A vet nurse at a top animal hospital is celebrating after being named among the profession’s elite.
Registered veterinary nurse Bryony Gilder (Figure 1) has worked at Linnaeus-owned Cave Veterinary Specialists, near Wellington in Somerset, for 12 years and during that time has been expanding her skills in neurology.
She has now been recognised with the prestigious veterinary technician specialist (VTS) status in internal medicine (neurology) – one of just six nurses to hold the qualification in the UK and only 35 worldwide.
Bryony said the achievement was something she had always dreamed of.
She said: “I have always wanted to achieve veterinary technician status since starting at Cave and it wasn’t until I did a postgraduate certificate in small animal rehabilitation and started working with neurology patients that I knew I loved the discipline.
“Shortly after, Cave began to offer neurology as a service, I became senior neurology nurse and the enjoyment I got from nursing and supporting the patients was undeniable.”
Bryony said while she wanted to achieve the qualification to better herself, it would also help ensure Cave’s patients continue to receive the best possible standard of care.
She said: “My main reason for doing it was personal achievement, I wanted to prove I was able to work at the top of my licence and be the best I could possibly be for the patients.
“Having a better understanding of conditions neurology patients present with allowed me to better support them through procedures and nurse them, as well as support their owners once they are discharged.
“It allows Cave to support neurology patients in the best way possible. I have shared my knowledge with the nursing and patient care assistance team ensuring we provide five-star treatment.
“I have also provided continuous professional development (CPD) training to other Linnaeus nurses with a plan to present at the Small Animal Medicine Society CPD event next year.”
Cave offers comprehensive, specialist-led services in anaesthesia, cardiology, dentistry and oral surgery, dermatology, internal medicine, neurology and neurosurgery, oncology, orthopaedic surgery and soft tissue surgery.
