominations up in lights, so to speak.

Re: Thank A Veterinary Nurse

Arlo Guthrie — Sun, 31 May 2015 11:19:54 GMT

[quote user="Hannah Wynne Richards"] My RVN, Jan is absolutely 1st class.[/quote]

Wynne, to be in with a chance of winning her an iPad, I'd suggest you need to add a little more detail than that

Re: Thank A Veterinary Nurse

Hannah Wynne Richards — Sat, 30 May 2015 10:44:26 GMT

My RVN, Jan is absolutely 1st class.

Wynne

Re: Thank A Veterinary Nurse

Paula Bentley — Sat, 30 May 2015 00:36:06 GMT

Bit late but Nevertheless I would like to nominate to nominate our team, especially Laura who initially was our only full time nurse. As a start up we have all had to take on many roles, and Laura especially has blossomed, taking on much of the admin necessary, starting training students as well as creating a relationship with our clients, and running more nursing clinics.All this and only a few years qualified, she is a real asset to the practice and a lovely person to work with.

Re: Thank A Veterinary Nurse

Duncan Reavell — Thu, 28 May 2015 13:50:44 GMT

I'd like to nominate my head veterinary nurse, Laura.

I can't imagine what Laura thought of us when she joined us in October from a career in referral practices: we are a long established and busy small animal practice with lovely clients and a friendly relaxed atmosphere: but having always trained our own RVNs we had reached a point where we needed to bring ideas in from outside.

It felt like a big risk going with someone unknown to us who was not used to the compromises and rough edges of first opinion practice. What if she got disillusioned and ran back to referral after a couple of months?

We could not be more pleased with how things turned out. Laura has brought a level of enthusiasm, knowledge and expertise to the role that has inspired all our staff: from RVNs to SVNs, from vets to receptionists. You can really sense the energy in the place now, where every case matters and we know that we are doing the best you can do for every patient.

That vibe, energy and motivation you cannot put in a bottle. But Laura has it by the crate load!

Re: Thank A Veterinary Nurse

Joyce Whitehead — Wed, 27 May 2015 17:50:51 GMT

I'd like to nominate the team at Galtres Vets. We are a small practice, equine and small animal, and have a team of nursing assistants and nurses who can turn their hand to most things, from ferrets to Shires, with similar skill and ease with both. (Not to mention a great practice manager who has been with the practice longer than even the current partners). All are dedicated, hard working, and flexible with their working hours, in addition to caring about each other as well at the patients and clients, many of whom have become friends. We spend large amounts of time laughing together which is the secret to a happy practice, there is no "them and us" culture. Putting up with sometimes stressed or grumpy vets is just one thing they are very good at...

Re: Thank A Veterinary Nurse

Kate Richardson — Tue, 26 May 2015 20:10:48 GMT

I'd like to nominate my nursing team at Macqueen Vets in Devizes, Wiltshire. I have been trying to think of a way to put how fan-dabba-dozi I think they are into words, but no words seem to be enough. Our entire team (vets, receptionists and nurses) equals a grand total of 32 females and 1 male. Despite this recipe for bitchiness and hormonal horrendousness, there are never any undercurrents of nastiness, any issues get resolved quickly and peacefully, the animals and their owners are always the focus and receive the best of care and attention to the little details, and above all they ALL care. Our nurses always have the animals priorities first, put in 100% minimum every day and usually more, and still smile and have a great laugh, both in and out of work. They also care about each other and support each other and us vets when we need it. I have never worked with a better bunch of people, and I love them all!

Re: Thank A Veterinary Nurse

Nicola Lawlor — Sat, 23 May 2015 20:11:15 GMT

I would like to nominate Nikki Maidment at Medivet West Kingsdown. I first met Nikki in another clinic when she came to do work experience as a schoolgirl. She seemed keener than many we had me and I put her forward for a trainee veterinary nurse position that came up shortly afterwards in the clinic - somehow I hadn't managed to completely put her off a career in the veterinary world, as she took up that training position and went on to qualify in due course. Fast forward around 14 years and a new RVN joined the clinic I had since moved on to. It was great to see a familiar face in Nikki and one that I had worked well with in the past - despite a few years passing it was easy to work with her again and she clearly had a lot of very good experience behind her now. Her worth as both a person and as a brilliant nurse was quickly recognised and within a few months she was promoted to head nurse where she quickly organised and sorted the nursing team into a truly brilliant team. Policies were improved but implemented with the full support of other staff and the change was smooth and well accepted with all. Management has since changed and Nikki adapted well, this including me becoming a partner and one of her employers (she must be good to put up with me!). She worked like a trooper to get us through the RCVS practice standards inspection last year which we passed with flying colours thanks to Nikki.

Nikki had a tough year last year when her father was seriously ill and then sadly passed away. Despite the stress she was under she rarely missed any time from work and continued to work at a high standard. She works hard with our student nurses and spends a lot of time both in and out of work helping them towards their exams and completion of their NPL logs. She also takes on the odd rescue hedgehog and rehabilitates them until release is possible - all get great names of course, the likes of Malcolm and Wilfred spring to mind! Nikki has recently enrolled for a further qualification in emergency and critical care nursing. She also has a great husband who drops flowers in for her, or brings milk or McDonalds up for the staff! She is well liked, she is firm but fair and she is a truly excellent nurse who cares deeply about the animals in her care.

