Kirstie Shield DipAVN (Surgical) RVN MBVNA
I have always viewed veterinary nursing as a vocation and from a young age knew that it was the job for me. After studying A levels, I was lucky to find a training practice with a vacancy for a student nurse...I haven’t looked back since. I proudly qualified as a VN from Hartpury College, Gloucester in 1999. Since then I have nursed in both first opinion and referral only practice and have also experienced life as a locum. I attained the RCVS Diploma in Advanced Veterinary Nursing (Surgical) in 2006, the A1 Assessors award in May 2007 and the City and Guilds Licentiateship in Veterinary Nursing in 2009.
In 2005 my interest in 'getting involved' and the need for local, affordable CPD for nurses led me to take on the role of BVNA RCO for the Southern Region. I have taken great pride in representing the BVNA on a regional level and have enjoyed meeting the motivated nurses who attended past meetings. I am currently the Head Veterinary nurse at a large mixed practice and small animal Veterinary hospital in Chippenham, Wiltshire. I pride myself on being a 'hands on' head nurse and am particularly motivated by student nurses. I thrive on playing a part in training them to become the nurses of the future and offering mentorship during their transition from student to RVN. After 15 years in the profession in which there have been huge and progressive changes, I still feel the same about veterinary nursing...I wouldn’t want to be anything else. I am committed to raising the public and professional profile of the dedicated, hardworking RVN.
In my spare time, I am an avid NUFC fan (Newcastle United football club) and endeavour to go to as many matches as I can! I also love socialising with friends and spending time with Geordie and Shearer, my two very lovely but lazy moggies.