Episode 11 Sam Fontaine RVN - Giving Vet Nurses a Seat at the Table

Episode 11 Sam Fontaine RVN - Giving Vet Nurses a Seat at the Table

Author: maryvy May 31, 2024 Duration: 41:12
In this episode we meet Sam Fontaine MSc PGCAP BSc DipAVN(Med) RVN FHEA SFRET Sam qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2002 and after a short time in general practice, joined the University of Glasgow’s Small Animal Hospital as their first dedicated oncology nurse in 2003. She spent 16 years in the SAH working both in the oncology service, and latterly as the deputy nursing services manager, where she co-led a team of over 50 veterinary nurses and veterinary care assistants. During her time in clinics, Sam gained her RCVS Diploma in Advanced Veterinary Nursing in Medicine and an MSc in Veterinary Clinical Studies, where she investigated the role of the serum biomarker C-reactive protein in dogs with lymphoma. In 2017 Sam launched the MSc, PG Diploma, and PG Certificate in Advanced Practice in Veterinary Nursing, and the PG Certificate was accredited by the RCVS in 2019 for the Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Nursing. This fully online postgraduate programme has evidence-based veterinary nursing and quality improvement at its core, and Sam and her team have welcomed students from across the globe. She enjoys seeing veterinary nurses on the programme becoming empowered as they develop a skill set that supports them to become champions of change within their practice. Sam was awarded an RCVS Knowledge Award in 2021 for promoting Quality Improvement within veterinary nurse education. She has a keen interest in research, having published on a range of topics, and she is currently undertaking a professional doctorate in education. Sam is a strong advocate for the advancement of the profession and believes that veterinary nurses can contribute significantly to improving patient safety and to expanding the veterinary nursing evidence base.     Links to further information Advanced Practice in Veterinary Nursing PGCert / PGDip / MSc   RCVS Knowledge Natter   An Introduction to the Advanced Practice in Veterinary Nursing Online Programme

What does it truly mean to care for an animal, whether it's a beloved pet at home or a species on the brink in the wild? Animal Welfare Conversations digs into that question through candid, often surprising discussions with the people on the front lines. Hosted by maryvy, each episode brings you directly into dialogue with veterinary surgeons and nurses making critical medical decisions, conservationists designing field interventions, and animal owners navigating daily ethical choices. The scope is deliberately broad, covering pets, domestic animals, farm residents, zoo inhabitants, and wildlife, because the principles of compassionate care connect them all. You'll hear concrete stories about decision-making and the realities of providing a good life, not just abstract theory. This is a podcast built on curiosity and a willingness to re-examine what we think we know, challenging assumptions about standard practices and long-held beliefs in the pursuit of tangible improvement. It’s for anyone-families, science enthusiasts, or nature lovers-who believes animal welfare is a complex, evolving conversation worth having. Tune in for perspectives that are both deeply personal and rigorously practical, reminding us of our shared responsibility toward the creatures in our care.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 41

Animal Welfare Conversations
Podcast Episodes
Dr Dan O'Neill - What makes a good life - part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:38
What makes a good life? Part 2 In this episode of the Animal Welfare Conversation, we continue the conversation with Dr Dan O’Neill of the RVC. Dan is well known in the veterinary profession for his work with VetCompass…
Dr Dan O'Neill - What makes a good life? Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:36
What makes a good life? Part 1 In this episode of the Animal Welfare Conversation, we meet Dr Dan O’Neill of the RVC. Dan is well known in the veterinary profession for his work with VetCompass and animal welfare. Dan is…
Education and Animal Welfare with Dr Toby Trimble [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:41
Welcome back! In this episode we catch up with Dr Toby Trimble, the founder of Trimble Group, a film production company, reinventing education for animal health. Listeners to the podcast will know that education features…
2025 - Looking Forward [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:35
After a slightly longer break than we had anticipated, I'm really happy to let everyone know that we're back! With so much happening in the world of animal welfare it's difficult to know where to start, but we're going t…
2024 - Reviewing the Animal Welfare Conversation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:51
It’s the end of the year, so we took the chance to review the podcast. I still can’t believe that we’ve being doing this for a year now and had the chance to talk to so many people, about the great work they’re doing in…
Prof Simon Girling - Reintroducing native species [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:32
Welcome to the next episode of The Animal Welfare Conversation. This week we are joined by Prof Simon Girling. Simon has worked with zoological collections for the past 15 years, and has been involved with many different…
Mike Flynn MBE - A career in animal welfare [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:53
In this episode we were lucky enough to catch up, earlier this year, with Mike Flynn MBE, Chief Superintendent of the Scottish SPCA, and we caught up just before he retired, to find out more about his 37-year career prot…
Dr Paula Boyden - The Links Group and Freedom Project [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:32
Trigger warning This is part 2 of an episode that we recorded with Dr Paula Boyden, Veterinary Director at Dogs Trust. This extra episode focusses on domestic abuse, and how the work of the Dogs Trust and The Links Group…
Episode 20 - Dr Paula Boyden - Dogs Trust [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:22
In this episode we catch up with Dr Paula Boyden, Veterinary Director at Dogs Trust, to find out more about their work. Dogs Trust is the largest dog welfare organisation in the UK, rehoming 14,000 dogs a year and many o…