TWO veterinary nurses who are making a difference for the profession and for pets have been included on a roll of honour highlighting the brightest young stars of the veterinary industry.
Jesle Varu and April Murphy, who both work at Goddard Veterinary Group, which is part of VetPartners, are among ‘30 under Thirty’ shining stars who will be recognised at London Vet Show 2024 (LVS) on 14th and 15th November.
They are part of a group of inspiring individuals from the veterinary profession who have been invited to this year’s LVS, and will have the opportunity to attend networking events and contribute to industry initiatives over the next 12 months.
A commitment to nursing and education
Since graduating from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in 2017, Jesle Varu has progressed to the roles of senior RVN and senior ward nurse at Wanstead Veterinary Hospital in East London. Alongside his hands-on nursing role, he’s a member of the teaching team at Goddard Veterinary Nursing College, helping develop future veterinary care assistants and veterinary nurses.
He enjoys helping others discover their own passion for nursing and has performed the role of clinical coach and mentor to junior team members, as well as running CPD sessions for RVNs.
As his own career has thrived, Jesle has developed a wide variety of interests within veterinary nursing and is regularly called upon to share his knowledge – both at work and at events such as BVNA Congress – in areas including wildlife nursing, triage and emergency and critical care.
He’s also committed to ensuring patient care is of a high standard and colleagues have the best possible working environment through creating new protocols and contributing to positive changes at the veterinary hospital.
Jesle, who is described by the judging panel as an ‘exceptional veterinary professional and educator’ said it was a surprise to feature in this year’s 30 under Thirty cohort.
Jesle said: “I’m really honoured to have been included and it’s hugely rewarding that my career achievements so far have been recognised in this way.
“I feel very lucky that my career has evolved to enable me to teach while still being able to deliver care to patients. I think my clinical work helps me be a better teacher to my students and teaching makes me a better nurse.
“Nursing is such a great career because there’s something for everyone and one of the best things about teaching is helping others discover their passion for the profession and what areas of veterinary nursing they enjoy most. I’m also an advocate for being an all-rounder as I love every aspect of nursing.”
Jesle has been a member of the Goddard team since 2017 and, having completed a student placement at Wanstead as part of his degree, he was offered an RVN role as soon as he graduated.
He added: “I am grateful to Wanstead Veterinary Hospital and Goddard Veterinary Nursing College for helping create opportunities for me to develop my career and take on new responsibilities.”
Talent for writing
April Murphy caught the attention of the 30 Under Thirty judging panel for the informative articles she’s produced for veterinary publications.
A float nurse for Goddard Veterinary Group, working across different locations, April discovered a passion for writing during the Covid lockdown and has contributed to many prestigious publications, including Veterinary Nursing Journal (VNJ) and VN Times. Her writing has led to invitations to speak at events such as BVNA Congress and contribute to podcasts.
She said: “When I was still a student nurse, I submitted a case study to the VNJ about a hindlimb amputation in a rabbit and it was published. This led to an invitation to speak at that year’s virtual BVNA Congress and it was a huge honour.
“I love sitting down and writing. When I’m writing I’m my own little bubble and it’s a great feeling that someone will read one of my articles and learn from it. I get a huge buzz from helping improve other people’s knowledge.”
April began her career with Goddard’s as a veterinary care assistant in 2016 and after qualifying as an RVN in 2020, decided to explore other career options outside the group.
She shared in her 30 Under Thirty application how, after experiencing some challenges last year, she questioned whether she wanted to continue nursing.
April was praised by the judging panel for her “resilience and commitment to personal growth”.
She said: “After taking some time to self-care, I worked at the London Cat Clinic, which reignited my love for the role and I learned so much about feline care, nursing and anaesthesia. I returned to Goddard Veterinary Group earlier this year with even more knowledge which I can share with my colleagues. I love how, in the veterinary profession, we can all learn from each other. I absolutely love being a veterinary nurse and I wouldn’t change it for the world.
“In my current role I’m based at Goddard’s Mile End practice in East London, working with an amazing team of people, and I do regular shifts at Wanstead Veterinary Hospital. I have a lot of variety in my role, which helps provide inspiration for my writing. I’ve also been given the opportunity to be a clinical coach and it’s rewarding helping others shape their own careers.
“I nominated myself for the 30 Under Thirty initiative because I think you need to be your own cheerleader, but it was still a shock when I heard I’d been chosen, and very humbling. This time last year I didn’t know if I was going to continue with nursing, but now I’ve got so many incredible things to look forward to and I’m really excited about being a part of veterinary nursing in the future.”
Article by Jo Browne, PR & Communications manager (South), email: jo.browne@vetpartners.co.uk