A VETERINARY nurse near Wellington is celebrating after being named among the profession’s elite worldwide.

Registered veterinary nurse Bryony Gilder has worked for 12 years at Linnaeus-owned Cave Veterinary Specialists, West Buckland, expanding her skills in neurology throughout that time.

Now, she has been recognised with the prestigious veterinary technician specialist (VTS) status in internal medicine (neurology).

Ms Gilder is one of just six nurses in the UK to hold the qualification and among only 35 worldwide.

She said: “I always wanted to achieve veterinary technician status since starting at Cave and it was not until I did a postgraduate certificate in small animal rehabilitation and started working with neurology patients that I knew I loved the discipline.

“Shortly after Cave began to offer neurology as a service I became senior neurology nurse and the enjoyment I got from nursing and supporting patients was undeniable.”

Ms Gilder said while she wanted to achieve the qualification to better herself, it would also help ensure Cave’s patients continued to receive the best possible standard of care.

She said: “My main reason for doing it was personal achievement, I wanted to prove I was able to work at the top of my licence and be the best I could possibly be for the patients.

“Having a better understanding of conditions neurology patients present with allowed me to better support them through procedures and nurse them, as well as support their owners once they are discharged.

“It allows Cave to support neurology patients in the best way possible.

“I have shared my knowledge with the nursing and patient care assistance team ensuring we provide five-star treatment.

“I have also provided continuous professional development (CPD) training to other Linnaeus nurses with a plan to present at the Small Animal Medicine Society CPD event next year.”

Ms Gilder said the journey to the top was not an easy one, taking hours of work, training, and examinations. 

She said: “The team at Cave have been incredibly supportive, many of them were my biggest cheerleaders, and I cannot thank them enough.

“To even begin the application process, you have to have worked in the discipline for three years, have 40 hours of CPD in the speciality, and had two letters of recommendation from a specialist.

“The application then involved submitting 60 case logs, four longer reports, and three example exam questions.

“You collect the cases over 12 months, then once accepted take the final exam.”

Ms Gilder will collect her award next year at a conference in Kentucky, USA, where she will meet other successful candidates.

She said: “I always like to have a focus and a challenge.

“Now, being head of nursing services at Cave, I plan on developing my knowledge and skillset in leadership so I can support the nursing, patient care assistance, and imaging team to the very best of my ability.”

Cave offers comprehensive, specialist-led services in anaesthesia, cardiology, dentistry and oral surgery, dermatology, internal medicine, neurology and neurosurgery, oncology, orthopaedic surgery, and soft tissue surgery.