From Banking to Vet Nursing: Cheryl’s Extraordinary Journey

In this full-length episode, we sit down with Cheryl — vet nurse, mum, mature student, cancer survivor, award-winner, and all-round powerhouse — for one of the most inspiring conversations we’ve had on Off Duty. Cheryl shares her remarkable journey from banking to veterinary nursing, retraining later in life, juggling family, study, and work, and discovering a career that brings her joy every single day. She speaks openly about resilience, the moments that nearly broke her, the community that held her up, and the pets and people who helped shape her along the way. We talk career change, nursing reality (it’s not all puppies and kittens), the importance of support networks, advocating for yourself in a broken healthcare system, and what it truly means to love your job. And yes — we also chat abscesses, anxious Labradors, menopausal dogs, tea addiction, and the quickfire round you don’t want to miss. This episode is honest, funny, raw, uplifting, and full of heart. 🎧 If you’ve ever thought about changing careers, becoming a vet nurse, or just need a dose of courage and perspective — Cheryl’s story is for you.