I used to be absolutely terrified of diabetes. I would get anxiety when a vet asked if I could show owners how to give injections and talk about management, and I hated that I felt that way. Diabetes is a condition that is seen so commonly in practice and so I wanted to get over that fear and turn it into something positive. So, I sat down with one of my senior vets, and we created a protocol with a focus on nurse-led clinics with more hands-on monitoring.
I've since seen over 50 patients in my diabetic clinic and have seen many patients through diagnosis until their final day. It’s an incredible privilege.
I had debated for a few months whether a certificate was the right next step in my career. I knew I wanted to improve my skills and knowledge so that I could develop and run further clinics. I chose the Medical Nursing certification with IVSPS as the curriculum aligned with my interests and I felt that it would further my career. My workplace covered the cost of my certificate and encouraged me throughout my studies.
At first, there were some adjustment periods in terms of working out how best to study the materials as there is a lot of information included per module. However, this experience has now given me the tools to be able to study subjects in greater detail without getting too overwhelmed. I found the online system to run rather smoothly and all resources were clear and easy to locate. I enjoyed being able to chat with lecturers and other delegates in the discussion forum as well.
I particularly enjoyed the oncology module. In my workplace, a lot of our samples of masses are sent to an external lab for analysis. This module helped me to gain confidence in looking at samples under the microscope for educational purposes only and being able to identify whether the cells are round, epithelial or mesenchymal. Whilst I know I cannot diagnose as an RVN, I really enjoyed learning the process of staging of tumours, signs to see, and how to nurse patients depending on their diagnosis.
I found the OAKE and multiple choice exams to be reflective of the syllabus, and the system was very straightforward and easy to navigate, but I was surprised to find I actually really enjoyed writing my case report! I felt that I could really see how much my knowledge had expanded, and I was able to apply what I had learned in the course to my case.
The sense of relief and pride I felt when I received my award was on another level! Like most people, I had convinced myself that I had failed or could have done more so I was over the moon to see the word “pass” on all of my assessments. I feel incredibly proud of myself for achieving this award and would recommend it to anyone who had an interest in developing their skills and knowledge in medical nursing.
With the knowledge gained during my certificate, I am hoping to implement some more medical nursing clinics - such as Addison’s and kidney disease clinics - in my practice. I do think I would like to pursue my advanced nursing certificate at some point, but for now I’m enjoying a little downtime post-studying!