Laura Doran completed her veterinary nurse training with us in 2007, going on to study the Level 5 Operations/Departmental Manager Apprenticeship, incorporating the ILM Level 5 Diploma for Operational Leaders and Managers. Here, Laura shares her career journey so far, as well as her experiences training at CAW:
I started my Veterinary career in March 2003. I was employed in a first opinion, small animal practice in Norfolk as a student veterinary nurse. I attended The College of Animal welfare one day a week for two years, this was when the college was based at The Wood Green Pets Charity. I had the best tutors and enjoyed the course immensely. It had always been a dream of mine since I was a little girl to work in a veterinary practice giving care to the animals.
I qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2007 and very soon after had to step up into the Head Nurse position as my Head Nurse was going off on maternity leave. This ignited my interest in management and started a path towards where I am today. Once my Head Nurse returned after maternity leave, I stepped into a Deputy Head Nurse position but felt unfulfilled. I moved into education teaching animal care at levels 1, 2, and 3 at the local college. I loved this role and built a strong passion for mentoring and personnel management.
After 2 years of teaching, I had my first baby and this changed my priorities. Teaching was incredibly rewarding, however it was all-consuming, working late everyday and going in early. I couldn’t maintain the level of dedication the role needed with a new born baby. While I was on maternity my former Head Nurse had decided after having her third baby she wanted to step down from the role and relocate to a surgery closer to home. I interviewed for the role and successfully gained the position.
Over the next 5 years I helped build the practice into a successful business with great staff attainment. I lead the team to win Practice of the Year and after continuous growth we outgrew our current practice. I helped design and manage a new build which I was extremely proud of. As the new practice opened, I left for maternity leave for my second baby. Up until this point I had been full time, but felt I couldn’t give the time and dedication needed for the role with two young children and decided to move to a smaller practice to be Head Nurse 3 days a week.
After 2 years I felt ready for my next challenge in my career. A local practice had advertised for a Practice Manager, so I put in an application. I was offered the job after interviewing and started in October 2020. Covid was still very alive and effecting everyday life and the risk of jumping to a new role I had no idea how to do was huge. I settled into the role and started the Level 5 Operations/Departmental Manager Apprenticeship, incorporating the ILM Level 5 Diploma for Operational Leaders and Managers, with The College of Animal Welfare.
The course taught me so much and I grew not only professionally but personally too. During the course I also project managed building a brand-new practice as our current surgery had become too small due to rapid growth. My tutors were amazing support, encouraging me and giving me courage to lead the project. This must be my biggest achievement professionally so far, leading a huge project successfully whilst studying for a qualification. Everything I learnt on the course helped me immensely and I could use the skills in real life. My tutors were my biggest champions, and counsellors during the hard times. At times I thought about giving up, but they were there to support and guide me through. Without them, I don’t know if I would have finished. I completed my course earlier this year and gained a Distinction in my End Point Assessment. I am incredibly proud of myself and thankful to the tutors who supported me to get here.
I am looking forward to future projects, adapting my role in Practice to become the best I can be. I am already looking to complete a qualification in an area that has developed to be one of my strengths, personnel management and HR starting in September.
My advice to anyone wishing to study at CAW would be to go for it! The tutors are incredible, supportive and understanding. They treat you as individuals and really encourage you to be the best you can be.