Veterinary Nurses

Yay a vet nurse club! I am a student VN on my final year of the foundation degree. My course is spent mostly at work, unlike the Honours degree. I spend the first and third year in block placements, so a few months in work then a few months in uni. The middle year is all spent in work.

Thanks for your lovely message Cat about VNs!

I have just taken in a new Jack Russell, Alfie.
He is 6 months old and his owner died suddenly when he was 5 months, so he went to live with other members of the family, but they couldn´t keep him and advertised him for re-homing.
They say he was not eating and un-settled due to losing his owner etc.
We have had him a week now and he is very happy and playful, loves his walks and toys and gets on well with our other J.R and cats and seems like he´s been with us forever!
He doesn´t like to eat though. We have tried him with a cpl of different puppy foods and weetabix. We have sussed out he will eat..but only if spoon fed! Any tips?!

I would love to be a vet when i´m older and i thought this club might help.
Chloe

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!