Congratulations to Emily Hooper from North Downs Specialist Referrals in Surrey, who has become one of only four vet nurses in the UK to be recognised as a Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) in neurology.

To apply for the VTS, you have to have to have been working in your speciality for a minimum of three years, and demonstrate 40-plus hours of RACE-approved CPD.

Before you can sit the exam, you also need to show that you already meet the required standards.

Emily said: “For the application itself, I had to demonstrate mastery of more than 40 advanced nursing skills, signed off by a neurology specialist, and submit three exam questions.

“I submitted more than 60 case logs demonstrating my nursing care in a variety of different patients and disease processes, and four of these logs I further expanded into 10-page case reports where I discussed the nursing care and disease process in more detail.

“Then, after submitting my application, there was a nerve-wracking wait for the results, but last December I received the news I had been accepted and I was invited to sit the examination in Philadelphia, USA, in June.

“The examination was four hours long and consisted of 200 questions in my specialty, and I’m really delighted I passed.

“Neurology is an area that can be quite niche and daunting to those unfamiliar with it, and I hope to use my new qualification to share my knowledge and enthusiasm with other professionals to help them feel more confident and comfortable with these patients.

“Personally, I find nursing neurologic patients extremely rewarding, as there is so much we can do as RVNs which has a direct impact on patient comfort, client understanding and, ultimately, on the clinical outcome.”

PS: Whilst you're here, take a moment to see our latest job opportunities for vet nurses.