It today’s career path interview we have an interesting talk with Sarah Giblin, owner of The Vet Pet Nurse. Sarah took the leap into running her own business in order to take control of her freedom and escape the mundane. We chat all things public education, social media and the ups and downs of running your own business in Veterinary Medicine.
We hope you enjoy!
Can you tell us a little about your Veterinary Nursing career so far?
I qualified as an RVN from the RVC in 2016 and continued on to graduate with a BSc in 2017. I knew even from my training I wanted to be a referral nurse, preferably in Neurology so I started an OOH role in a referral hospital to get my foot in the door.
One year later I became the Nursing Team Leader of the Neurology Department (at that point my dream!), I remained in that position for 5 years before leaving to have a career break and travel the world.
How would you best describe your current job?
When I returned from travelling I wanted a better work life balance, and more flexibility, I was sick of every shift ending in overtime and missing life events to work. So I set myself up as a Locum and then founded my own small business The Vet Pet Nurse.
Why did you decide you wanted to take the route you are on now?
After being a referral nurse for 5 years I found my confidence in every aspect of practice is pretty high, meaning locumming and sole charge shifts come easy to me. However going back into first opinion, general practice care also highlighted how many owners were struggling to get their pets the care they needed whether it was from funds or lack of accessibility. This led to The Vet Pet Nurse: which offers mobile Vet Nurse Consults in a fear free manner.
What does an average day as a business owner look like for you?
Currently a juggling act between being a dog mam, locumming and business owner! The days are pretty full on, I’m either doing a 12 hour shift in practice, plus the driving. Or 20 mobile nurse consults, as well as keeping on top of social media posts and general life!
You have a really engaging social media presence – do you feel this has helped to grow The Vet Pet Nurse?
Yes and no!
Yes my social media has gotten me attention, and I believe I’m quite good at the aesthetics and branding which I have done all myself. However I believe the true reason my business has grown is through word of mouth from my current clients and the effort I have put into build those positive relationships!
What do you enjoy most about your job now? And are there any downsides?
I love the relationships I have built with my clients and their pets, and seeing the difference I have made for them. Reaching 100 reviews in just a year of my business really does highlight that I have made a difference and that’s all I need to know.
The downsides are owning a business is hard, you don’t know how to switch off, say no to potential new clients or if it will even be worth it. I’m still learning how to set boundaries and not to compare myself to other similar businesses in my area but owning a business was always going to be a learning curve!
Has moving into this role opened any further doors for you?
Moving into this role and starting my social media allowed me to work with one of my favourite CPD brands: Improve International, and start my dream certificate with them in Animal Behaviour. I have just finished my in person lectures and the amount of knowledge I have gained is irreplaceable. I am so excited to implement this into my own small business going forward and will forever be grateful for the opportunity they’ve given me, especially as a Locum where you have to fund your own CPD!
What advice would you give to any RVNs looking to move their career in the direction of owning their own business?
I don’t ever try to put someone off but it is not for the faint hearted, and as any veterinary profession the wage you can make from mobile consults isn’t reflected in the time, effort and expertise.
However it has given me so much freedom and given me a way to escape the mundane day-to-day in practice life that was also burning me out to make something of my own that I believe is also making a difference.
Finally, as a Registered Veterinary Nurse, what are your current future career goals or aspirations?
I wish to develop my page further to make a real change to how cats and dogs are treated in regard to behaviour: both inside and outside of veterinary practice. I also really want to help remove the villianisation and stigma that the veterinary profession has been labelled with in the past few years as ‘all about the money’ as it really is not the case. People really need to be educated on the responsibility, including financially that having a pet brings.
