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You Can Go Your Own Way – from medicine to management
6 hours of online CPD for veterinary nurses!
Times: 09:00 – 16:00
Agenda
| 09:00-10:00 | Being Human in Veterinary Practice Helen Silver-MacMahon MSc PSCHF, Cert VNECC, DipAVN (surg), Cert SAN, RVN |
| 10:00-11:00 | Finding your identity as a leader Alison Mann BSc (hons), RVN, Dip AVN (small animal), PG cert (Coaching and Mentoring) |
| 11:00-12:00 | Civility saves lives: Why communication matters Helen Silver-MacMahon MSc PSCHF, Cert VNECC, DipAVN (surg), Cert SAN, RVN |
| 12:00-13:00 | LUNCH BREAK |
| 13:00-14:00 | Better Care, Safer Patients: Enhancing Veterinary Nursing with Quality Improvement Tools Lou Northway CertVNECC Ncert(Anaesth) RVN |
| 14:00-15:00 | Developing your coaching skills to hold inspiring conversations Alison Mann BSc (hons), RVN, Dip AVN (small animal), PG cert (Coaching and Mentoring) |
| 15:00-16:00 | Breaking Barriers: Elevating and Diversifying the RVN Role Lacey Quinn Daniels RVN |
Speakers:
Helen Silver-MacMahon MSc PSCHF, Cert VNECC, DipAVN (surg), Cert SAN, RVN
Helen qualified as a registered Veterinary Nurse in 2000 and has worked in both first opinion and referral hospitals. Since qualifying, she has gained certificates in ECC and Small Animal Nutrition and the Advanced Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (surgical).
In 2021, Helen completed a MSc in Patient Safety and Clinical Human Factors at the University of Edinburgh and is currently undertaking a PhD at Sheffield Hallam exploring the non-technical skills that veterinary nurses require when monitoring and maintaining anaesthesia. She is also working towards chartered ergonomist status.
Helen is passionate about developing the veterinary profession’s understanding of Human Factors as a powerful aid in improving patient safety, enhancing performance, and supporting the wellbeing of the veterinary team. She enjoys lecturing internationally and has written articles and co-authored several book chapters on both clinical and non-clinical aspects practice. Helen is also collaborating with the University of Aberdeen to research Incivility in veterinary practice.
Being Human in Veterinary Practice
Synopsis: An introduction to emotional intelligence and Human Factors. In this session we will begin to understand how our minds work, we will discover what it means to be human, our innate capabilities and limitations and explore some of the underpinning principles of Human Factors and consider how it can help us optimise patient safety and team wellbeing.
Learning Points:
- Explain the core principles of Human Factors and emotional intelligence relevant to veterinary practice.
- Recognise the innate human capabilities and limitations that influence decision-making, communication, and performance.
- Discuss how applying Human Factors principles can enhance patient safety, teamwork, and wellbeing in practice.
Civility saves lives: Why communication matters
Synopsis:
Every interaction in practice shapes the safety, wellbeing, and performance of the whole team. In this session, we will explore why behaviour matters, how civility can save lives, and why it is a cornerstone of a healthy practice culture. Together, we’ll look at the vital role of communication and team cohesion, uncover the key elements of successful teams, and reflect on how small actions can make a big difference.
Learning Points:
- Recognise the impact of behaviour and civility on team culture, safety, and wellbeing in veterinary practice.
- Identify the key elements of effective communication and team cohesion that support high-performing, resilient teams.
- Apply strategies to manage workplace stressors and reduce the risk of incivility, friction, and error in daily practice.
Alison Mann BSc (hons), RVN, Dip AVN (small animal), PG cert (Coaching and Mentoring)
Alison is an RVN and works as a Clinical Operations Coordinator at Langford Vets, University of Bristol. With a keen interest in coaching, she gained her Post Graduate Certificate in Coaching and Mentoring last year and alongside her work, is studying towards becoming an ICF accredited coach.
Finding your identity as a leader
Synopsis:
In this session we will be exploring what a leader is and what it means to you? We will look at skills of a leader and how your identity and past experiences can help to shape you. What might get in the way of you leading in the way you would like and how to navigate and reframe this to be the leader you want to be. Practical tools and actions to ensure that you look after yourself – after all, if you don’t look after yourself, how can you show up for your team?
Learning Points:
- What does leadership mean to you?
