After 14 years with Vets Now, Emma Roberts still has no intention of slowing down.
As Principal Nurse Manager at our busy Milton Keynes clinic, Emma balances leadership responsibilities, clinical work, ongoing professional development and life as a mum-of-four.
From studying a leadership diploma to developing ultrasound skills and mentoring nurses in ECC, Emma is passionate about continuing to grow while helping others do the same.
We caught up with Emma to talk about career progression, flexibility, lifelong learning, and why emergency nursing continues to inspire her.
Q: What first drew you to ECC nursing?
Emma: I always loved emergency and critical care medicine, but joining Vets Now after becoming a mum really changed everything for me.
Working nights meant I could do full-time hours in just three shifts, which gave me so much more flexibility around family life. Instead of rushing out of the house at 5.30am and battling traffic every day, I could be there for school drop-offs, sports days and school trips.
Those are the important moments as a parent that you can’t get back.
Q: How has your career progressed during your time at Vets Now?
Emma: I started at the Hemel Hempstead clinic and fairly quickly moved into a Head Nurse role before progressing into dual Principal Nurse Manager positions and then becoming PNM at Milton Keynes.
I’ve always had leadership ambitions because I enjoy solving problems, improving how teams work together and helping people develop.
One of the things I’ve really appreciated is the support to keep progressing and learning throughout my career.
Q: You’re still studying and developing new skills after 14 years. What keeps motivating you?
Emma: I honestly don’t think I’ll ever stop learning or wanting to push myself.
I love challenges and I think it’s important not to stand still professionally. If you stay in your comfort zone, you end up ticking the same boxes all the time.
Over the years I’ve completed ECC qualifications, lots of CPD courses and even delivered a lecture for Vets Now on blocked bladder cats, which was completely outside my comfort zone at the time.
I’m currently studying for a Diploma in Leadership and Management, and I’m also learning more about ultrasound so I can pass those skills and that knowledge on to my nurses.
People think I’m crazy because life is already busy enough with four children, but I genuinely enjoy having goals and challenges to work towards.
Q: What do you enjoy most about leadership roles?
Emma: I really enjoy helping teams grow and work better together.
A huge part of leadership is supporting people, sharing knowledge and creating an environment where nurses feel confident developing their own skills.
Because I’ve been in ECC for so long now, some things feel second nature to me, but when you step back, you realise just how much knowledge and experience exists within Vets Now.
Passing that experience on is something I’m really passionate about.
Q: You still work clinically as well as leading teams. Why is that important to you?
Emma: I still love the clinical side of the job and those make-a-difference moments in ECC.
Alongside my Vets Now role, I also work one shift a week at an IVC Evidensia day practice because after around 10 years in ECC, I felt I was losing touch slightly with first opinion work.
It’s nice to keep my hand in and maintain that balance.
Q: You’ve also spoken openly about using the Peppy app for support with perimenopause symptoms. How valuable was that?
Emma: Really valuable.
I started experiencing mood changes and initially felt dismissed because I was told I was “too young” for perimenopause.
Using the Peppy app gave me access to someone who genuinely listened, reassured me and talked through different options and support available.
I wasn’t keen to go straight onto HRT, so it was helpful having conversations around supplements and other ways to manage symptoms.
That support made a huge difference.
Q: After 14 years in ECC, what still excites you about the profession?
Emma: No two shifts are ever the same.
ECC is exciting, varied and incredibly rewarding. You’re there for the moments that really matter to pets and owners.
And from a personal perspective, the flexibility has been life-changing for me and my family.
I still have one regular day travelling into first opinion practice every week, and sitting in traffic towards the M25 always reminds me why ECC works so well for my lifestyle. I honestly couldn’t imagine going back full-time.
To find out more about career opportunities with us at Vets Now, visit our careers page
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