What do vet nurses do?

According to recent survey results, over half the UK pet owning population do not understand the role of vet nurses. This alone definitely fortifies the need for Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month to really ‘shout out’ loud about what we as veterinary nurses do day and night.

Vet nurses are ambassadors for animal welfare

With the many talents vet nurses (VNs) possess, the primary goal is to be ambassadors for animal welfare. Whether it is working in a general practice or referral practice, equine nursing, specialist species care, industry or academia, every veterinary nurse will be using their skills developed through years of experience and training.

It is all too quickly we blame others for our lack of recognition, however do we as registered veterinary nurses (RVNs) promote ourselves enough?

So often I have been referred to as ‘only the nurse’ but also when I first started nursing I would introduce myself as ‘only the nurse’. I know now, through experience, wisdom and the inspirations of others, how wrong I was to say ‘only’. What we as a profession do is far greater than ‘only’.

Vet nurses are carers, champions and rehabilitators

RVNs will give up spending time with their family and get called into the surgery to take care of an incoming emergency - whatever the day or hour. We keep animals alive during surgery with careful monitoring of the anaesthetic and ensure all the equipment is sterile to fend away infection. RVNs take care of any pet in the hospital as if it were their own and when it’s time for them to go home, we offer owners all the support and advice they need to continue their care and help keep them healthy and happy.

RVNs will try multiple foods and methods to tempt animals to eat so that they have good nutrition to heal. And it’s not just about the pets brought into practice - we will stop at an accident involving an animal or pick up a stray to help reunite them with their loved ones. RVNs monitor a pet’s vital signs and tell the veterinary surgeon what a pet requires and when, we are the pain monitors, the fluid therapy champions and the rehabilitators! 

So before you say the words ‘only a nurse’, think twice… we are proud to be registered veterinary nurses!