Very Nice, Very Necessary, Veterinary Nurses!

Veterinary nurses are the life blood of veterinary practice and without them us vets wouldn´t be able to do anything at all! Not only do they answer the phone, book appointments and generally man reception with ease, but they also help us to hold wriggly patients, monitor anaesthetics and clean up, after both the animals and the vets!

The role of a veterinary nurse has been expanding rapidly in recent years and they can perform an extensive range of tasks, from minor surgeries and dental work, to assisting vets in operations and monitoring anaesthetics. They are also involved in owner education and many now run nurse clinics within the practice. These clinics can include weight clinics, dental health checks, senior pet clinics and small furry advice. These services are invaluable to clients as a source of good quality veterinary advice.

Veterinary nurses are highly trained professionals. There are now 2 different ways in which they can qualify; a 2 year course, in which they spend the majority of the time working in a veterinary practice and attending college on a day release basis; or a university degree course which is 3 years of full time study.

It takes hard work, dedication and commitment to become a veterinary nurse, but it is an incredibly rewarding job. The veterinary profession is not a glamorous one, you have to be prepared to deal with all kinds of bodily fluids and getting your hands dirty, there are often reluctant patients to manage and the hours can be long. However, you work in a team of committed professionals, who all believe in animal care and welfare and doing the best for their patients. As vets we couldn´t possibly do our job without Veterinary Nurses, they are Very Nice (so long as the biscuit tin is kept stocked!) and we think they are Very Necessary!

There is now a club for veterinary nurse on PetStreet. If you are a vet nurse, why not join and exchange stories and start discussions with other nurses, or if you are interested in the profession or maybe becoming a nurse or working with animals, drop the nurses a line, they will be a mine of information for you.

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