Career in Veterinary Nursing

The Good Careers Guide * states that Veterinary Nurses provide support to veterinarians in the management and care of animals receiving medical and surgical treatment.  

The Personal requirements for a Veterinary Nurse include - 

• Enjoying working with animals
• Able to handle animals with confidence and patience
• Able to make accurate observations
• Having good communication skills
• Having good organisational skills
• Being able to work as part of a team
• Being caring and understanding

Some of the tasks a Veterinary Nurse might have to do include – 

• Providing animal care advice, and preparing, delivering, and reviewing animal care education programs.
• Assisting Veterinarians to administer anaesthetics and oxygen during operations.
• Holding animals to allow examination and treatment by Veterinarians.
• May act as receptionist, accept payments, and undertake clerical work.
• Giving medications to animals.
• Placing animals in cages for recovery from operations and monitoring their condition.
• Maintaining stock control and records.
• May perform diagnostic laboratory tests.
• Preparing instruments and handing them to the Veterinarian.
• Cleaning and sterilising examination tables and equipment.

* The Goods Careers Guide – Veterinary Nursing 

Veterinary Nurses need to have a minimum of a Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing, although qualifications can include diplomas and bachelor degrees.  Some of these can be found at Box Hill Institute,  Melbourne Polytechnic, and La Trobe University.