Registered veterinary nurses looking for a career move are being invited to a nursing open day at one of the country’s leading referral centres this month. Southfields Veterinary Specialists, in Laindon, Essex, will be holding the event on Saturday 23 April from 9am to 2pm, with a variety of activities on offer for nurses looking for their next career move.
With dozens of vet nurses already signed up for the nursing open day event, Linnaeus-owned Southfields will be offering visitors the chance for a behind-the-scenes tour of its new £16 million, 40,000 sq ft hospital, which is set to open its doors this year.
Nicola Barrigan, head of nursing services at Southfields, said the nursing open day would be a great opportunity for potential new recruits to see the fantastic facilities at the new hospital, as well as presenting a great opportunity to network with fellow professionals. She said: “The open day will give visitors an informal opportunity to speak to members of our nursing team in relaxed surroundings to find out a bit more about what life is like here at Southfields.
“There will also be the opportunity for them to attend nurse-led presentations, including Q&A sessions, chat with our clinicians and discuss progression opportunities with the Linnaeus professional development team. Information will be also be available on our post-registration programme.”
The Linnaeus referral nursing post-registration programme (PRP) launched in 2020 and, in doing so, became the first veterinary nursing preceptorship in the UK, mirroring the schemes commonly seen in human healthcare. As a key participant in the programme, Southfields offers bespoke support for its newly-qualified, or soon to be qualified, nurses.
The nursing open day will also feature a series of presentations and Q&A sessions with the Southfields nursing team and clinicians.
Charlotte Fennell, who manages the internal medicine nursing team at Southfields, co-ordinating departmental procedures and the nursing of internal medicine cases, said: “The aspect I enjoy most about my role as an internal medicine nurse is the varied caseload we see where each patient will require different investigations, treatment plans and medical management.
“In addition, the opportunities to develop and progress my clinical skills has enabled me to gain new experiences enhancing my skill set allowing me to then demonstrate and teach what I have learnt to my colleagues.”
The nursing open day begins with arrival at 9am, when visitors can sign up for a tour of the new hospital and enjoy welcome pastries and refreshments. Events then run from 9.30am to 2pm, with information also available on the PRP training for newly-qualified nurses.
Spaces for the event are limited. To sign up, visit the Southfields website.
