1.The surgical case you do not forget
Every clinician has a case that returns uninvited: the decision you replay, the anatomy that did not behave, or the patient whose course changed far faster than expected.
The useful response is not endless self-punishment. It is a structured debrief: what was known at the time, what changed, what the team did well and what would make the next case safer.
2.Neutering conversations are becoming more nuanced
Cats and small furries remind us that timing, species, individual risk and practical reality all matter. A blanket answer can feel reassuring, but it may hide the judgement the owner actually needs from us.
Explain the purpose of the recommendation, the relevant trade-offs and what would make you choose differently for this patient. That is more useful than presenting one habit as universal law.
3.Toxicology: calm thinking when the product sounds terrifying
Vitamin D rodenticides create understandably anxious phone calls. Product identification, likely dose, timing and early expert advice matter. The discipline is to collect the facts before false reassurance—or panic—takes over.
Clear ownership of monitoring and follow-up is as important as the initial plan. Make sure the client and the next clinician know exactly what happens next.
4.RVNs taking practical skills where they are needed
The episode also celebrates veterinary nurses volunteering abroad. Their contribution is much bigger than a good-news photograph: anaesthesia, patient monitoring, theatre flow, recovery and team teaching all travel with them.
It is a reminder of how transferable—and how valuable—the RVN skillset really is.
Listen to the full episode for the discussion, context and the bits that made Charlotte and Brendan laugh.
Listen to Episode 24