Progression isn’t always about climbing a ladder - it’s about understanding the system you’re in, recognising your influence within it, and learning how to make it better. This session explores how human factors, things like communication, team dynamics, and cognitive load, are key to both patient safety and personal career development for vet nurses.

Join us as we unpack how becoming fluent in human factors can build confidence, enhance leadership, and unlock new opportunities - whether that’s improving workflow, advocating for change, or stepping into new roles.

We’ll explore:

• How understanding human factors has helped vet nurses progress in and beyond clinical practice.
• Real-life turning points where noticing team behaviours or system gaps sparked career growth.
• How psychological safety, feedback, and shared learning can shape the culture and your career.

Whether you’re early in your journey or exploring your next step, this panel will show how vet nurses are leading from every level of practice.

Panelists

Fiona Leathers, RVN and Clinic Manager at WestPort Vets, began her veterinary career as a receptionist in a mixed animal practice before qualifying as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2002. With extensive experience as a Head Nurse in Glasgow and Bonnybridge, Fiona joined WestPort Vets in 2018. A passionate advocate for lifelong learning, she runs the practice’s CPD Club and has earned recognition as The Blue Cross Veterinary Nurse of the Year. Fiona has held positions in the BVNA and was the first RVN to serve as Chairperson for Vet Trust Ltd, a Scottish charity.

Jessica Hill, RVN at Paragon Veterinary Referrals with a degree in veterinary nursing and bioveterinary science from the University of Bristol. Jess is Day Lead Ward RVN at Paragon Referrals, Wakefield and has a keen interest in patient safety, advocating for the use of a system thinking approach to make improvements in practice. She completed the Masters in Patient Safety and Clinical Human Factors with the University of Edinburgh in 2024. 

This panel is kindly supported by VetSafe https://www.vetsafe.org/ turning incidents into insights and improvements

Don't forget to check out our previous career panel - Behind the Scenes of VDS Vet Careers: How Patient Safety Became a Calling