Having wanted it since primary school days, Holly Stephens is loving life as a vet. Being part of the team at Vets Now’s busy Witham clinic, however, seemed out of reach due to concerns about coping with all she’d face in ECC. But Cutting Edge, Vets Now’s renowned 10-week paid induction programme, helped her make the transition and give her a working – and home – life she could barely have imagined.
Tell us about your journey to becoming a vet.
I think I’ve always wanted to be a vet. We had pets as a family, and I clearly remember going to the vets with our cat and seeing what went on there. In fact, when my mum and dad had a clear out when they were selling the house recently, they found the little animal hospital I made as child! I pushed really hard to get good grades and I didn’t really have a back-up plan. I got into the RVC, graduating during Covid in 2020, which was quite a time to start my career.
So, what were your first steps?
I had been considering going into the residency/internship side of things but changed my mind when I got into primary care practice. Just as I was thinking about doing my internal medicine certificate, I started getting more interested in ECC.
How did that progress and what led you to Cutting Edge?
I’d had a little bit of exposure at the RVC, with the rotations at the QMH, and as I saw more cases in practice, I found I really enjoyed the challenge. And when you made a difference and had those happy cases, it was really satisfying. A friend of mine who did Cutting Edge told me how good it was and what really appealed to me was the 10-weeks of training. I didn’t have the option of doing anything like that where I was working and, to be honest, the thought of going on to nights made me quite nervous. I think the learning curve of having a team of vets with you in daytime and then going sole charge is big. I wasn’t comfortable making that jump without training, so I wouldn’t have done it if it wasn’t for Cutting Edge.
Was there anything in particular you felt you lacked or wanted more reassurance in?
For me, it was surgical experience. I hadn’t seen a GDV or a splenectomy, and it was so nice to know I was going on a programme where I’d learn that, and a lot more besides. Having practical wet lab training for that surgical side of things was really useful. I had done some things before, but it was good to have that knowledge refreshed. And then there were things I hadn’t done, like taking out a spleen and doing a gastropexy. I’ve always found it quite nerve-wracking getting from pictures and lectures to doing it on a live patient, so being practical and hands-on was good.
What about the seminars?
They were excellent and I found learning so much better than when I was at university. I have the case bank in my brain now from what I’ve seen and done, and I was able to identify where I’d done well and where I could do better. It all seemed much more clinically relevant to me.
How much did having a group of other vets on the course help?
The good thing was that we were all between about two and four years out from university but had different backgrounds, with one coming from a mixed practice background. We were staying at lovely lodges at Loch Leven, and it was nice to be able to bounce things off them at the end of the day. We still have that with our group chat – which is useful when you’re in clinic at 2am!
When did you complete it, and did you feel better prepared?
I finished in October 2023, and I definitely felt more confident going into night work. The in-clinic blocks were useful, too, as you got to know the team, where everything was and how it worked, without being in sole charge. It was a good bridge to have.
How have you taken to ECC?
I love it! I’m really enjoying it and I’m sure it has been the right step. I can’t imagine doing anything else at the moment. I’ve had some really satisfying cases. There was a road traffic accident cat who had a diaphragmatic hernia, and I was able to stabilise it, get it to theatre and repair the diaphragm. It did really well afterwards, and I’d never have imagined being able to do something like that before Cutting Edge. I’d have asked another vet to do it for me as I just wouldn’t have had the confidence.
So, how has it been as far as work-life balance is concerned?
So much better. I have time during the day before I go on shift and then I have a little nap and I can enjoy the rest of the day when I come off. I’ve taken up tennis and I like travelling and have been able to go on so many trips because of the time off and the really good annual leave allowance. I’ve already been to Austria, Iceland, Spain and Corfu.
