Vet Nurses & Support Staff

My name Patricia Shields. I joined the practice in 1986. I grew up in Africa where my love for animals was ignited. After moving to Northern Ireland I was lucky enough to land my job within this busy, friendly mixed animal veterinary practice. The nature of the job dictates no two the days are the same- so keeping things fresh and interesting.

Over the years I have seen many changes within the practice from a partnership, change of premises, etc. My role as Practice Manager involves the day to day of the clinic – as well as the ‘management’ of our two residential furry cats, which you see
running about or lay on my desk most of the day.

Away from work, I enjoy spending time with family and friends. Traveling or just chilling at home with my two rescue cats. Uki, Yoshi. For 30 years service I was gifted from the vets a ragdoll cat who i have named Wisha.

I have been employed in Firmount since June 2001. I am Head Veterinary Nurse of the practice and Clinical Coach which enables me to train Student Veterinary Nurses which I find most rewarding. I also handle the Health & Safety in the practice which involves risk assessments, first aid, fire safety, etc.

I thoroughly enjoy my job as it is very rewarding and no two days are the same. My greatest achievement in my career so far is when I won N.I Veterinary Nurse of the year in 2011 which I am extremely proud of.

I come from a farming background which is where my love of animals has come from. I am happily married and blessed with two beautiful children and I also have one rescue dog called Champ.

I joined the team here at Firmount in September 2014 while on placement for the animal nursing assistant course. I qualified in June 2015 and am now currently working towards my level 3 diploma in veterinary nursing.

Previous to joining the team at Firmount I also completed a level 3 diploma in animal
management where I realised my ambition to become a veterinary nurse.

At home I have one pet dog, an ex-racing greyhound who I adopted from Mid-Antrim animal sanctuary where I was volunteering at the time. I have always loved animals and so getting to work with them everyday is so rewarding and brings great job satisfaction.

I have worked at Firmount since October 2016. I have recently qualified as an Animal Nursing Assistant in May 2018. Previous to joining Firmount i also completed a level 2 animal care and level 3 animal care animal management course in Newtownabbey NRC.

I have always loved animals since I was young so working in Firmount and being able to be around animals everyday  and helping them is so rewarding.

At home I have one dog called Pawz who is a cross between a collie and a corgi.

I have always loved animals and worked for 6 years in a Boarding Kennel from when I was at school. During my time there I looked after people’s pets but we also cared for a lot of rescue dogs and cats for local animal charities, it was this side of the job I enjoyed most. Over the years a few of these dogs came home with me. I have had a few different jobs since but I’ve never lost my love of working with animals.

I have just completed a level 3 Subsidary Diploma in Animal Management, it was during this course that I started a placement with Firmount. I am going to study the Animal Nursing Assistant course in September 2016 & will hopefully
progress onto studying Veterinary Nursing in the future.

I have worked in Firmount since September 2016, within this year I qualified as Animal Nursing Assistant and I am hoping to go on to Greenmount College and qualify as a veterinary nurse in the near future.

I enjoy working with the animals admitted and I help out up in reception several days a week also.

At home I have a St.Bernard cross with an Alaskan Malamute called Elsa, she is full of energy and is 4 years old. I also have a cat named Lucy she is 15 years old and enjoys lying up in front of the fire in the evenings.

I have been working in Firmount since leaving school in June 2010.
I am a qualified Assistant Animal Nursing and I am currently in my final year at Greenmount College where I am hoping to qualify as a veterinary nurse.

I grew up on a farm and have always had a love for animals. At home I live with my husband and our Chihuahua Woody which I rescued from Firmount.

I love my job as it is extremely rewarding getting to nurse the sick and injured back to health and as a team we all work great together