- What skills are required and how do your values align?
- How you can ensure you show up as your best self? (and how can you be kind to yourself when that isn’t always the case)
- How can you navigate some challenges with becoming a leader?
Developing your coaching skills to hold inspiring conversations
Synopsis:
Have you ever had a leader hold space for you and really listen to you? How did that make you feel? Would you like to be that person to others?
What skills could you develop to help you achieve this? With the skills and practice you can inspire others to take action for themselves, which has benefits to both leaders and their teams.
In this session we will be exploring some of the skills you could use when someone comes to you with a challenge or a new idea they would like to explore.
Learning Points:
- How can the right conversations benefit both the leader and their team?
- What skills are required?
- What coaching framework could you use to help you structure conversations?
Lou Northway CertVNECC Ncert(Anaesth) RVN
Lou qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN) in 2009 and has since gained experience in a range of first-opinion practices as well as a referral hospital. She holds two additional certificates in anaesthesia and emergency and critical care (ECC) nursing & is a recipient of the 2019 RCVS Inspiration Award. Lou was previously a BVNA council member. Currently she is the Clinical Nurse Lead at a busy primary care practice in Buckinghamshire. In addition to her practice role, she works for RCVS Knowledge as QI Lead RVN educating veterinary professionals about QI & how they can use it to improve the care they deliver to their patients, together
Better Care, Safer Patients: Enhancing Veterinary Nursing with Quality Improvement Tools
Synopsis:
Join us as we explore how Quality Improvement (QI) can help you make a real difference in the care you give your patients.
My session with encompass real-life examples from practice and show you how QI tools can fit into your everyday work. From spotting what’s going well (and what’s not!), to making small changes that lead to real improvements.
As an RVN, you’re in a great position to spot areas for improvement, track progress, look at the evidence, and help your team grow. Whether it’s patient safety, communication, care standards, or clinical workflow, we’ll look at how you can measure, shape, and improve different parts of your practice.
Learning Points:
- Learn what quality improvement is and how to embed it in everyday practice
- Learn which QI tools to use in different contexts
- Learn how to plan to lead a clinical audit in your practice
- Learn how QI can influence patient safety and team culture for the better
Lacey Quinn Daniels RVN
Lacey Quinn Daniels is a registered veterinary nurse whose career spans a wide variety of roles across the profession. From first opinion practice to referral, emergency, charity, and rescue work, she has gained extensive experience with both companion animals and more unusual species. Beyond clinical nursing, Lacey has explored education, publishing, and business, giving her a unique perspective on the many career pathways open to RVNs. She is a passionate advocate for nurse utilisation and development, highlighting the profession’s adaptability and impact. Lacey’s work centres on empowering veterinary nurses to maximise their skills and shape the future of practice.
Breaking Barriers: Elevating and Diversifying the RVN Role
Synopsis:
Veterinary nursing is a profession full of opportunity, but many nurses aren’t sure how to make the most of their skills outside the day-to-day. In this lecture, Lacey Quinn Daniels draws on her diverse career to explore how RVNs can broaden their horizons, from clinical roles in referral, emergency, and charity practice to education, publishing, business, and beyond. Delegates will gain practical tips on identifying transferable skills, building confidence, creating opportunities for development, and advocating for nurse utilisation within practice. Expect inspiration grounded in real-life experience, with clear, actionable steps to help you shape your own unique career path.
Learning Points:
- Understand the wide range of career pathways open to RVNs within and beyond clinical practice
- Recognise and articulate your transferable skills to build confidence and open new opportunities.
- Explore practical strategies for nurse utilisation in practice, from maximising responsibilities to shaping roles.
- Learn tangible tips for diversifying your career, including CPD choices, networking, and personal branding.
- Feel inspired and empowered to break barriers, challenge limitations, and carve out a career path unique to you.
| BVNA South West Advocate:
Carly Kilby RVN BVNA NCert (Anaesth) NCert (Surgical) ISFM CertFN Carly has been in practice since 2001 and qualified in 2006. During her time in practice, Carly has worked within the large animal and small animal referral scenes and everything in between. She has settled into an anaesthesia role at a referral hospital in Bristol as a dedicated anaesthesia nurse. Carly has a certificate in feline friendly nursing, anaesthesia and surgical nursing. |
If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact; cpd@bvna.co.uk.
