In this episode, we're thrilled to welcome Laura Jones, RVN, VTS, senior medical nurse at the Ralph and founder of the Medical Nursing Academy.

Laura shares her incredible journey from accidentally discovering internal medicine nursing to creating a thriving educational platform that supports nurses worldwide. Discover how she transformed feelings of isolation and imposter syndrome into a mission to showcase what's truly possible for veterinary nurses in medical roles - from running blood transfusions and placing central lines to coordinating complex patient care.

Laura opens up about the realities of referral nursing, offers practical advice for nurses considering the leap from general practice, and reveals the behind-the-scenes work of building courses, podcasts, and social media content (with a little help from Heidi, her very real virtual assistant!).

In this month's extended episode we are extremely lucky to be joined by a truly inspirational member of the veterinary nursing profession - outgoing BVNA President, Lyndsay Hughes. In this episode, we'll cover:

• Lyndsay's journey into veterinary nursing
• Overcoming health challenges and gaining leadership experience
• Becoming a director and overcoming imposter syndrome
• The role of the BVNA president and the work behind the scenes
• Challenges in nurse utilisation and the reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act
• Importance of communication and advocating for the nursing profession

Stacey Parker, a qualified RVN since 2014, has achieved various post-qualification certificates and now works as a referral nurse at Perry Referrals. Alongside her clinical role, she runs her own CPD business - Burty's Boutique - offering education in a wide range of topics. Stacey's nursing journey began unexpectedly when she took in a rabbit, leading her to pursue a career in veterinary nursing. She has since gained extensive experience in anesthesia, dentistry, and emergency and critical care, and is a trained CPR rescuer; in this episode she shares advice on how to improve your skills and boost your confidence. Burty's Boutique was born out of Stacey's desire to share her knowledge and passion for veterinary nursing, with the goal of making learning enjoyable and accessible for her colleagues.