Surgical Nursing Team

From top to bottom and left to right: James, Laura, Becky, Emma, Hayley and Amy

James Cooke started work at North Kent Referrals in July of 2007. He came to us as a locum nurse in May that year and soon after was offered, and accepted, a full time position as part of the Surgical Nursing Team. He brings to us international experience, having grown up and worked in Bermuda including 4 years as a veterinary technician at one of Bermuda's top practices. After moving to the UK he began locuming before finding his way to us. James is experienced in surgical assistance, having been present at various orthopaedic procedures, and enjoys working with our surgeon Pierre. He also comes complete with I.T. qualifications, which is of great benefit in helping us keep all our systems up and running and provides support to all the staff when computing issues arise.

When work isn't his main focus, James enjoys recording and playing bass guitar as well as sound design for his village pantomime group. James has 3 golden retrievers at home.

Laura Rowland joined North Kent Referrals in June 2007 and has been nursing for 6 years, qualifying in February 2005. Having trained at a small first opinion practice in Hersham, she then moved on to a larger 24hour general practice in Egham, also in Surrey.

Laura gained a 'Diploma in Animal Behaviour' in April of 2007, passing her exam with distinction, and is now looking at an 'Advanced Anaesthesia' course. With background knowledge in ophthalmology, Laura will be spending many of her days in our new ophthalmology suite which she is really excited about. Although Laura is part of the surgical team, she also has strong interest for Internal Medicine and often finds time to help out with the inpatient care when she can.

She has a black and white cat at home called "Chloe." When time permits Laura likes socialising with friends and watching movies.

Becky Smith has been working as a veterinary nurse for 5 years, qualifying in December 2005 at a training practice. She moved immediately to North Kent Referrals from general practice in June 2006. After first starting here as a medical nurse, Becky has expanded her interests and is now a member of the surgical nursing team, currently undertaking a six month course in Advanced Anaesthesia.

In her spare time she is interested in conservation, and kept in active service to her three cats; Tipsy, Mitzi and Mogwai. Becky has recently started kick-boxing and enjoys socialising with the rest of the nursing team.

Emma Jordan is known to her colleagues as "The Rottweiler Whisperer". Emma works as a surgical nurse at North Kent Referrals and has 10 years of nursing experience behind her, qualifiying in 2000. She has completed a six month Advanced Anaesthesia and Critical Care course and attended the 2007 Western American Veterinary Conference in Las Vegas where she was able to learn about recent advances in orthopaedic and soft tissue surgery techniques.

As well as her commitments at work, Emma has her own horse; Waco, that she has had since he was a foal and whom she now enjoys competing in dressage. Two pet dogs and a guinea pig take almost all of the rest of her spare time but she still manages to fit in some dog grooming clients at evenings and weekends.

include animal behaviour and surgical nursing, while outside of work he is kept occupied by his own greyhound, Spooky, and his love of football.

Hayley Sycamore is one of our surgical nurses and started working with us in June 2007. Previously she had trained and qualified in a busy veterinary hospital where she stayed for 5 years before moving onto emergency night nursing work for 9 months. Currently she is working mainly in our ophthalmology suite.

At home Hayley has an ever increasing brood of rescued guinea-pigs (the total currently stands at 7 but another 3 are to join them from the RSPCA shortly); a busy gang of pet rats and a couple of adept rat-catching cats called Stig and Scampi.

Amy Thorne has been nursing for ten years, qualifying in 2001 with credit. She trained in two busy general practice hospitals in Bristol and from 2003-2004 worked part-time in one of the veterinary hospital's laboratories as a technician. Amy is a member of the surgical nursing team and heavily involved in the ordering of equipment and surgical instruments, often having to source products from abroad to meet the needs of our diverse surgical caseload. Amy recently attended the 2007 Western American Veterinary Conference in Las Vegas where she was able to attend lectures by leading experts in thoracic trauma, TPLO techniques and respiratory distress, amongst others pertinent to her discipline.

When not at work, Amy is learning to play classical guitar and looks after her young Jack Russell terrier, Ronnie, who likes to go for long walks on the beach.