Veterinary nurse

Veterinary nurses care for animals that are having veterinary treatment. They help veterinary surgeons (vets) to diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries. Duties include giving advice to owners on animal care, preparing instruments, taking X-rays and doing laboratory tests. They might also have some clerical duties, e.g., booking appointments and filing records.

Work activities

Veterinary nurses support the vet’s work in the clinic. With the vet, they plan and deliver care for the animals. This includes monitoring the animal’s condition, giving medicines and other therapies, feeding, ensuring comfort and hygiene, and keeping careful records. They also do technical work such as managing the operating theatre during surgery. For example, before an operation, the nurse will set up the operating theatre, sterilise and set out instruments, and prepare the animal, for example, by clipping and cleansing the area that the vet will treat or operate on. During an operation, the nurse hands instruments to the vet, checks the animal’s reaction to the anaesthetic and monitors its progress. After treatment or surgery, the nurse will tidy up and clear away equipment. Nurses also give advice and guidance to owners. They play an important role in educating owners about how best to care for their animals.

Other duties include:

• Testing blood and urine samples to help in diagnosis.
• Looking after drugs and equipment, ordering new stock when needed.
• Taking and developing X-rays.
• Helping to “put down” animals that are too sick to be treated and supporting their owners.

Most veterinary practices employ full-time receptionists. However, nurses may be expected to cover clerical duties such as answering the telephone, booking appointments, and updating and filing records. Speaking to people on the phone and welcoming them to the practice gives nurses the opportunity to reassure anxious animal owners. Veterinary nurses spend most of their time at the practice. However, sometimes they might go out with the vet to farms and stables to treat animals. Veterinary nurses usually work with small, domestic pets. However, nurses may also qualify to work with horses (equine practice). Depending on where the practice is, a veterinary nurse could also be working with livestock or zoo animals.

Personal qualities and skills

To be a veterinary nurse, you’ll need:

• A concern for animal welfare.
• Emotional strength, and you must not be squeamish. You can be working with very sick animals, and you might have to help the vet “put down” animals.
• Communication skills to work with other staff and the public. This includes the ability to explain things clearly and to reassure anxious owners.
• To be able to plan and prioritise work.
• Attention to detail.
• To be sympathetic, caring and approachable.
• Practical hand skills, for example, to give injections and safely restrain animals.
• Physical fitness; this is an active job.

Pay and opportunities

The pay rates given are approximate.  Veterinary nurses earn in the range of £18,000 a year, rising to £26,000 a year for people in more experienced roles. Employers provide accommodation with some jobs.

Veterinary nurses typically work 35-40 hours a week, which might include weekend work and on-call duties. Part-time and temporary posts are available.

Nurses work in veterinary practices. There are also opportunities with animal welfare organisations such as the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), the Blue Cross and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA). Other employers include veterinary schools, research establishments, zoos, animal laboratories, pharmaceutical and pet nutrition companies and colleges (veterinary nurse education). Opportunities for veterinary nurses occur in towns, cities and rural areas throughout the UK.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised in local newspapers, on the Government’s Find a Job and Find an Apprenticeship services, on job boards (general job boards and those specifically for veterinary jobs), and on veterinary employment agency websites.

Entry routes and training

Most people enter through on-the-job training. This means that they find a post as an employed student in an approved Training Practice (TP) and work towards a level 3 diploma in veterinary nursing. You can also take the level 3 diploma full-time at college, over two years, before looking for work. A level 3 apprenticeship as a veterinary nurse is available.

The other route into this career is after doing a degree or foundation degree in veterinary nursing that is approved by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS). If you’re more practically minded and want to start work straight away, you might prefer the vocational training route. The degree or foundation degree route is more academic but can open up more opportunities, for example, in research, teaching or working in the pharmaceutical industry.

Qualified veterinary nurses can go on to specialise in a particular area, such as equine care. In larger practices that employ several nurses, you might be able to progress to a head nurse or practice manager post. Veterinary nurses can also move into areas such as teaching or lecturing, and the veterinary supply and pharmaceutical industries.

Qualifications

If you wish to enter this career through an advanced apprenticeship, you will need to be 16 with relevant A-levels as well as GCSEs including English and maths. To start training as an employed student in an approved Training Practice (TP), you must have at least 5 GCSEs (9-4), including English language, maths and a science subject.

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) accepts a number of equivalent qualifications. You should contact your local Veterinary Nursing Approved Centre (VNAC) to check whether your qualifications are acceptable.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

If you don’t have the usual minimum academic entry requirements for training, you might be able to start work as an animal nursing assistant. To train towards the level 2 certificate for animal nursing assistants (ANA), you must usually be working either full- or part-time in a veterinary practice. Practical training towards the ANA qualification will usually be supported by a college-based course or studying by distance learning. Training takes one year to complete.

Some entrants have developed relevant skills and knowledge through experience with animals, for example, with the RSPCA, People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), on a farm, or in a stable or cattery. If you don’t have the qualifications you need to enter a degree or foundation degree course, you might be able to start one after completing an Access course. You don’t usually need any qualifications to start an Access course, although you should check individual course details.

Related careers

• Animal technologist
• Dog groomer
• Horse groom
• Kennel worker
• Pet shop assistant
• RSPCA inspector
• Veterinary surgeon
• Zoo keeper