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. 

In this inspiring and grounded session hosted by Dr. Ebony Escalona, we dive into the real, squiggly career stories of two incredible RVNs: Jessica Hill and Fiona Leathers. From checklists to culture change, they share how human factors became a powerful catalyst for their personal and professional growth. With reflections from Lacey Daniels, the discussion covers leadership, patient safety, navigating near misses, and how small, everyday actions in practice can build not just safer systems—but fulfilling careers.

Whether you're early in your career, feeling stuck, or exploring new roles, this session is packed with relatable stories, practical tools, and empowering mindset shifts.

🧠 Top Takeaways

• Human factors = human skills: Communication, systems thinking, shared learning, and psychological safety are vital for career development.
• Checklists are more than tools- they’re confidence builders: Jessica’s obsession with checklists sparked her master's research and leadership growth.
• Nurses can lead change: Fiona shows how culture change starts with trust, small wins, and a team-first mindset.
• Progression isn’t linear: It’s about following curiosity, stretching your comfort zone, and recognising what lights you up-even if it’s “un-glamorous.”
• Psychological safety is foundational: Supporting people through mistakes, near misses, and feedback moments builds stronger, more engaged teams.

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.

Show Notes & Key Moments

• 00:00 – Session and panelist intros 
• 11:30 – Jessica shares her squiggly journey into patient safety
• 16:00 – Fiona reflects on decades in practice, mentorship, and her director role
• 25:00 – Why human factors matter and how to start small in your practice
• 30:00 – Supporting teams after mistakes or near misses
• 36:00 – Using VetSafe, whoops books, QR codes & red flag books
• 43:00 – How to lead a more nurse-led practice
• 48:00 – Encouraging nurses to pitch ideas and design solutions
• 52:00 – Finding your niche, or celebrating the generalist niche
• 58:00 – Strength spotting exercises & squiggly career reflections
• 1:00:00 – Quick fire round: most valuable skills & defining progression

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. 

“You don’t need to be the most experienced to lead change- passion and persistence matter.”  Jessica Hill

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