What Vet Nursing Is Really Like – The Honest Conversation We All Need with Claire Kinsella RVN
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Show Notes
In this episode of Off Duty, we’re joined by Claire Kinslla, a veterinary nurse with over ten years’ experience across referral practice, first opinion clinics, small animal and equine work.
Claire shares her honest journey through veterinary nursing — from starting out in a high-pressure referral hospital in the UK, to returning home to Ireland and navigating the realities of equine and small animal practice. We talk openly about mentorship, imposter syndrome, CPR cases, emotional burnout, and why crying can sometimes be the reset button we all need.
This is a must-listen for:
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anyone considering vet nursing as a career
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students and new graduates finding their feet
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vets and nurses who’ve ever taken a tough case home with them
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parents wondering what really goes on behind the scenes in a vet clinic
We also discuss:
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why work experience matters
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how veterinary nursing has changed (for the better)
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the importance of team culture and debriefing
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why “just because you can, doesn’t mean you should” applies across all species
As always, this is a real, unfiltered conversation — about animals, people, and learning to look after ourselves as well as our patients.
☕ Grab a cup of tea — this one’s worth sitting with.