The Vet Nurse Skills Podcast

In this month's episode of the Vet Nurse Skills Podcast, Amelia is joined by veterinary nurse, educator and creator of The Veterinary Nerd, Tawny Kershaw, to explore the varied career journey that has taken her from first-opinion practice to referral nursing, wildlife conservation and veterinary education.

Tawny shares how work experience first introduced her to veterinary nursing, despite being told at school that she was not academic enough to work in veterinary practice. She discusses her determination to continue learning, from completing a veterinary nursing degree and master’s in endangered species recovery and conservation to pursuing further qualifications in anaesthesia and exotic species nursing.

The conversation explores Tawny’s experiences working with an extraordinary range of patients in the UK and overseas, including sea turtles in the Maldives, wildlife in Costa Rica and South Africa, and giraffes during her master’s research. She also explains how her “vet nursing gap year” as a locum helped her discover her interests in referral nursing, anaesthesia, exotics and education.

Tawny also shares how The Veterinary Nerd grew from a simple idea to exchange useful clinical knowledge into a thriving educational platform, now helping thousands of veterinary professionals access practical, evidence-based resources and CPD.

In this episode of Vet Nurse Skills, Amelia sits down with Sam Thompson — former referral nurse turned Medical Quality Manager, RCVS Practice Standards Scheme assessor, and founder of Pet Med CPR Education — for a conversation that's equal parts inspiring and laugh-out-loud honest.

From an unconventional start (circus horses, graphic design, and an accidental fall into vet nursing) to building North Downs' induction and CPR training programs from scratch, Sam shares how she turned a "just sort out CPR" request into a genuine mission. They dig into why every member of the team — receptionists included — should be crash-trained, the most common (and surprisingly simple) mistakes practices make with their crash boxes and algorithms, the emotional toll CPR has on vets and nurses, and why confidence, not qualifications, should decide who leads in an emergency.

Packed with practical advice on the RECOVER guidelines and plenty of Sam's trademark humour, this episode is essential listening for any practice serious about being crash-ready.

In this episode, Amelia Sherwood RVN and Dr Kirsten Ronngren are joined by Alison Mann, who shares her journey from Animal Care Assistant to RVN, referral nurse, educator, leader and certified coach, reflecting on the experiences that have shaped her career.

Together, they explore how leadership is about far more than job titles, why stepping outside your comfort zone can unlock new opportunities, and how coaching can empower veterinary professionals to develop confidence, solve problems and realise their potential.

The conversation also discusses the growing opportunities for veterinary nurses in non-clinical roles, the importance of mentorship and continuous professional development, and why the skills gained through veterinary nursing remain valuable throughout every stage of your career.

Listen now for an inspiring conversation about career development, leadership and discovering what's possible beyond the clinic floor.

In this episode of the Vet Nurse Skills Podcast, hosts Amelia Sherwood and Dr. Kirsten Ronngren interview exotics veterinary nursing expert David Stokes, who shares his professional journey and highlights the importance of adapting fundamental clinical principles to provide effective care for a diverse range of exotic species.

We'll discuss his approach to a range of species you may see (infrequently) in practice, helping to boost your confidence and hear some funny anecdotes along the way!

In this episode of the Vet Nurse Skills podcast, hosts Amelia Sherwood RVN and Dr Kirsten Rongren welcome Beckie Barnardt to the stage. We'll explore Beckie's journey from small animal emergency nursing (Vets Now) to exotics, zoo work, and full-time wildlife conservation medicine in South Africa since 2022.

Becky's story proves an RVN qualification can lead anywhere with determination, continuous learning, and openness to the unknown. Listeners are inspired to pursue wildlife or exotic paths via zoos, volunteering, or her African Legends Wildlife Services experiences. The episode concludes that collaboration elevates the profession, encouraging nurses to embrace risks, reject complacency, and contribute to global conservation while uplifting others.