Five things you didn’t know about veterinary nursing

Re: Five things you didn’t know about veterinary nursing

Selena Carnell — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 20:10:08 GMT

Nurses can tell you most of their case history through the scars on their arms! and some times they get mistaken for self-harmers!! I still bear a few marks even though I've not nursed for over 6 yrs.

Re: Five things you didn’t know about veterinary nursing

Sally Howe — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 16:06:57 GMT

Don't forget it's us that care for the bereaved client and family when they've lost a much loved pet/ family member.

It's usually my shoulder they cry on and our arms that give the hug and our words of comfort.

Then...... when they come in a few weeks/ months later with their new arrival

Re: Five things you didn’t know about veterinary nursing

Claire Millington — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 14:58:36 GMT

Hello

Thanks ever so much for these ideas and keep them coming! It's useful to have them and I have used some of them for pieces I've been writing. These will hopefully be appearing in some pet owner publications soon - so keep your eyes peeled.

If you've any other suggestions for how we might promote the role of VNs, let us know - I can't promise we will use them but we will definitely consider them.

Best wishes

Claire

(RCVS Communications Officer)

–

Re: Five things you didn’t know about veterinary nursing

Cheryl RVN — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 10:27:57 GMT

Radiography, collection and testing of samples (blood being the main one),minor surgery (cut pads, lump removals etc),anesthetic monitoring,in-patient care, emergency care,hygiene(posh word for cleaning) advice and support, bandaging, dental care,animal restraint, a range of consults and organising the vets lol.

When i went to get my haircut the other month the woman asked what i did and replied 'oh so your going to be a vet' NO! I said 'there are vets and nurses like their are doctors and nurses'

xXx

Re: Five things you didn’t know about veterinary nursing

NuttyNu — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 09:32:31 GMT

I am frequently asked (Not when I am at work though!) What a VN actually does as they never see us... Frequently known as the ones that cuddle cats all day and just laze about!!!

We are the backbone of most of the vets... we carry out most of the nursing of the individuals with, as was said, the vets tending to just pear in or call in to check how the animal is/if he/she is still with us!

Many people do not realise that a VN does most of the "behind the scenes" work. It is only when clients really go out the back or when nurses discharge some animals which have been in for a while with really worried owners at home that you actually get a heart felt thanks you deserve.

I had an anorexic rabbit in and nursed that and then sent it home when It was eating well again. I then went back out to the clients when they came in for a follow-up appointment and she was still thanking me then for all the nursing I had done to it. It doesn't happen very often but it is very very nice to hear those words from clients to us.

Re: Five things you didn’t know about veterinary nursing

Calli D — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 21:23:24 GMT

All of the above and also we go out of our way to come in on our free days to see patients and follow through on cases and checking that they are doing well today. Also coming in specially to talk to the client as you were the one who cared for it during its stay, offering to pop in and see them at home, offering to drive them home, deliver their meds and food, pick the animal up on your way through because the owner is housebound and can't get in but is really worried about fluffy so you offer to take him in for them and bring him home afterwards and go through the treatment etc. we raid our fridges, gardens or veggie patches at home to make sure bugs has some fresh greens or quacker has some duck weed to munch on whilst testing his legs and wings etc and enjoyng a little swim in the big china sink:)

stop stop stop. sorry.

um .... As well as what has been said, nurse take care of administration, training other nurses (and dare I say new graduates here and there as well), physio care, diabetes management and various other nurse clinics - both as a homecare service and in practice, behaviour consultation etc etc.

On a more sarcastic note and with a hint of another rant, we tend to be the soundboard and first line of defense between an obnoxious and rude client and the vet who when they do see suddenly turn into nice gentle, won't say boo to a goose clients because why would they shout at the vet for something they did or what they charged when they can take it out on the nurses, and receptionists! I mean - its our fault afterall! oops, sorry again. rant over

Re: Five things you didn’t know about veterinary nursing

Calli D — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 21:00:49 GMT

I have stopped or turned back to pick up a few dead cats off the side of the road over the years. There is nothing worse than not knowing what happened to your cat so if I can help by taking it into work to scan for a chip or making a note of its markings etc for identification then I'll do it. I have also been known to plaster posters all over town about found cats etc. The awful thing is that not one person has come back to me about any of them but will still keep trying.

Re: Five things you didn’t know about veterinary nursing

BengalcatRVN — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 15:05:13 GMT

[quote user="Selena (Hypnorm) Carnell VN"]great way to describe a nurse alana! though there are vets out there who do go the extra mile.

[/quote]

I know some vets with better bedside manners than some nurses! I always try to understand my animals, even if I'm only there for the day with them. Sometimes a bit of attention will get those anorexic cats eating!

Re: Five things you didn’t know about veterinary nursing

Selena Carnell — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 13:04:13 GMT

great way to describe a nurse alana! though there are vets out there who do go the extra mile.

Re: Five things you didn’t know about veterinary nursing

nin86 — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 11:05:32 GMT

[quote user="Alana Dent"]

I think it would be a fab idea to explain the differnce in the way vets and nurses treat their patients when in hospital. To the vet they are the anorexic, pyrexic cat. To us he is Tigger - likes to be hand fed, and appreciates cold fluids, smelly foods and a box to hide in. My job is to NURSE the patient back to help. The vet is really only there to there to diagnose/perform surgery - we do the rest of the hard work! (No offence to you vets!)

