CPR Recover Training Opportunity for our Veterinary Nurse at Mars Training Centre, Italy
Robyn's journey in the veterinary field began in 2017 when she joined Vet4life as a Client Care Assistant, marking the start of her pursuit to fulfil her childhood dream of working in veterinary care.
After a year, she transitioned to becoming a Student Veterinary Nurse through an apprenticeship programme and successfully qualified as a registered veterinary nurse (RVN) in 2021. Eager to expand her expertise, she pursued advanced Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in emergency and critical care, a journey that is ongoing.
In the autumn of 2023, Robyn took a significant step in her career by applying for the position of Lead Nurse at Vet4life Teddington, a role she successfully secured. Over the course of nine months in the role, she has dedicated herself to learning and evolving into the best leader for her team, a journey that we can all take pride in.
Robyn's journey to attend the Mars Training Centre in Italy started when she expressed interest in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training in October 2023. Despite an initial unsuccessful application, a stroke of good fortune in January 2024 secured her a spot at the training centre; thanks to the unwavering support from Regional Nursing Manager, Kerry Jackson and her Clinical Nursing Manager, Jessica Harding, Robyn was able to seize this great opportunity. The accommodation was located a brief five-minute walk from the training centre and was funded by Mars, as well as transfers and meals. The only contribution Robyn needed to make was to book her flights to and from Italy.
During her time at the training centre, she participated in an introductory dinner and engaged in comprehensive training sessions led by experienced trainers Lousia, Emily and Toni.
Day one consisted of being paired up to perform basic CPR using a dog dummy simulation. As a group, they helped one another by giving feedback on improvement, commenting on posture, rate of compressions, and efficacy of ventilation.
Later that evening, the group was treated to food and drinks in the nearby town of Novara, courtesy of Mars Veterinary Health.
Day two consisted of advanced life support scenarios, where the group took on roles in a car crash scenario to prepare them for, when in practice:
1. Organiser – Their overall responsibility consists of coordinating the response and making critical decisions during CPR.
2. Ventilator – who plays a crucial role in ensuring proper ventilation for the animal, often employing specialized techniques and equipment to maintain airway patency.
3. Compressor - who focuses on delivering high-quality compressions to maintain circulation and oxygen delivery to vital organs.
4. Drug administration/D-Fib – who administer appropriate drugs tailored to the animal's needs, often adjusting dosages based on the species and condition.
5. Scribe- who document the patient's history, physical examination findings, diagnostic results, and treatment plans, freeing up the veterinarian to focus solely on patient care.
At the end of day two, Robyn also had the opportunity to utilise her new qualification by teaching Basic Life Support (BLS) to veterinary professionals from various Anicura Clinics, which contributed to the solidification of her learning. Anicura became part of the Mars Veterinary Health family in 2018 and is a prominent provider of veterinary care across Europe.
As a veterinary nurse, Robyn finds fulfilment in the continual process of learning and improvement, particularly in the field of emergency and critical care. She takes pride in her ability to confidently provide assistance in emergency situations, serving as an advocate for her patients and adhering to approved pain scoring methods to ensure their comfort and well-being. Robyn's career story is one of dedication, growth and a relentless pursuit of excellence in veterinary care.
Robyn herself has shared why she loves being a veterinary nurse:
“As an RVN, I am an anaesthesiologist, perform dental hygiene procedures, bandage limbs, consult with owners for various disease clinics and routine clinics, place intravenous cannulas, am a phlebotomist and most of all, I am an advocate for my patients.”
To find out more about our Mars Training Centre based in Italy, watch the video below:
