British Veterinary Nursing Association

The South Wales May Regional Report is now available – click here to download your copy

Samantha Morgan Dip AVN (med), RVN, MBVNA

Tel: 07711 333023

Email:sammorganvn@hotmail.com

After qualifying in 1999, I moved to Solihull to work in a referral centre. Here I concentrated on medical and orthopaedic patients. I gained my diploma in advanced medical nursing in 2003.

I then moved back home to take up a head nurse position in my old practice and also to work with Victoria Aspinall teaching veterinary nursing in Filton College, Bristol.

After gaining my examiner certificate I spend part of the year examining the level III practical exams.
Since being home I have gained my assessors award and also started working towards gaining my surgical diploma.

I’m really lucky to be able to spend time performing clinical duties, but also training the veterinary nurses of the future. Outside of work I enjoy helping my parents run our farm and competing in agility with my three border collies.

Intravenous Fluid Therapy.

Read the South Wales report 23 July 2008 (Word format)

Diagnostic techniques in canine dermatology

26 nurses from around South Wales listened to a very interesting talk given by Dr Aiden Foster on Diagnostic techniques. The evening started off with a lovely buffet provided by Kappuccinos, Cardiff.
Aiden discussed how to logically run through a history of skin problems with the owners and explained that nurses are on the whole more approachable from a client’s perspective than a veterinary surgeon. The information the owner provides is invaluable to discovering the problem with their dog.

Aiden then discussed each parasite in turn giving good detail on how to sample these patients, what areas to sample from and what to look for under the microscope including some help hints and tips. Food allergies and Canine Atopic Dermatitis were then covered towards the end of the evening with especially interesting facts about house dust mites!

Merial provided all attendees with free goody bag containing a flea comb, flea detector kit and pen so we could all get started assisting with these dermatology cases!

To relieve everyone’s ‘itching’ Merial set up a free raffle for the evening with a bottle of champagne up for grabs!!Aiden was very kind and stayed behind to discuss any questions and interesting cases some of the practices had seen.

I would like to thank Aiden Foster for a truly interesting talk, Caroline Brockington from Merial for sponsoring the evening, providing the goody bags and of course the champagne! Also thank you to The Park Veterinary Group, Cardiff for use of the facilities. I look forward to seeing everyone in May for a much anticipated talk on caring for the oncology patient.

Samantha Morgan RVN DipAVN(med) MBVNA
RCO for the BVNA in South Wales.

Anaesthesia 2008 sponsored by Abbott animal health

The South Wales region met for an evening CPD meeting entitled ‘Anaesthesia in 2008’ in The Park Veterinary Group, Cardiff.

The meeting was attended by about 25 delegates from the local practices. We were first well fed and watered by a wonderful buffet which gave everyone the chance to catch up after the holiday period.

Nigel Bottrill, the territorial manager for Abbott animal health was kind enough to guide us through the subject. Nigel stated the object of the evening was to find one new idea or thought to take back to our own practices.

Nigel explained the process of anaesthesia from pre-medication to recovery. Lots of recommendations and new ideas were given. Nigel had some informative charts and graphs to show how to maintain anaesthesia.

The subject sparked up some discussions and a few nurses shared some excellent tips from their own practices.

The talk finished up with Nigel going through the use of circuits within veterinary anaesthesia which was really useful for the student veterinary nurses present.

Really useful Abbott support packs were available for all the attendees this included some useful sedative charts and an emergencies chart.

The evening was a great success and I would like to thank Abbott animal health, Nigel Bottrill and the staff at the Park Veterinary Group for all their support for this evening.

Samantha Morgan RVN DAVN(med) MBVNA
Regional Co-ordinator for South Wales

Regional Meeting Review
An Introduction To Canine Hydrotherapy/Physiotherapy
Friday December 7th 2007

Splashing around in South Wales...

On a very wet and windy December night 30 nurses and vets gathered at The Park Veterinary Group, Cardiff to listen to an amazing talk on hydrotherapy and physiotherapy.

A very inspiring lecture was given by Kate Kerry MRCVS of Wye Valley Canine hydrotherapy referral clinic. The meeting covered the benefits of physiotherapy, indications of hydrotherapy and the benefits, the range of hydrotherapy equipment available, what each hydrotherapy session involves and case studies. The evening concluded with some brilliant video footage of hydrotherapy patients in the pool! Kate also discussed the great advantages of finding a pool which is a member of the Canine Hydrotherapy Association.

It was amazing to see the benefits hydrotherapy can do and the facilities that are available at Wye Valley which includes a jet pool, water walker treadmill, overhead hoist and a hot spa for the patients to warm up in.

I would like to thank Kate for such a informative and enjoyable lecture and also to the staff at The Park Veterinary Group for their help and support which made the evening run very smoothly.

I look forward to seeing you all at our January meeting.

Samantha Morgan RVN DAVN(Med) MBVNA
Regional Co-ordinator for South Wales