Joanna is full of praise for the career progression opportunities she has received at Vets Now
At Vets Now we are dedicated to offering people and pets the care and support they deserve when they need it most. We appreciate the hard work it takes to uphold these values and that’s why we’re committed to supporting those who share this goal.
Joanna Kaczmarczyk, 39, veterinary nurse at our Stoke clinic knows better than most how Vets Now’s support can benefit career progression. After qualifying as a veterinary technician in her native Poland in 2000, she worked in general practice before moving to the UK.
“I was 13 when I decided that vet nursing is what I wanted to do,” she said. “I’ve done other jobs but I’ve always wanted to do this. When I first came to the UK I worked as a carer. I had to learn the language and working with people was the best way to do this.“
Upon her return to veterinary medicine, she joined Vets Now as an animal care assistant, an integral role which involves assisting the nursing team in caring for, walking, feeding and cleaning pets in our care.
She explained: “When I first moved here, I wasn’t registered with the RCVS, so I started with Vets Now as an ACA. I then decided to transfer my qualifications and Vets Now was there to help me through the process.”
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Find out moreNow a registered veterinary nurse, Joanna has nothing but praise for the support she continues to receive from Vets Now.
“There’s a lot of support from every level so you never feel alone. Someone will always be there to help you if you need it and I’m always there to help others too. We’re like a family.”
She added: “There are lots of opportunities to grow and develop. It’s nice to have management that really helps to build your confidence.”
Joanna is also enthusiastic about her role and thrives on the ECC aspect of her work.
“My job is fantastic. Every case is different and the way we approach cases is very different to day practice. Not better or worse, just different.”
She believes that despite the unpredictable nature of her job, there are certain things which remain constant, specifically the care and attention clients and pets receive.
“A typical night starts with us trying to prepare for the shift, even though we don’t know what to expect. Then we spend the rest of our time just trying our best to give the highest standard of care.“
Joanna Kaczmarczyk Veterinary nurse, Stoke“There's a lot of support from every level so you never feel alone. Someone will always be there to help you if you need it and I'm always there to help others too. We're like a family.”
The type of work and the level of responsibility she has an ECC vet nurse has been a bonus for Joanna.
She said: “We once had a locum vet who was really surprised by how well the nurses jumped into action when there was an emergency. He was impressed by how much we knew and how much we helped him, which was really nice.”
She also says her job has allowed her to easily achieve that coveted work-life balance.
“Even though I work nights I actually don’t feel like I’m working as I’ve got all day for myself. I’ve got plenty of time to do what I want to do.”
Joanna plans to make the most of the learning culture at Vets Now by taking advantage of our vast CPD opportunities as well as completing the Cert VN ECC.
She also intends to continue enjoying working with the team in Stoke, which she is immensely proud to be a part of.
She explained: “It’s great when someone new comes to work for us and they say they’ve heard good things about the Stoke clinic, or when people choose to come back to work with us as they enjoy working here.“
But she has some wise words for anyone looking to follow in her footsteps.
“You definitely need a strong personality to do this job. It’s not only about taking care of the patients but the owners too. But it’s very enjoyable and it’s rewarding to know that you’re helping and making a difference.“