VetPartners Veterinary Nurse of the Year Amber King is a passionate ambassador of the profession, and is helping to mentor future RVNs at Nene Vets in Cambridgeshire.
Amber embodies everything that’s great about the role of veterinary nurse.
As we mark Veterinary Nurse Awareness Month, she reveals why she thinks the profession is so special….
VETPARTNERS Veterinary Nurse of the Year Amber King hopes winning the special award will help to inspire the next generation of RVNs to enjoy fulfilling careers.
Amber first dreamed of working with animals when she was just three and is looking forward to celebrating Veterinary Nurse Awareness Month in May with other members of the profession across VetPartners’ practices.
She is as passionate as ever about her role, and her commitment to lifelong learning has seen her achieve Certificates in Emergency and Critical Care and in Wildlife Care.
Whether it’s cats or bats, Spaniels or sparrows, Amber is dedicated to the care of all animals, birds and wildlife that arrive in the practice.
Popular winner of award
Described as “a joy to work with” by colleagues, she has helped to foster a positive, fun practice environment which has helped to bring the team at Nene Vets in Cambridgeshire even closer together.
It made Amber a popular winner of the Veterinary Nurse of the Year title at VetPartners’ 2024 Congress, an achievement that would have made her childhood self incredibly proud.
“I love being a vet nurse so much and could never imagine doing anything else,” said Amber.
“I always wanted to work in a vet practice and can remember drawing myself as a stick figure with a cat for my grandma when I was three. As a teenager, I did work experience in a practice and realised it was veterinary nursing that was the career for me.
“I love the patient care side and looking after sick animals. I am so vocal about what makes the nursing profession great, and I hope my passion influences others to get the most out of their role.”
Amber graduated from Middlesex University with an Honours Degree in Veterinary Nursing and an elective in feline and canine behaviour.
She has put her degree to good use by guiding Nene Vets towards achieving Dog Friendly Clinic status and become an ambassador for the scheme, a collaborative project between Dogs Trust and the British Veterinary Behaviour Association. Nene Vets hopes to achieve the accreditation later this year.
“I’ve been teaching owners whose dogs have behavioural and confidence issues,” said Amber.
“We have been making adjustments that make coming into the practice the most comfortable experience possible for dogs, owners, and veterinary teams alike.
“It is incredible to see pets that were once too scared to come into the practice now come in wagging and bounding.”
Another area of interest for Amber is ensuring palliative care is in place at the practice to support pets and their owners at the saddest time.
“Pets are there for such a short part of our lives, but we are there for all of their lives so it’s important to support owners at the most difficult time and ensure pets are comfortable at the end of their life,” she said.
Amber has hand-reared dozens of stray kittens, wild birds and hedgehogs, while she has also helped to care for woodpeckers, swans and owls brought into Nene Vets.
She said: “I want to do anything I can to help any animals, whether it’s someone’s beloved pet or a pigeon that’s injured itself. I am studying for a Girling and Fraser Advanced Wildlife Certificate and the more I can educate myself, the more I can make a difference.
“I’ve hand-reared hedgehogs, baby pigeons, sparrows and robins that are brought in. I am training to look after more complex species like otters, badgers and beavers.”
With all her experience in so many aspects of veterinary nursing, Amber is keen to share her experience and knowledge with student nurses at Nene Vets.
“The veterinary nursing profession is a challenging one, with hard-hitting emotions from seeing poorly pets and putting pets to sleep; supporting clients and receiving the brunt of their emotions when they are upset,” she said.
“It is important to look after each other and I really enjoy being a clinical coach to our young nurses, as well as supporting others with their wellbeing.”
If there was an award for showing passion for the nursing profession, Amber would be on that shortlist, too.
For media enquiries, please contact Amanda Little, VetPartners PR and Communications Director, at [email protected] or 07970 198492
