Our staff: Veterinary nurses

We have an excellent nursing team who take great care and skill in nursing the hospitalised patients and in assisting the vets. All nurses employed by the Grove are either fully qualified Registered nurses or are enrolled with the RCVS and in training. The Grove is an Approved Training Practice which enables us to train new veterinary nurses. To qualify, a nurse must have studied for a minimum of two years to gain a NVQ level 3 in veterinary nursing, which involves attending a part-time college course, and then sitting written and practical exams. They must also complete a portfolio of practical skills at work in areas such as radiology, anaesthesia, theatre practice and laboratory as well as patient care.

The Grove recently employed a team of nurses who, along with the evening nurse, provide care throughout the night. The team consists of four experienced qualified veterinary nurses who work in a rota system to assist with emergencies and to monitor and care for hospitalised patients. This ensures that all patients have individual attention and that the duty vet can be alerted to any problems.

Beth Dorward RVN, Head Nurse (Fakenham)

Beth qualified as a Veterinary nurse in 1998 and after taking a year out in Australia where she worked as VN in Sydney and Melbourne, she joined the Grove. Beth has been head nurse since 2002 and has worked to develop the nursing team as the practice has grown. She is responsible for the overall management of all the nurses and nursing assistants and organises clinical areas. Beth is married and is kept busy out of work trying to train her new Border Collie puppy Jim.

Heidi Suckling RVN - Senior Nurse (Fakenham)

Heidi has worked at the Grove since 2004 and has been a fully qualified nurse for 5 years. Her role includes assisting the other senior nurses and head nurse in the organisation of the nurses and kennel assistants to ensure a smooth day to day running of the surgical procedures and workload. She is also a qualified assessor, responsible for the training of all our trainee veterinary nurses. She lives in Fakenham with her long-term partner Neil and enjoys walking her dogs and riding her horses.

Emma Stittle RVN, BSc (Hons) - Senior Nurse (Fakenham)

Emma joined the Grove in 2004 after gaining her degree in Veterinary Nursing. Her main areas of interest lye in medical nursing and running the practice laboratory. Emma is currently working towards her A1 assessor award. Out of work she enjoys walking, gardening and concerts. She live with her fiancé and two cats Sandy and Tiggy.

Megan Ryder RVN - Senior Nurse (Fakenham)

Megan joined the practice in 2000 as a receptionist once gaining her national diploma in animal science and went on to do her veterinary nursing training. Megan is one of our senior surgical nurses, who is also responsible for maintaining and updating our infection control protocols within all 3 surgeries. She lives with her husband Neil and their newborn son Rowan, and is passionate about rugby and she plays for her local team as scrum half.

Vicki Hayter RVN - Senior Nurse (Dereham)

Vicki has worked at the Grove since 2002. She has been the main veterinary nurse at the Dereham branch for the last 4 years, assisting the vets with routine operations. She has an assortment of animals including dogs, cats, horses and chickens.

Georgina Chessmur RVN - Senior Nurse (Swaffham)

Georgie started working at the Grove in 1991 and is based at the Swaffham branch. As this is a relatively small practice, she is the only nurse there, so has a very varied and exciting job role. She lives with her 2 little girls and a menagerie of animals.

Laura Scryminger RVN - Senior Nurse (Swaffham)

Laura qualified as a Veterinary nurse in 2001 in a mixed primary practice in West Sussex. Since then she has worked in various primary practices before moving to Norfolk in January 2007. She enjoys the varied role here at the Grove as she works at both the Swaffham and Fakenham branches. Her interests include wildlife, restoring her Volkswagen Camper van and Nissan Figaros and listening to music.

Qualified Veterinary Nurses

Rebecca Cole
Catherine Essex
Anna Johansson
Jo McKay
Helen Grimes
Celine Sanders
Lisa Taylor
Emma Williams
Gemma Sexton
Jennifer Heagran
Frances Rogers
Genna Attridge
Fiona Boldero
Hannah Jordan

Click on the links below to find out more about our staff

Veterinary surgeons
Veterinary nurses
Support staff