I spend my days, weekends and nights grooming cats, hand feeding small dogs and cuddling the big soppy dogs who cry when left without their mum.

[/quote]

Totally agree, we get to know patients the vets just fix the physical side while we sort out the rest.

Re: Five things you didn’t know about veterinary nursing

Alana Dent — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 20:44:33 GMT

I spend my days, weekends and nights grooming cats, hand feeding small dogs and cuddling the big soppy dogs who cry when left without their mum.

Re: Five things you didn’t know about veterinary nursing

emmadilemma — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 18:50:21 GMT

Never mind the ferret....do you get to put make up on johnny depp????

Re: Five things you didn’t know about veterinary nursing

Nikki Armstrong — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:04:50 GMT

I'm not nursing at the moment as i cant find part time work in a vets as a single mum, but I am working on film sets as a make up artist, and last weekend, I learned how to relax a diva ferret , and I was assigned to feed it as no one else on set wanted to go near it ( coz of its teeth, and the eau de parfum!) !! so I guess you could say that as VNs we never stop learning about many different animals and being dedicated to their welfare even when we are not nursing!

Re: Five things you didn’t know about veterinary nursing

Selena Carnell — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 12:39:39 GMT

The fact that often Nurses will stay long after their going home time to help with clients pet they have been nursing all day and some times all night, for the owners to visit - totally blank you and worship the vets *** even though they have probably stuck their head in once! and gone home for some sleep. That we multi task as cleaners, receptionists, anaesthetists, radiographers. Exotic nursing - yes we do deal with thing that aren't furry!

Re: Five things you didn’t know about veterinary nursing

wilkoannie — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 18:18:35 GMT

[quote user="Stuart McQueen RVN MBVNA"]

How about;

That a veterinary nurse is NOT half way to become a vet!? or that I have no interest in EVER being a vet... I studied and trained hard to become a Veterinary NURSE!... Do you ask a nurse when you go to hospital when they will be qualified as a doctor!? (rant... over!)

[/quote]

The amount of times i have heard this. didnt you want to be a vet then, or to expensive for you was it to be a vet!! aaaaahhh i want to be a nurse!

(RANT OVER) XXXX

Re: Five things you didn’t know about veterinary nursing

Aimee Barber — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 16:39:26 GMT

he he, i did that with a seagull at the weekend. it was just on a country lane outside of rugby and i couldnt drive past and leave him flopping in the road. You should have seen the look on my boyfriends face when i told him we were stopping to look after it

Luckly it was just stunned not injured so in a box with him and i turned up at my friends for dinner with a seagull in a box! he was well again after some rest so left him to fly home.

Re: Five things you didn’t know about veterinary nursing

Dippy — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 15:51:15 GMT

[quote user="Ding"]fostering/adopting strays...some mad stories out there of Vn's stopping on motorways to help injured animals etc.

[/quote]

Yep, done that on the M602 in Salford......

Re: Five things you didn’t know about veterinary nursing

Heidi O'Toole — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 14:39:25 GMT

fostering/adopting strays...some mad stories out there of Vn's stopping on motorways to help injured animals etc.

Re: Five things you didn’t know about veterinary nursing

Stuart McQueen RVN MBVNA — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 12:33:25 GMT

How about; (being serious now)

There are ............ number of qualified/listed nurses in Britian, but not all Veterinary Practices are required to hire qualified staff.....?

Veterinary nurses are the back bone of a Veterinary Practice!

We continually go above and beyond the call of duty even although as a general rule most of us are over worked and under paid? (People seem to think that we get paid shed loads of money cause they have a huge bill to pay... do they not realise that these drugs cost lots of money too?!)

There should/will always be a veterinary nurse at the end of phone at any time of the day, any day of the year to offer advise (about there pets)!

Re: Five things you didn’t know about veterinary nursing

Katie Tallett RVN MBVNA — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 12:26:11 GMT

Maybe we should have a rant page and make it a sticky...........

no useful suggestions but holding back the urge to rant too!!

Re: Five things you didn’t know about veterinary nursing

Stuart McQueen RVN MBVNA — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 12:13:03 GMT

How about;

Re: Five things you didn’t know about veterinary nursing

Nick Shackleton — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 09:18:49 GMT

We not only nurse their pets we obtain radiographs, run lab samples, monitor anaesthesia, scrub up and assist surgeons with complicated surgical cases, assist with the rehabilitation of pets. Perform dental scale and polish.

Re: Five things you didn’t know about veterinary nursing

Katie Mansfield — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 07:49:11 GMT

XRays?

K x

Re: Five things you didn’t know about veterinary nursing

Dippy — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 21:41:06 GMT

I would be surprised if many clients know even half of what VN's do, even in an average everyday type of practice - GA's, taking blood samples, performing lab procedures, fluid therapy, scale and polish etc, as well as the more advanced stuff mentioned in previous reply and the mundane stuff like cleaning kennels, instruments, stock control etc

Re: Five things you didn’t know about veterinary nursing

Purple_Hiccup — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 21:27:25 GMT

what about stitch ups and certain lump removals, im sure most clients wouldnt think a nurse could do things like that, or in referal practices where scrub nurses are really involved in surgery, maybe find a realy crit care case that a nurse was involved in and the level of care involved?