Get to Know: Sarah Spolton - From Charity Volunteer to Specialist Nurse
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Since qualifying as a Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN) in 2019, Sarah Spolton has built a career grounded in curiosity, compassion, and continuous growth. Now an Internal Medicine Nurse at DWR Veterinary Specialists in Newmarket, she combines clinical excellence with a passion for education and anaesthesia. In 2023, Sarah completed the Improve International Certificate in Anaesthesia and became a clinical supervisor, supporting the next generation of veterinary nurses as they find their footing in this rewarding field.
We caught up with Sarah to discuss her journey from charity volunteer to referral nurse, the challenges and rewards of working in internal medicine, and what attendees can expect from her upcoming session, “Beyond the Basics: Unlocking RVN Potential in Diagnostics and Schedule 3 Procedures.”
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your career journey into becoming an Internal Medicine Nurse?
A: Before becoming a nurse, I left school not knowing what I wanted to do for a career, I just knew that I loved animals and wanted to be around them. This led me to volunteer at an animal charity a few days a week before eventually gaining a paid position. This then fuelled my passion for animal care, and in 2019, I qualified as an RVN via the diploma route.
I worked in a busy 24-hour first opinion practice during my placement and for some time after qualifying which gave me some amazing learning opportunities and gave me a great start to my career. In the last 6 years I have gained experience in a variety of first opinion practices whilst locuming, then began my journey in referral nursing as a theatre nurse before starting my current role at DWR within the internal medicine team in 2022. I also developed a keen interest in anaesthesia and gained a certificate in 2023.
Q: What skills or experiences have been most valuable in helping you succeed in this industry?
A: I truly value every opportunity I have been given in my career. Starting out in an animal care role within the charity sector gave me a fundamental understanding of animal welfare and its importance. Being thrown in at the deep end as a student nurse and learning how to deal with a fast-paced environment has definitely helped shape the nurse I am today and how to thrive in the chaos! I absolutely loved being a locum nurse, I got to experience so many different teams and clinics in a short space of time. Being able to adapt to a different pace each day and not knowing what to expect helps me to be prepared for almost anything!
Q: Without giving too much away can you tell me about your session on “Beyond the basics: Unlocking RVN potential in diagnostics and Schedule 3 procedures” and some of the topics you will cover?
A: This session will give an insight into how we as RVNs can make use of Schedule 3 when it comes to procedures such as placing feeding tubes and supporting patients undergoing endoscopy. We'll look at what it is that RVNs can do, and how this can benefit the practice, as well as the patient. We'll also look at some real-life examples showcasing some of our nurses at DWR performing Schedule 3 tasks.
Q: What is the most challenging part about working in Internal Medicine and how do you manage it?
The most challenging thing is that so many patients that we anaesthetise or perform procedures on are usually quite sick. It’s not very often that we have an unchallenging or straightforward case! Luckily, we have a great team of specialists who are very supportive, and the nursing team are able to raise any concerns prior to the procedure and formulate a plan for the best possible outcome.
Q: What is one piece of advice that you'd give to aspiring nurses wanting to pursue a career in Internal Medicine?
A: If you are a nurse with an interest in internal medicine, my advice would be - don't worry if you feel overwhelmed by it! There are so many medical conditions which do not always follow the textbook (!) and internal medicine is such a vast subject area - you will be forever learning every single day. There is still so much I’ve got to learn and that is part of why it never gets boring!
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