Re: Thank A Veterinary Nurse

Arlo Guthrie — Fri, 22 May 2015 11:40:52 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"][quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]Brilliant, thanks for your nominations, Stephanie, Helen and Francisco.[/quote]What about mine? [/quote]

Sorry Martin - written in haste, but special thanks for yours, being the first out of the stalls!

And yours too Anthony.

Re: Thank A Veterinary Nurse

Anthony Dennison — Fri, 22 May 2015 08:43:53 GMT

I'd like to nominate my nurse Clare, who has had a bit of a rough time of late - in the past 18 months she has had to have 3 spinal ops to decompress bulging discs. Before her first op, she would still come in every day and do all the work required of her (despite me having to tie her to chairs at one point to stop her from overdoing it) and whilst she was off recovering she would still be in contact most days to see how things were going.

She helped me set up the new branch I am in now and has taught our new receptionist plenty of nursing skills, so much so our receptionist has been inspired to learn more, and now always has a nursing manual on her desk to read through.

Clare is currently off work at the moment after her third spinal op, but is fighting with her consultant on a weekly basis to be cleared to come back, even at a reduced work load, because she is just that dedicated to her job.

Re: Thank A Veterinary Nurse

Martin Atkinson — Thu, 21 May 2015 18:23:56 GMT

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]Brilliant, thanks for your nominations, Stephanie, Helen and Francisco.[/quote]What about mine?

Re: Thank A Veterinary Nurse

Arlo Guthrie — Thu, 21 May 2015 18:05:57 GMT

Brilliant, thanks for your nominations, Stephanie, Helen and Francisco.

We've had 3 rather touching nominations for vets over on vetnurse.co.uk - and I haven't yet emailed any of the members of that site yet.

Reading them, I'm thinking these people should have their names up in lights, so I think I'm going to create a thanks page listing all the nominees, and the practices they come from.

Slightly disappointed by the relatively small number of posts / nominations thus far on VetSurgeon. I thought you'd be tripping all over each other. Come on everyone!

Re: Thank A Veterinary Nurse

HELEN BROCK — Wed, 20 May 2015 20:27:44 GMT

This post caught my eye as I worry that we don't appreciate our nurses enough. I nominate The nurses at Galedin Vets , Ramparts Veterinary Centre, Berwick-upon-Tweed. We have seven wonderful qualified nurses ( 1 on maternity leave) . I could nominate many of them on an individual basis but it is really the team that works. We moved to purpose built premises 7 years ago which was an enormous effort and 5 of these nurses helped us survive and build through difficult financial times. They now run amazing nurse clinics, triage cases for us in a professional and caring way as well as taking on many management roles, training up new nurses and nurse our patients in ever more caring ways. We have recently merged from Renton Swan vets to become Galedin Veterinary and they have supported us and continued to help us and our clients through changing times. They never forget that the animal comes first and push us to remember the nursing care, warmth , blood pressure, fluids and push us to remember to phone the owner when we try and put it off. They all have their strong points and a weaker ones but it is to their credit that they make it work been them. I have to thank them for putting up with us and our many changes I hope they can see how far we have come and how important they have benign us getting there. Now I feel bad that I'm not thanking our fabulous reception and administration team. Another time ?

Helen Brocklesby. BVM&S MRCVS Galedin Vets , Berwick -upon -Tweed

Re: Thank A Veterinary Nurse

Kate Richardson — Wed, 20 May 2015 18:14:38 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]

[quote user="Kate Richardson"]And do we have to share the champagne? Party on![/quote]C'mon Kate your nomination is crap so far.

However I don't actually like champagne that much so you can have it anyway. Can I have a case of real ale instead please?!

[/quote]

Cheers Martin

Re: Thank A Veterinary Nurse

Stephanie Wellings — Wed, 20 May 2015 17:52:27 GMT

I think this is a great idea. I would nominate the nurses I work with because they are all great individually - they have their own interests and so we have the cat whisperer, the bunny expert, the slimming coach etc... - but the more selfish reason is because they have been a huge reason in making me love my job again. I came from another job, with little confidence and being pretty disappointed with what was allegedly my 'dream career' - but my new team completely restored my confidence and enthusiasm to learn more and do more, by being excellent at their jobs, and by always being supportive, offering their knowledge and experience when needed, and occasionally (/often) telling me to stop panicking and get on with it....

Re: Thank A Veterinary Nurse

Francisco Gomez — Wed, 20 May 2015 17:46:39 GMT

Well, I'm also nominating my team at Lawrence Veterinary Centre in Eastwood, Nottingham.

We are a very busy practice and their help reaches as far as looking after my wellbeing (they stop me from going mad, always with very supportive words of encouragement when I'm feeling low) as well as my patients'! Ian drove me once to the NHS when I had kidney related pain (I thought I was a goner!),