Arlene qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2003 from Barony College in Dumfriesshire.
 
After qualifying, Arlene worked in one of the PDSA Petaid Hospitals in Glasgow and it was whilst working here that she developed a keen interest in Surgical nursing and so was able to develop her Schedule 3 skills (these are skills which Veterinary Nurses may carry out in practice and are defined in paragraph 6 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 as ‘any medical treatment or minor surgery (not involving entry into a body cavity) under veterinary direction eg stitching wounds).

Whilst at the PDSA Arlene gained her A1 Assessor certificate, allowing her to mentor and to teach student Veterinary Nurses in practice, a role she still is very much involved with at Ayrton.
 
In 2005 Arlene took up position of Head Veterinary Nurse in a Small Animal Hospital in Edinburgh, in which she was able to develop key skills in management and leadership both of which have helped her settle very quickly into her senior role here at Ayrton. In August 2011 Arlene was appointed as Lead Veterinary Nurse within the Hospital and so is now Head of the Nursing team and services. 
 
Arlene joined ‘Ayrton’ in September 2010 from the position of Lecturer on the BSc (Hons) RVN degree course at Napier University, Edinburgh. Arlene is keen to retain her academic development and so with this in mind, has enrolled on the Certificate in Veterinary Nursing in Emergency and Critical Care. This is awarded by City & Guilds in conjunction with Vets Now and Arlene hopes to achieve this qualification in 2012.
 
Arlene lives with her fiance, their two dogs and two cats and when not working, can often be found walking the dogs and generally getting lost in the middle of nowhere.