VSA CAREER STORIES
At VSA, we are extremely passionate about the care of our patients and their families, and just as passionate about looking after our team.
Working at VSA means being a part of the VSA family, a supportive and encouraging environment where your career aspirations can be achieved. We pride ourselves on our high level of standards and care and it is through supportive training from our experienced team members that we are able to develop our people. At VSA, we believe that every member of our team, whether they are clinical, admin or support staff, can achieve their career goals with us.
For the right people, there is nothing that can’t be achieved working at VSA. Our staff dream big, and with the right amount of hard work and determination are able to achieve any goal they set themselves.
Ryan - Senior Veterinary Nurse
Ryan joined our nursing team in 2016 as an Animal Care Assistant and is now a Senior Nurse in our Sylvia Park hospital.
Ryan has always wanted to work with animals and has a passion for marine life. He wasn’t able to pursue zoo work and so for him working with dogs and cats was the next best thing.
Ryan researched his career options through his school careers/course advisor and was encouraged to give it a go.
Subsequently, Ryan qualified with a Diploma in Veterinary Nursing at Unitec in Auckland before he joined the VSA team.
We asked Ryan a few questions about her career progression at VSA.
What is it about the veterinary industry that you love?
I love seeing the animal and owner reactions when they are reunited after being in our care, especially the long term patients. This is a hugely rewarding aspect of my work at VSA.
How has your career evolved in your time at VSA?
I joined VSA as an Animal Care Assistant and gradually, with support from our great team I have progressed on my veterinary nursing journey. I moved from Animal Care Assistant to Junior Nurse, then Intermediate Nurse and now I am a Senior Nurse at our Sylvia Park hospital.
The VSA team have been very involved in helping and supporting me to develop. I have always been given options to do what I am comfortable doing and that has really enabled me to grow.
What do you enjoy most about working for VSA?
I really enjoy working with friendly, skilled and intelligent staff. I first learned about VSA when I did my 2nd year Unitec placement at our Mt Albert hospital. I became quickly aware of the gold standard of care that they provided and that’s set the bar for me – it’s what I wanted.
What advice would you give to someone looking to be a Vet Nurse?
Get yourself some work experience at a gold standard clinic to really see the potential of what a Vet Nurse can achieve.
What would you say to encourage someone to think about career paths at VSA?
VSA is always listening to our ideas and thoughts on cases and we really do have a say. You will learn lots! No matter how busy it gets, vets and nurses are happy to explain complicated trauma and medical cases.
