Project Description

Veterinary nursing is a challenging and rewarding profession. There is a wide variety of work which can be fast-paced and is often demanding with high-pressured emergency situations. But the chance to work in daily contact with animals and their owners makes it an attractive career option for many.

What’s involved in veterinary nursing?

Registered Veterinary Nurses (RVNs) work alongside veterinary surgeons to provide high standards of care for animals. Depending on the type of practice, this could include companion pets such as cats, dogs and rabbits, or large species such as horses or farm animals.

A qualified RVN is responsible for the welfare, comfort and recovery of the animals in their care. They may have undergone surgery, be receiving treatment for medical conditions or require advice on preventative healthcare.

An RVN’s responsibilities include:

  • Triage emergencies, whatever time of day or night

  • Carry our post-operative checks

  • Administer vaccinations

  • Place intravenous catheters

  • Observe patients’ vital signs such as temperature, pulse, respiration and pain

  • Take and run blood samples

  • Monitor anaesthesia and animals in recovery

  • Support animals and owners before and after operations

  • Administer medications and fluid therapy to patients

To find out more about the veterinary nursing career opportunities at Charter Vets, click here

There are two main routes into training as an RVN:

Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing

This is a vocational qualification. The course duration is 2-3 years (this varies with different course providers). It is an apprenticeship style, and usually involves working full-time in practice with weekly days at college.

Throughout the veterinary nurse training students are spending time at college, working as part of the nursing team in practice, taking part in out of hours work, completing assignments, recording details on an online log of various specific tasks as a record of their practical training and experience, revising for and sitting written exams and finally completing a practical exam.

Entry requirements : 5 GCSEs at grade C/4 or above (including maths, English and a science subject). Maths or science needs to be at grade B (different course providers vary). You need a position in a training practice before commencing the course.

Foundation or Batchelor / Honours degree course

This is a 3-4 year course.

It is an academic, university style of training with blocks of time at university and blocks of time spent in practice. This style of qualification is different in structure.

Whilst at university students are focusing on their academic training, completing assignments and revising for and sitting written exams,  when spending blocks of time in practice they then focus on learning and developing their practical skills and completing their online log.

Entry requirements: Different universities will have varying entry requirements. It’s best to check with each individual course provider. Applications are made through UCAS. Although not needed immediately, a training practice position will be required in time.

What’s best for me?

Both qualification routes lead to registration as a RVN.

Vocational training might be more suitable if you are ‘hands-on’ and practically minded.

A degree course will take longer to complete and involve more classroom time, but could lead to additional career opportunities, such as research, teaching or working in the pharmaceutical industry.

Career variety and progression

Once qualified as a veterinary nurse there are many opportunities for career development available throughout the industry, such as:

  • General practice nursing
  • Referral practice nursing
  • Teaching roles, in practice or becoming a college lecturer
  • Head nurse/practice management
  • Pharmaceutical or veterinary supplies industry posts

There are a huge variety of additional qualifications that registered nurses can go onto achieve after their initial nurse training, see a small list of some below, several of which our current veterinary nursing team are undertaking or have completed:

  • Clinical coach training
  • Certificate of Veterinary Nursing in Emergency & Critical Care
  • International Society of Feline Medicine – Certificate in Feline Nursing, Advanced Certificate in Feline Behaviour
  • BASVA VN Merit Award in Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation
  • Diploma in Advanced Veterinary Nursing

Lifelong learning

All registered qualified veterinary nurses are required to complete and record ongoing training throughout their career, called Continuing Professional Development. The purpose is to continually maintain, improve and broaden their skills and knowledge, as well as developing personal qualities which help to ensure they remain professionally competent. There is a minimum requirement of 45 hours over 3 years, although most nurse will do considerably more than this.

Interested in finding out more?

Visit www.bvna.org.uk for further information or take a look at their careers information leaflet: