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Celebrating Progression, Passion and Professionalism in Vet Nursing
May is an important month in the veterinary community, as we take time to recognise and celebrate the commitment, skill, and compassion of the Veterinary Nursing profession.
Veterinary Nursing is still a relatively young but fast-evolving profession in Ireland. UCD first introduced a part-time Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (DipVN) in 2001. The introduction of the Veterinary Practice Act in 2005 marked a turning point, protecting the title and acts of Veterinary Nurses under law and officially establishing it as a statutory, registered profession. The Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) continues to oversee the registration of Veterinary Nurses and the accreditation of educational programmes in this field.
Since then, Veterinary Nursing education at UCD has continued to grow. Our first graduates from the BSc (VN) honours degree programme emerged in 2013. Today, our graduates are making a difference across Ireland and around the world—in small animal practice, equine care, wildlife rehabilitation, and more.
Throughout May, the UCD School of Veterinary Medicine is proud to mark Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month 2025 by shining a light on our students, graduates, and the many exceptional veterinary nurses working in the UCD Veterinary Hospital. This year’s theme, ‘Progression’, celebrates the diversity of veterinary nursing careers and the passion that drives the profession forward.
As part of our celebrations, we’ve featured stories from across our community on our Instagram channel, including:
Aimee Cosgrove, UCD Veterinary Nursing graduate who is now pursuing a degree in Veterinary Medicine at SRUC in Aberdeen.
Sarah Glynn, Class of 2019, currently working as an equine veterinary nurse in the first and only equine hospital in Doha, Qatar.
Donna McCarthy RVN CertVNECC, who works with Limerick Night Vets and is passionate about emergency and critical care.
Alicia Reid and Aisling Judge, both UCD Veterinary Nursing alumni and current staff at the UCD Veterinary Hospital, whose contributions to patient care and student support are invaluable.