Amy Morton is an RVN who qualified in 2013. In this blog to recognise BVNA’s 60th anniversary year, Amy reflects on the huge amount of variety she has experienced in her veterinary nursing career so far. Veterinary nursing has taken her to charity, mixed practice and referral settings, plus working with zoo and sea wildlife species. Now teaching others in animal care at a land-based college, Amy feels the future is bright – and there is yet more variety to come.

2006

I graduated from university that summer with a degree in Zoology, Ocean and Earth Sciences. Despite a love from a young age of animals no one had mentioned to me the potential to work with them as a Veterinary Nurse, only as a Vet and I knew that role didn’t fit for me (that and being unable to take the required subjects at my very small secondary school). I enthusiastically undertook a job working as an aquarist at the National Sealife Centre Birmingham, where I quickly discovered a passion for working in quarantine and assisting the visiting vet on her visits. It was on one of these visits she questioned why I hadn’t ever investigated Veterinary Nursing as a career.

January 2008

I moved to North London to work as a hospital assistant for the RSPCA to “try out” nursing. I quickly fell in love with the fast-paced days, the rewarding cases, the long hours, the teamwork, the camaraderie, learning on the job and always learning something new every day. It wasn’t long before I went back on my word of “never wanting to study again” and I wanted desperately to train to become a qualified Veterinary Nurse. Unfortunately, the wait list for student positions at the RSPCA was long so despite my passion and belief in working at a charity I started to look for student positions elsewhere.

2009

I was fortunate enough to secure a student nurse position at Battersea Dogs and Cats home where once I had completed my probation period, I was able to start my training. Unfortunately, the course had just been updated and changed to a 3-year diploma, and we were the first cohort to complete the Nursing Progress Log (NPL). Another 3 years in education seemed a lot of work but I knew looking at my qualified colleagues it would be worth it. During my training I was fortunate enough to return to the RSPCA as a locum student nurse and I continued to undertake Turtle and cetacean projects abroad, except now I was able to utilise my nursing knowledge and Vets in rehab centres would often ask me to assist them with procedures on stranded and injured turtles. As well as this I fostered numerous animals (mainly some sort of staffie cross with medical issues as I had a soft spot for them!)

2013

Qualified!

Summer 2014

I was fortunate to be offered a two-week secondment at London Zoo, working alongside and exceptional team of Vets and Nurses who were so keen to share their knowledge and let me experience zoo nursing.

Autumn 2014

I relocated to rural Herefordshire and was employed by a wonderful practice who took me under their wing and taught me how to be a mixed practice nurse (so many new weird instruments and words to learn!). For the first time in my career, I felt I had skills that I could share. This exchange of knowledge was really rewarding for me and made me start thinking about teaching.

2017

After having my first child I moved across to a new mixed practice on the Welsh border where I pursued this idea of teaching and became a clinical coach, I found this role exceptionally rewarding.

2020

I accepted a maternity cover position at a land-based college teaching animal care, where my modules including Veterinary Nursing, Anatomy and Physiology, Ecology and Conservation. I couldn’t believe my luck; I was able to teach others all the things I enjoyed. Since 2020 I have continued to teach at the college and have also worked for a short period at an incredible ophthalmology referral practice whose team taught me some outstanding practical skills. I remain registered and am exceptionally proud of my chosen career and feel I am an advocate for the profession.

2025

At 12 years qualified I am looking at the potential to locum alongside my part time role lecturing so I can combine my two passions. There is one thing I know for certain and that is the role ahead will be an interesting one.