Leona Anderson, BVNA Regional Rep, has worked in veterinary practice since the age of 14, qualifying as an RVN in November of 2018. As well as having an interest in anaesthesia and analgesia, she also enjoys diabetes management and diagnostic imaging.
Here, Leona shares some advice for day 1 as an RVN;
“It’s your first day as an RVN; whether this be in your training practice or a new practice, you want to be ready. You will undoubtedly feel nervous, and I don’t think anyone ever feels truly ready for their first day as an RVN, but being as ready as you can will certainly take the edge off a bit!
So, I’ve come up with 4 points for day 1 as an RVN;
- You are still the same person you were yesterday; you have only just graduated, you still have so much to learn and you definitely won’t know everything- embrace that! Embrace that so you can learn and blossom.
- Believe in your self! Go into your first day knowing you don’t know everything, but knowing that you have got through your SVN studies, and you are ready to start your journey as an RVN!
- Have a fully stocked pouch and/or pocket (scissors, nail clippers, pocket guides); having these things will make you feel helpful if your colleagues ask for something, and will also make you feel more ‘ready’ to face the day and anything it throws at you!
- Enjoy your first day! Before looking to the next project or next course to start- enjoy the fact that you have made it! You are an RVN! Congratulations!
And before you know it, you will be 5 years graduated, and you will look back and think ‘why was I so worried?!’
Remember, you are always learning, you will never know everything and you don’t need to pretend to, embrace learning, asking questions and developing yourself as a newly qualified RVN! Welcome to your RVN journey!”
Find out more about how you can get involved in #VNAM2023 here.