Ep 59: "Not Just A Ferret" With Anna Mercer @ferretnurservn

11/24/21 • 54 min

Join us this week as we sit down with Anna Mercer AKA Anna The Ferret Nurse!
In this episode, we talk about everything from ferrets to fine art - including bats, mustelids, skunks, abstract expressionism, bass guitar, qualifying during COVID, and hummus...
Anna shares her experience as a recently qualified vet nurse, and what it was like to qualify during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Anna originally trained as a fine artist so we chat a little about our thoughts on abstract expressionism. After her degree, Anna worked with bats at the Bat Conservation Trust and therapy animals (including a therapy skunk!) in a hospital, which inspired her to retrain as a vet nurse.
Anna started as a VCA in 2016 and qualified as an RVN in January 2021 after a 10-month delay due to coronavirus. Before this, she had many jobs. She used to work for a company that specialised in animal-assisted therapy, taking exotic animals into brain injury units & mental health wards. She has also worked for an ecologist consultancy performing bat surveys. Anna is currently studying towards a certificate in advanced nursing of small mammals.
As you may have guessed by her name, one of her main passions is everything and anything that involves ferrets! She is keen to promote ferret health and spends her spare time researching health issues and ferret husbandry. You learn more about her work with ferrets on her blog: annatheferretnurse.wordpress.com/
She has a passion for wildlife rehabilitation and has volunteered for many years at The Bat Conservation Trust rescuing bats. In 2019, Anna also volunteered for the charity Barking Mad Dog Rescue, working to improve the lives of abandoned dogs in Romania.

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Previous Episode

Ep 58: Pet Blood Bank UK And Fear-Free Practice With Nikki McLeod RVN AKA felinefabulousvetnursing

Join us as we sit down with Nikki McLeod AKA @felinefabulousvetnursing!
Nikki has had a fascinating career going from vet nurse to professional photographer and back again! We discuss how the veterinary industry has changed since she first qualified, particularly within the fear-free movement. She also shares her experience working for Pet Blood Bank UK, explaining how it works and the benefits to both pets and pet owners for getting involved in donating blood.
'Nikki qualified with an RCVS Certificate in Veterinary Nursing in 2000 and worked her way up to Head Nurse of a growing small animal practice. Alongside all this hard work at vet nursing, she has a passion for photography, and in 2008 she started a full-time business specialising in weddings and portraits.
In 2014, she returned to the veterinary profession and describes herself as a 'crazy student', obtaining the following qualifications: The ISFM Certificate in Feline Nursing, The ISFN Advanced Certificate in Feline Behaviour, Low-Stress Handling Silver Certified and Fear Free Veterinary Certified to Level 3 - all of which developed her love for reducing fear, anxiety and stress in the veterinary practice. She is now studying to top up to BSc (Hons) degree level in Veterinary Nursing and an Advanced Diploma in Applied Animal Behaviour, and is due to begin studying for an NCert in Animal Behaviour!
She currently works at a small animal practice in Dunfermline, Fife as a part-time RVN, becoming the practice’s resident ‘Cat Advocate’ since February 2018 and helping them become a ‘Cat-Friendly Clinic’ with Silver Status. She has also trained as a Phlebotomist for Pet Blood Bank UK, travelling around central Scotland, helping dogs save lives.'

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Next Episode

Ep 60: Perfectionism And Philosophy With Fabian Rivers AKA Dready Vet

This week we are joined by Fabian Rivers AKA Dready Vet!
Fabian is the lead exotics vet at an independent practice in Birmingham and has written, featured and given talks to a variety of veterinary and non-veterinary publications, universities and initiatives. He is also one of the vets on the Pets Factor, a children’s TV show on the CBBC, and was more recently the presenter on BBC One for Britain's Puppy Boom: Counting the Cost
He is the British Veterinary Association recent graduate representative and is a keen contributor on topics surrounding mental health, racism, new graduate and student welfare, as well as the wider complexities of the veterinary community. In 2020, he was awarded BVA Young Vet of the Year.
Fabian explains how his family and upbringing influenced his decision to enter veterinary medicine, his interesting journey which lead him to study at the University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Brno, Czech Republic, and how his social media and television persona, DreadyVet, came to be.
We also discuss his mums fabulous cooking and how his keen interest in philosophy has helped him. Finally, Fabian shares a few words of wisdom in his 60-second CPD, helping us all to appreciate the small wins in life and reflect on our past.

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