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Attending the Vets Go Wild course shaped
my vet nursing career
Michaela Vinales (2018 FdSc Veterinary Nursing)
In the summer of 2017, I was fortunate to travel to South Africa for the Vets Go Wild (VGW) course, led by the famous William Fowlds. I was the only vet nurse
student in the group, with 15 vet students, so was understandably apprehensive at the start of the placement – the pressure was on to up my game!
Whilst there, I was able to work hands- on with a huge variety of animals including elephants, rhinos, giraffes and antelopes. I found that being the only nurse was a huge advantage, as I had more practical and anaesthetic experience; I was therefore often asked to help the other students.
After leaving the course I knew my time in South Africa wasn’t over, so I got back in touch with the team – amazingly, they offered me a three month internship to go back out into the wild world once I qualified! However, this time, I was in charge. My confidence had flourished since my first trip, and again, I was joined by four other interns, all newly qualified vets. My internship was amazing, and once again I was often asked to help the other interns and the VGW students.
I worked with both wild and domestic animals, and found that as each day passed, Will and his team trusted me more, giving me more specific jobs.
I was even in charge of the spay day anaesthesia where I monitored over 70 dogs and cats, roughly four at a time.
I learnt how to juggle my time, work with minimal resources, prioritise animals and ‘make a plan’ when things didn’t go to plan. The highlight was definitely hand rearing my baby sable antelope calf from near death and becoming her mum, as you can see in the picture.
Whilst in South Africa, I received a message from the vet where I did my nursing training in my hometown. He offered me a job at a new practice he was opening, and he wanted me to run it! He appreciated how much I had grown, both as a nurse and a person,
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and felt that my newfound confidence and experience of working with a range of animals was a valuable asset to his new practice. I am now working in a new independent practice and I am Head Nurse alongside the Practice Manager.
I feel super confident in my abilities, both personally and as a nurse, and it all stemmed from the Vets Go Wild trip!
Find out more at: worldwideexperience.com/vets-go-wild