The Vet Nurse Hacker Podcast

Beransa Backlash: Sorting Science from Speculation

Guest: Babs Tasker, Emergency & Critical Care Vet Nurse, Veterinary Territory Manager
Host: Vicky the Vet Nurse

Length: ~1 hr 21 mins
🔍 Episode Summary: This episode dives head-first into one of the most contentious conversations in vet med right now: the backlash surrounding Beransa (Librela). With headlines, social media spirals, and speculation dominating the narrative, it’s time to pause, unpack the science, and get curious—not chaotic.

Our guest, Babs Tasker, is a powerhouse ECC vet nurse with over 30 years in the industry and now a V...

Just a Vet Nurse, Asking to Be Seen: Laura Bennington on ECC, Leadership & Changing the Game

 🩺 Episode Summary:
In this deeply honest and empowering episode of the Vet Nurse Hacker Podcast, we sit down with Laura Bennington, RVN, VTS (ECC)—Emergency & Critical Care specialist, educator, and founder of VEST (Veterinary Emergency Specialty Training).

From her early days in general practice in the UK to her move to Australia, Laura shares the winding, wonderful (and at times wobbly) path that led her to advanced certification, founding her own CE platform, and becoming a fier...

Surfing the CO₂ Waves: How to Spot Shark Fin & The Leak on a Capnograph

🎧 Vet Nurse Hacker Podcast – Episode 10
Capnography isn’t just a bunch of squiggly lines — it’s your patient’s ventilation story, written in real time.

And in this episode, we’re zeroing in on two triangle-shaped waveforms that can trip you up if you don’t know what you’re looking at: The Shark Fin and The Leak.

You’ll learn:
🐟 The Shark Fin – What it means when your capnograph slopes up during exhalation (hint: it’s an outflow resistance proble...

🎧 Vet Nurse Hacker — Ask Me Anything: Vet Nurse Hacker Confessions 
Host: Vicky, VTS (Nutrition)
Episode Type: Solo AMA (Ask Me Anything)

🩺 Episode Overview:
 In this raw and real AMA-style episode, Victoria answers the juiciest questions she's received from vet nurses across the profession. From clinical confidence to imposter syndrome, burnout to boundaries, and everything in between — this episode is a vulnerable deep-dive into what it really means to be a vet nurse in 2025. If you've ever asked yourself, “Is there more to this career?” — this episode is your sign that yes, there is. So grab...

In this powerhouse episode of The Vet Nurse Hacker Podcast, Vicky is joined by the legendary Megan Brashear, BS, RVT, VTS (ECC) — a veterinary technician specialist, international speaker, educator, and deeply respected leader in emergency and critical care. From baby Megan’s animal-obsessed beginnings to becoming one of the most recognisable voices in veterinary nursing education, this episode explores her journey, lessons learned, and why she believes ECC nurses are absolutely superheroes. Megan opens up about:
The chaotic but exhilarating early days of ECCWhy mentorship, teamwork and emotional intelligence are non-negotiable in vet medHow she navigated burnout, leadership and majo...

The Vet Nurse's Guide to Brave Conversations 🩺 Episode Summary:
In this heartfelt episode of Vet Nurse Hacker, Vicky unpacks the emotional reality of having hard conversations in vet med—from asking for a break, to setting a boundary, to speaking up when something doesn’t feel right. If you’ve ever cried in your car after a shift or second-guessed your voice in the treatment room, this one’s for you. Vicky walks you through the emotional labour we carry as vet nurses, how that impacts our ability to speak up, and—most importantly—how to reclaim your voice without burning...

🎙️ Episode Title: Nailed It — How Vet Tech Alex Contreras Built KlipTrio From the Ground Up 🚨 Episode Highlights:
In this inspiring episode of The Vet Nurse Hacker, Vicky is joined by veterinary technician, canine massage therapist, and entrepreneur Alex Contreras — the visionary creator behind KlipTrio, the world’s first 3-in-1 nail clipper with an integrated file and disposable styptic powder cartridge. Together, they dive into:
Alex’s journey from vet tech to award-winning inventorThe everyday clinic frustration that sparked KlipTrio’s creationHow one traumatic nail trim became a lightbulb moment 💡Why KlipTrio is a confidence-boosting must-have for every clinic and pet parentAlex’s...

In this episode of the Vet Nurse Hacker podcast, host Victoria speaks with Claire Boyle, a veterinary nurse and life coach, about her journey through the veterinary profession, her transition into corporate life, and her passion for coaching fellow veterinary professionals. They discuss the importance of self-care, setting boundaries, and the value of mentorship in navigating the challenges of the veterinary field. Claire shares insights from her coaching practice, Claire's Simple Solutions, and emphasizes the need for community support and personal development in the veterinary industry.  
Claire Boyle's journey showcases diverse career paths in veterinary nursing.The transition from v...

Ep 4: Scrubbed In, Left Out - We Do The Work, Now Let Us Own The Title In this episode of the Vet Nurse Hacker podcast, Victoria discusses the critical issue of title protection for veterinary nurses in Australia. She highlights the lack of legal recognition for the title 'veterinary nurse,' which allows unqualified individuals to use the title, posing risks to patient safety and undermining the professionalism of trained nurses. The episode explores the implications of this lack of protection, the current state of title protection in Australia, and compares it with global practices. Victoria emphasizes the need for...

In this very first episode of The Vet Nurse Hacker podcast, we sit down with the brilliant and down-to-earth Bri Harding — a vet nurse who turned her big ideas into bold action. From the hustle of clinic life to launching a tiny home Airbnb and creating an online puppy school, Bri shares her inspiring journey of building not just one, but two businesses from the ground up. We chat about the challenges, the mindset shifts, and the surprising wins that came with stepping outside the comfort zone. Whether you're dreaming of starting a side hustle or simply curious about what’s po...

Had a shocker of a shift? You’re not alone, and you’re definitely not a bad nurse because of it. In this episode of The Vet Nurse Hacker, we’re getting real about those days when nothing goes right — the vein you just can’t hit, the case that haunts you, the moment you break down in the treatment room. It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s something every vet nurse has felt (even the ones who look like they’ve got it all together). We’ll chat about:
Why one bad day doesn’t define your skills or your wo...

In this episode of The Vet Nurse Hacker Podcast, we dive into one of the most underestimated — but absolutely life-saving — tools in your hospital arsenal: nutrition support for renal patients. From cranky kidneys to even crankier appetites, feeding hospitalised cats and dogs with renal disease can feel like a never-ending battle. But don’t worry — we’ve got your back (and your syringe). We break down:
The real difference between CKD and AKI (without the textbook snooze)What’s actually happening in those sad little kidneysKey nutritional goals for renal patients (and why they matter so much)Practical feeding strategies...