Veterinary Nurses
The nursing team
The Hale Vet Group is especially proud of its nursing team. We have 10 fully qualified nurses and all are registered with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. All of our nurses are also members of the British Veterinary Nursing Association. Having a great nursing team helps ensure your pet is receiving the best care and attention they deserve. The nurses offer frontline care and are an integral part of the veterinary team.
You can phone and speak to any of our nurses for advice about your pet.
Kirstie Shield DipAVN (Surg) RVN MBVNA
Head Nurse at the Chippenham hospital.
We are pleased to have Kirstie as our head nurse. She is one of a limited number of nurses in the UK with a diploma in advanced veterinary nursing. She has worked at the Hale Vet Group since 1996, only spending a few years away to work in a specialist veterinary referral centre where she gained her diploma. Her professional interests include anaesthesia and surgical nursing as well as student nurse training. Kirstie is a dedicated VN who is keen to promote nursing standards and currently holds a seat on the BVNA council.
In her spare time, she enjoys being given the run-around by Geordie and Shearer (her two naughty cats) and avidly following Newcastle United FC, home and away!
Kate Tenniswood RVN MBVNA
Deputy Head Nurse at the Chippenham Hospital.
Kate is a registered VN with many years of experience and is based at the Chippenham hospital. She is the deputy head nurse and assists Kirstie in the smooth running of the nursing team. As a qualified NVQ assessor, Kate undertakes a crucial role in the training of our student nurses and finds it extremely rewarding. Kate’s professional interests include all aspects of nursing with a special interest in nursing the geriatric feline. Her hobbies include walking in the country and keeping an eye on Lily and Stan, her two feline partners in crime!
Becky Mallard RVN MBVNA
Becky joined the Hale Veterinary Group in 2002 as a student veterinary nurse and became fully qualified in 2006.
Based at the Chippenham hospital, Becky enjoys the hustle and bustle of the hospital environment and is always prepared for the next emergency!
Becky has a particular passion for surgical nursing and conducting nurse consultations where she enjoys communicating with our clients and their pets!
In her spare time, Becky is a passionate Everton footballclub fan and loves spending time with her handsome rescue cat, Chebe.
Sarah Badcock RVN MBVNA
Sarah qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2005 and joined the Hale Veterinary Group in 2006 where she worked as part of the Chippenham hospital team. In 2007, Sarah became the sole nurse at our Melksham branch.
Sarah enjoys the responsibility and challenge of ensuring that the branch clinic runs efficiently. She deals with the care of all pets admitted for surgery at the Melksham surgery as well as providing essential assistance to the vets.
Sarah runs the nurse clinics at the Melksham surgery from Monday- Friday and enjoys dealing with all pets, young and old!
You may also see Sarah at the Chippenham hospital where she performs her night and weekend duties.
In her spare time, she is kept busy by her 3 year old border terrier Hazel, who just loves long walks!
Maxine McFadzean RVN MBVNA
Part-time nurse at Chippenham hospital.
Diana Wilson RVN MBVNA
Diana Wilson RVN is our lead nurse at Corsham. On a day to day basis she offers nursing advice, nurse clinics and cares for your pet should he/she need to be admitted for any investigations or surgery. Di qualified in 2009 after joining the Hale Vet Group in 2008. She is interested in all aspects of nursing, particularly medicine. She is kept busy out of work by her 7-month old Jack Russel Terrier, Milo, and her Pony Teddy. Di is also a guide leader at Chippenham guides which keeps her out of mischief!
Pippa Steans RVN MBVNA
Pippa qualified as a veterinary nurse in August 2010 and enjoys all aspects of her job here at the hospital. She is particularly interested in medical nursing and nurse consultations, and hopes to complete a course in emergency and critical care in the near future. In her free time, Pippa does regular volunteer work for a local charity which she finds extremely rewarding. She has a Jack Russell terrier called Fearne who lives up to the terrier name, and a new addition to the family, Sophie (a spaniel crossbreed) who Pippa has lovingly hand reared from birth.
Karen Ward RVN MBVNA
Karen joined the Hale Veterinary Group as an experienced student veterinary nurse in 2000, and became qualified in 2002. She has always had a keen interest in all aspects of veterinary nursing including surgical and medical nursing, in recent years however, she has developed a very keen interest in preventative care, and animal behaviour. As a result of this, Karen now runs the very successful puppy playgroup and weight watchers club at the Chippenham hospital. Outside of work, she enjoys her very busy life with her husband and 3 very active young sons! Karen also finds time to care for her cat and fish and is eagerly awaiting the arrival of her new jack russell terrier, Tallie!
Ffion Llewellyn BSc (Hons) RVN MBVNA
Ffion joined the Hale Veterinary Group in June 2010 after graduating with a Bsc (Hons) in Veterinary Nursing from the Royal Veterinary College, London. She is a valued member of the Chippenham hospital team, but you may also see her providing nursing cover at our Corsham and Melksham branches.
Ffion has a keen interest in all aspects of surgical nursing and anaesthesia and hopes to further her knowledge by studying for an advanced veterinary nursing diploma in the future.
Jo Cheater BSc (Hons) RVN MBVNA
Jo qualified as a veterinary nurse in August 2010 and is thoroughly enjoying her new RVN status. Prior to starting her veterinary nurse training, Jo completed a Bsc (Hons) degree in animal management and worked as a kennel assistant in a veterinary referral hospital.
Jo is particularly passionate about feline nursing and is never happier than when she is nursing a ward full of cats! She is currently studying for an advanced feline nursing certificate approved by the feline advisory bureau. At home, Jo likes to spend time with Charlie, her very naughty (but misunderstood) tortoiseshell cat!
Kyra Barnes RVN MBVNA
Kyra joined the Hale Veterinary Group in 2007 as a kennel assistant at our Melksham branch. After completing her formal Animal Nursing Assistant (ANA) qualification with distinction, she joined the Chippenham hospital team as a student veterinary nurse.
She has worked hard and, after completing her nursing exams and coursework, Kyra became a fully qualified veterinary nurse in January 2011.
During her training, Kyra has developed an interest in surgical nursing. She is widely renowned throughout the practice for her caring nature and amazing ability to re-home many of the stray animals that come into the hospital!
Out of work, Kyra enjoys watching films, photography, and the outdoors. She also loves spending time with her two cats and two guinea pigs…all rescue cases of course!
Christine Goddard ANA
Christine joined the Hale Veterinary Group in 2008 as our Chippenham kennel assistant.
She has recently completed her formal Animal Nursing (ANA) qualification with distinction and hopes to eventually complete formal veterinary nurse training.
Christine is extremely enthusiastic about her job and particularly enjoys patient contact and assisting our veterinary nurses with inpatient care.
Christine also assists Karen twice a week with the puppy playgroups where she is learning lots about puppy care and behaviour!
In her spare time, Christine enjoys walking her 6 year old border collie, Rolo whose favourite game is football!
Trainee Veterinary Nurses
The Hale Veterinary Group also has an excellent record at helping to train veterinary nurses. We are so good in fact that, at the moment, all of our trainee veterinary nurses have qualified!
