When you come in to the practice, you’ll often see a vet nurse as well as, or instead of, the vet. But people are often confused about what vet nurses are, and what they do…

Let’s start by busting some myths about vet nurses.

Nurses are NOT trainee vets, or children on work experience. Most nurses are not receptionists (although in some smaller practices the receptionist might be a nurse). It’s also not true that vet nurses are failed vets, or that anyone regardless of qualifications can act as a nurse. Finally, if you’re seen by a woman, don’t assume they’re a nurse – over 50% of vets are women, and yes, there are many male nurses as well!

OK, so what is a vet nurse?

Registered veterinary nurses, or RVNs, are professionals in their own right, and must have completed an arduous three year training course before they qualify. In most practices, they will wear bottle green uniforms and a special oval badge, to demonstrate their qualified status (student nurses, on the other hand, usually wear green and white stripes).

Veterinary nurses work alongside the vet to treat patients, but their role is very different. Essentially, the role of the vet is to diagnose and treat disease; while the role of the nurse is to care for the patient and ensure their medical, physical and welfare needs are met.

But what do they actually do?

The core of their role is in caring for patients – administering medication, feeding them, keeping them clean and groomed, dressing and caring for wounds, and checking on them during their stay.
However, a veterinary nurse is a multitalented professional, and other roles in practice include…

• Running the practice dispensary.
• Anaesthetist – monitoring and administering anaesthetics under the overall direction of the vet.
• Radiologist – preparing for and taking X-rays.
• Phlebotomist – taking blood and other samples for analysis.
• Lab technician – running blood tests, urine tests and examining samples for signs of illness, infection or disease.
• Operating theatre staff – vet nurses can and do perform minor surgery if required; and frequently work as scrubbed assistants in major operations.
• Nutritionist – formulating and advising clients on dietary matters.
• Advising clients on healthcare and preventative medicine.
• Running nurse clinics to advise on the care of patients with chronic diseases and conditions such as diabetes or obesity.

How do you become a veterinary nurse?

There are two routes to becoming an RVN:

Vocational Route – this requires taking a Level 3 qualification (usually from City &
Guilds or Central Qualifications) at a Further Education college. Students usually spend four days a week working in their practice, and one day a week at college learning the theory. This can be run as a block- or day-release course, or as an apprenticeship.

Degree Route – taking a BSc or FdSc degree in Veterinary Nursing. This route is usually better suited to the more academic candidates, although most of the syllabus is exactly the same as the vocational course. Again, the student will be working in practice part of the time and at college part-time – usually two days and two, with one of study.

Whichever route is taken, the student can only work in a registered Training Practice (like us!) where the staff are specially trained and inspected to ensure that the student receives the best possible training and support.

A student veterinary nurse (SVN) can perform all the tasks and roles that a fully qualified RVN can, but will have more supervision so they always have a more experienced nurse or vet watching over them!
Are there any other non-vets working in practices?

Certainly! As well as vets and vet nurses, most practices also include:

• Practice Manager – in charge of running the business element of the practice. They are often a nurse, but not always.
• Receptionists and admin staff – again, these may be nurses, but not usually.
•  Animal Nursing Assistants – traditionally dressed in blue uniforms, these are staff who assist with care of the animals, but are not qualified as nurses and cannot perform the same range of jobs. These may also be ANA students, who are hoping to move on to nursing training later.
• Kennel staff – often work experience students or ANAs who are less involved in care of the animals.

If you’re interested in what any of our staff do, feel free to ask!