Community Veterinary Nurses

Re: Community Veterinary Nurses

Vickipr — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 10:17:01 GMT

Hi everyone, I work for the Blue X and we d indeed have a community nurse, she goes out to the elderly, or house bound people and sometimes bring the pet back to clinic if it needs a vet check or bloods etc. It is a really good job, and she loves doing it. She does it on her own, and has never had any trouble at all, so far! The only aspect that can be abit negative is all the driving inbetween clients!

Re: Community Veterinary Nurses

Steph Worsley — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 21:03:02 GMT

[quote user="salliee5"]

Although I do agree with the safety comes first aspect, but I don't see how it differs from the human community nurse aspect.

[/quote]

Personally I think human community nurses should work in pairs as well.

Re: Community Veterinary Nurses

Selena Carnell — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 20:50:25 GMT

We would sometimes go to elderly peoples houses to worm, vaccinate, clip nails of various pets, and usuall went in pairs.

Re: Community Veterinary Nurses

salliee5 — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 09:22:00 GMT

[quote user="Steph Worsley"]

The PDSA ones (as far as I know) are kind of mobile clinics so you aren't on your own, you're not using your own vehicle (apart from commute to place of work) and you're not visiting peoples homes as such (although I may be wrong about some or all of this)

[/quote]

I thiese ones you are referring to are the PDSA petchecks. I have a done a few stints with these, it involved a huge PDSA lorry parking up and the nurse offering free health checks.

The community nurse is something different, I wasn't aware that the PDSA did it, but I do know that the Blue Cross do. I thought it looked amazing! They do give you a little car and you go around and do post op checks, nail clips, and wound managment. So, from that respect the clients would be 'known' to the hospital, but I guess in a big charity hospital only to a certain extent.

I also know that the service is not open to everyone and only those clients that cannot make it to hospital, so usually elderly and infirm. So I guess in terms of safety you are not just going round to complete randoms houses.

Although I do agree with the safety comes first aspect, but I don't see how it differs from the human community nurse aspect.

Sally

I thought I still had a job description document for the blue cross position but I cannot find it, I shall keep hunting!

Re: Community Veterinary Nurses

Nicola Smith — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 07:59:32 GMT

We do the odd ones for elderly or lients who are unable to get out eg collecting cats for surgery, stitches out, nail clips - we alwasy go in pairs and do use my own car as have business use on it. I realy enjoy it and feel good service to offer.

Re: Community Veterinary Nurses

Steph Worsley — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 23:54:58 GMT

I imagine the insurance would be absolutely huge for something like that and personally I wouldn't want to go on my own unless it was a very well known client as you never know what can happen when you visit a clients home (sad but true) hence the reason I feel a vet should take someone else with them on home visits especially if you are female.

the practice would have to invest in an ambulance as if you do anything like that in your own car and had an accident and only covered commuting in your insurance policy you wouldn't be covered.

Sorry to put a dampener on it but I think safety should come first

Re: Community Veterinary Nurses

Sal the 1st — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 23:51:08 GMT

yes I looked at the pdsa one myself. Is an area that interests me quite a bit. I did a short stint ( very short - was only about 6 weeks and was over far to quickly) with a human charity which was basically going round with somebody else and giving out blankets, clothing, food and for those who had pets with them we were able to give them a quick check over or listen to owners concerns and point them in the right direction if they needed help. We had had flea and worm tx donated by a company but because of the SQP situation I wasnt able to hand it out and had to give people a voucher to attend the practice we were using so they could get it there for free. This was a real shame because I am sure we would have had a better uptake if it had been applied in the street.

I have to say some of these dogs living rough with their owners were in a lot better condition than some of the cossetted hounds presented in practice daily.

Re: Community Veterinary Nurses

Tracy Windler RVN — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 22:42:21 GMT

I'm sure the PDSA do this sort of thing- includes education in the community as well as pet care services and advice. I almost applied for it, but it was fixed term for 10months, so didn't want to take the risk.

Re: Community Veterinary Nurses

Honeybadger — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 22:33:59 GMT

I've never heard of any practices doing this but I would also be interested in any info.