A nurse's view on practice ownership

ABSTRACT:

Over the years, joint venture practices have made it easier for veterinary nurses to become practice owners, usually going into partnership with veterinary surgeons. Across the Vets4Pets group there are approximately 12 veterinary nurse partners and within the Companion Care group there are approximately 11 veterinary nurse partners. Across the two groups there are only three nurse-only partners running their own practices – the author, Rachel Smith RVN in Sunderland, and a veterinary nurse with his own practice in Oldham. To my knowledge we are the only sole nurse owners of veterinary practices across the country. This is not something, that currently, is promoted by either corporate but arose through individual circumstances. So, although it is now deemed acceptable for nurses to own practices, the number is still relatively low. Why is this? What are the obstacles that face us? Why do we aspire to be practice owners? What do we as nurses bring to the equation? This article outlines some of the problems I have encountered, what we need to consider before becoming nurse partners, and offers the views of others already doing it.

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Jen Cartwright

Jen Cartwright RVN A1 MBVNA

Jen qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2001, working as a head nurse in private practice for many years. She became a partner in Chesterfield Vets4Pets in 2009, solely running her own practice. Her main interests are exotic species, wound management and practice management.