Career in Veterinary Nursing
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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.