A vet professional who lectures internationally on nurse consulting and nutrition, alongside many contributions to an array of publications and textbooks, has won the Bruce Vivash Jones Veterinary Nurse Award from the BSAVA.

Nicola Lakeman, who is IVC Evidensia’s Nutrition Manager and based at their Bristol HQ, has been recognised for her outstanding contributions to the advancement of small animal veterinary nursing, the winners of which were announced in December 2023. 

The award ceremony itself will take place in March 2024 at BSAVA Congress in Manchester.

Nicola graduated from Hartpury College with an honour’s degree in Equine Science, and subsequently qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2002, after originally working in veterinary practice in 1992.

She is now the editor for Veterinary Nurse journal and has written for The Consulting Veterinary Nurse and Companion Animal Nutrition textbooks, alongside writing several chapters in a range of textbooks on nutrition and VN consulting. 

Last year she gave lectures across the UK at various conferences, in the USA (Philadelphia and in Denver), France and Australia. This year she will be continuing her lectures in the USA (Minneapolis and Texas), as well as lecturing in Romania, Australia and back here in the UK. 

Nicola said: “I am really honoured to be awarded the Bruce Vivash Jones Veterinary Nurse Award for outstanding contributions to the advancement of small animal veterinary nursing within the profession as a whole. 

“Nurse consulting has always been a huge passion of mine and its importance in animal welfare, owner education and improving clinical outcomes cannot be underestimated.

“Helping to spread the knowledge of consultation skills really enables more RVNs to consult and help more animals. Working within a team that supports and enables you to do this is vital and working for IVC Evidensia practices and at Central HQ since 2002 has made all of this possible.”

Liz Cox, Group Veterinary Nursing Advisor for IVC Evidensia, commented: “As a nursing collective, we always try to support our RVNs to ensure they are given all the tools they need to perform effectively in their roles. 

“Nicola is a shining example of someone we crucially rely on to not only provide that support, but also positively contribute to the industry as a whole, making our profession a better place to work in.

“I am so glad she has been recognised by the BSAVA and I hope this award will propel her to even greater heights.”

Carrie Pulsford, acting chair of the Nurse Board, added: “I’m thrilled to hear of Nicola’s award win and her contribution to small animal veterinary nursing. We’re very lucky to have someone as talented and knowledgeable in our network of RVN’s and I can’t wait to see what she does next in her highly regarded career.”

You can find out more about veterinary nursing at IVC Evidensia, alongside the Nursing Board on the website here.