What does a Veterinary Nurse do on a typical day?

The Veterinary Practice is a fast-paced environment with an immense caseload of animals flooding through the doors every day. From new puppy and kitten checks to dealing with road traffic accidents and other emergency cases, what walks through the door next is mostly a mystery- and this is arguably one of the best parts of the job.

The title ‘Veterinary Nurse’ was first used in 1984 and initially it was unclear as to what this role really entailed. In 2012, Veterinary Nursing was officially recognised as a professional qualification and nurses would be enrolled on to a register and considered ‘A Registered Veterinary Nurse’. But what does that mean?

There is a common misconception that veterinary nurses spend their days cuddling cute kittens and puppies and whilst this is an extremely rewarding aspect of the role, there is much more to this job than meets the eye. Veterinary Nursing is not a ‘stepping-stone’ to becoming a vet, it is a separate professional career in its own right which requires a completely different skill set.

Here are just some jobs that our veterinary nurses do on a typical day.