The VN Futures Diversity, Inclusivity and Widening Participation (DIWP) working group are currently delivering a flexible working campaign, running throughout the month of August. In this blog, RVN and BVNA Council Member Lacey Pitcher discusses her experiences of flexible working, and her journey towards seeking a role which enables her to have an enjoyable and sustainable career.

“In my early career days, I thought flexible working meant working whenever you liked and therefore it wasn’t compatible with veterinary medicine. I couldn’t have been more wrong!

“In truth, flexible working has been a huge part of my career in many forms and different stages and I firmly believe is a big part of the reason I’ve enjoyed (for the most part) a sustainable career filled with pivots and squiggles.

“As a student, I trained via the diploma route. Not driving and having left home fairly young, the challenges of college courses were mitigated by my practice. We opted for block release to allow me to travel once every few months. When in my second year my health deteriorated, my practice flexed once more, altered the rota and found a day release course closer to home so that I could complete my diploma.

“Half way through training, I hit pause. I quit veterinary nursing. Yet, after 6 months or so, and a much clearer head, I began to miss it. I stuck a pin in a map, called a locum agency and moved within the week from South Wales to Surrey. I worked as a nursing assistant until I quickly found the passion for nursing once more. I took a permanent role, supported by the practice and completed my training.

“When adventure called and I wanted to explore learning about new teams and how different people worked, I upped sticks and locumed. I spent a good 18 months pin-balling round the country from Southend to Doncaster, Colwyn Bay to Oxford. I thrived in the challenge of meeting new people and diving into new workplaces. The flexibility to travel and explore new areas while meeting friends was more than a younger me could ever have imagined.

“By fluke, I met a partner in Oxfordshire, decided to settle and took a role in the area. When our shifts struggled to match up it was my practice who supported a flexible working adjustment . To support and facilitate me seeing a night shift working partner more, twice a week I’d work lates. This not only covered the rota for my team, but allowed us to have breakfast together. To walk the dogs and spend real time together. Meanwhile, my team had to work late less. They got to put their children to bed, to manage chronic health conditions and to rest. Had my practice simply assumed no one wanted to work late, we may have all been less happy.

“The next adjustment came when my passion for practical learning collided with my want to stay in my general practice role with my supportive team. Having initially trained in a referral setting, I missed orthopaedics and neurology. Once more, the clinical director embraced flexibility. Contrary to some workplaces, my boss saw potential in allowing me to locum in my own time. By supporting my want to locum in my own time, my boss got to retain a nurse who was learning and bringing those lessons back to practice to improve our nursing care.

“Over the last few years flexibility has played such a huge role in me having an enjoyable and sustainable career. I’ve been allowed and encouraged to consider all the options my vet nurse passport affords me and built lasting professional relations with multiple practices across the country.

“I became a locum when travel called. Despite really wanting to find a practice to call my professional “home”, none would meet my two requests for flexibility. I wanted to have my dog at work and I wanted the ability to locum alongside. I thrive when meeting new people, being sociable and I love to learn, so locuming was important. Not just important, but vital for me to feel fresh and challenged. Yet, every contract refused even when I explained why.

“As a result, I have spent the last 4 years locuming. Searching high and low for roles that value the give and take of flexibility. I’ve worked in 15 different counties, in general practice/charity/referral/OOH, a range of shift patterns, sole charge to huge teams.

“I have never been inflexible in what I want to offer a role and where I’m comfortable compromising.

“We are at a really interesting crossroads in the veterinary sector, one which has been long overdue.

“Conversations surrounding flexibility and what that looks like on individual basis, may well help not only retain nurses but allow them to enjoy fulfilled careers and maintain balance.

“I have now found a role that asked very specifically what flexibility looks like to me. Following an open and honest discussion of the needs from all parties, I’ve signed on the dotted line. A permanent role, where I can locum and enjoy being a fully-fledged member of a team once more.

“Flexibility has allowed me to stay in the veterinary sector, it’s time these conversations happen more.

“People are individuals, not carbon copies. Perhaps we can flex enough to encourage give and take for sustainable workforces and careers.”