Celebrating Veterinary Nurse Awareness Month with Maria: A Journey in Exotic Veterinary Nursing and Research
To help us celebrate Veterinary Nurse Awareness Month, Maria, an alumni of the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), shares her journey to becoming an Exotic Vet Nurse and Researcher. Her story highlights the diverse and rewarding nature of a veterinary nursing career.
RVN Maria Jackson with her rabbit Jeremy“Sadly, I can’t say I’m one of those people that knew what they wanted to do with their lives from a very young age! I had always loved animals and been fortunate enough to have many pets, and I loved science in school. When I discovered veterinary nurses exist after taking my cat to be neutered, it seemed like a great way to combine my two interests," Maria recalls.
Her passion for animal care shines through her work, where she finds deep fulfilment in supporting both patients and owners.
“Nothing is more rewarding than nursing a patient back to health. I also enjoy building bonds with pet owners, helping them feel comfortable with husbandry, behaviour, and preventative healthcare. Good relationships with pet owners make a big difference to animal welfare.
Maria's love for exotic pets, especially rabbits, led her to pursue research in this field. During her studies at the RVC, she explored why vet nurses often lack confidence in rabbit anaesthesia.
“I discovered fear was one of the main contributors. I think a lot of that fear comes from a lack of research in the pet rabbit population leading to a lack of evidence-based medicine. I hope to encourage others to also conduct research into rabbits and exotic species to help reduce the fear around treating these animals.”
Currently, Maria is working on a research study, co-funded by the RVC Animal Care Trust, examining dental and ear abnormalities in pedigree rabbits.
“My colleague and I spent five months travelling around the country, examining rabbits for any evidence of dental or ear abnormalities. This was a great way to utilise my nursing skills and listen to different perspectives on rabbit welfare issues. If any conformational predispositions are found, owners of these types of rabbits can be aware of possible signs of disease to look out for, and make sure their rabbits are taken for regular health checks to get their teeth and ears examined.”
Reflecting on her career, Maria shares,
“No job is without its challenges, but veterinary nursing is a fantastic, rewarding career where you can be hands-on with any type of animal you can dream of. It can lead to so many new opportunities, from teaching and research to charity work and conservation. I’m so fortunate to be able to combine my nursing and research skills every day. I would never have dreamed that I’d be able to spend my days talking all about rabbits!”
The RVC Animal Care Trust supports veterinary nurses and scientists of the future by assisting with their education, funding educational projects, and by investing in facilities and equipment to benefit student learning. We also support pioneering research to advance veterinary medicine like Maria’s research into pedigree rabbits. You can find out more about our work when you sign up to our mailing list.