Let’s hear it for the vet nurses!
We’ve all heard the saying, “Behind every good vet is a bloody amazing vet nurse!” Ok, fair enough, I may be stretching the truth a little there but, I think you get my point.
When you consider that Vet Nursing as a qualified career has only been around since the 1950s, the impact they’ve made in a reasonably short period of time is even more remarkable. I think it’s fair to say that a good veterinary practice wouldn’t run nearly as well without their Vet Nurses. For that reason I thought we should have a look at the great things these wonderful people do for their vet practice.
They work with families – often the practice’s vet nurse is the first and last person you see when you visit – excluding the receptionist. They’ll triage your pet on arrival to establish how urgent your visit is and they’ll also finalise discharge, giving final advice for treatment and medications. Vet nurses work side by side with vets during treatment, ensuring your beloved friend gets the care they need. In fact, people who get into vet nursing because they prefer animals over people will be very disappointed!
They’re right with you and your pet for the good and the bad – there are lots of lovely moments in vet practices whether it’s greeting a new kitten or caring for the dog that requires an overnight stay. However, there are also some pretty tough moments too. Your vet nurse will be there through all stages of your visit and it’s even up to them to monitor your animal and alert the vet if their situation changes.
They’re getting their hands dirty – when a vet nurse isn’t with a patient they’re preparing for the next one. Much of their day is spent cleaning out the kennels, taking bloods where necessary and prepping for surgery. There’s lots of lifting animals on and off tables and wrestling defiant animals who don’t want to sit still. It’s a physically demanding job and vet nurses are right in the thick of it.
Providing such great care for our furry friends can sometimes be an underappreciated task. That’s why I think now’s a great time to say thank you to all those awesome vet nurses out there! Between vets and nurses, the love, care and empathy that is shown to our best friends will never go unnoticed and we’re truly grateful.
Shannon Wood, Managing Director S8 Expert Recruitment Solutions. I have over 14 years recruitment experience specialising in the animal health industry across the ANZ region. Areas of expertise include sales and marketing, technical roles (Quality Assurance, Quality Control & Regulatory Affairs) and operational & financial positions. I work extensively in the veterinary, ruminant, monogastric, aquaculture and the pet specialty industries and I look forward to the next 14 years.
