Page 18 - Eclipse - Autumn/Winter 2024

30-year work anniversaries

Two of our RVNs, Katie Bacon and Holly Smith both celebrated
thirty years of service.

Katie Bacon, RVN, Emergency and During her long career dedicated to caring for animals,
Critical Care VN, Queen Mother Katie’s highlights have been witnessing the introduction
of the RVC’s cardiac bypass programme and achieving
Hospital for Animals successful mechanical ventilation outcomes.

Katie qualified in July Katie is about to embark on the Reassessment Campaign
1993 and joined the on Veterinary Resuscitation (RECOVER) course, certified
QMHA in December by the American College of Veterinary Emergency and
1993 as a medicine Critical Care and endorsed by the Veterinary Emergency
nurse. In 1994, Katie and Critical Care Society.
moved into emergency Speaking on her role, Katie Bacon, said: “To celebrate 30
care at the hospital. years at RVC’s Queen Mother Hospital is fantastic,
As an Emergency and I still love my job and I look forward to continuing to
Critical Care RVN, Katie work with all my lovely colleagues.”
is part of the advanced Vicky Lipscomb, Professor of Small Animal Surgery
veterinary team that and Clinical Director of Queen Mother Hospital for
cares for the sickest Animals, added: “Katie is quite simply phenomenal at her
patients, such as job, which she goes about in an understated way giving
emergency, trauma, every patient 100 percent dedication and the highest
Katie Bacon, RVN, Emergency medical, neurological standards of expert care.”
& Critical Care VN, Queen Mother
Hospital for Animals or post-surgical cases.

Holly Smith, Head RVN, “I still love what I do
Neurology and Rehabilitation as an RVN at the
In June 2024 we celebrated a 30-year work anniversary for QMHA as Neurology
one of our highly experienced Registered Veterinary Nurses,
Holly Smith. is so interesting,
Holly qualified as an RVN in 1992 and worked in a mixed you’re always learning
animal practice in Luton before moving to the QMHA in
1994. Holly joined the QMHA as an RVN, rotating through about new cases and
wards, imaging and theatre.
Her interest in rehabilitation nursing begun conditions.”
soon after and she was promoted to senior nurse Holly Smith
within the surgery ward. Some years later, when
the service expanded, she was promoted to Head Nurse of
the Neurology and Rehabilitation service.

She now leads the Neurology and Rehabilitation nursing
team, in addition to overseeing the hydrotherapy service. She
also contributes to educating the wider nursing community
on neurology nursing through teaching course
material and speaking at events.
Holly commented: “I still love what I do as an
RVN at the QMHA as Neurology is so interesting,
you’re always learning about new cases and
conditions. However, I am only as good as my team,
and they are just fantastic.” Holly Smith, Head RVN Neurology & Rehabilitation, QMHA
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