what is the role of an equine nurse??

Re: what is the role of an equine nurse??

Molly Spence — Wed, 02 Oct 2013 15:11:04 GMT

This is so interesting to read. I did some equine nursing a couple of years ago for 2 years, i loved the idea of NURSING horses. Unfortunatley the practice i worked in didnt allow me (the only nurse in the practice) to do much. I did actually have a 'job description' which in the end made me decided to give up nursing. My job description included picking up peacock poo, the bosses dogs poo, paining the whole block of stables and work up room every 3 months and weeding. It was such a shame as i really enjoyed the nursing and theatre side of equine.

Re: what is the role of an equine nurse??

Kate Lomas — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 22:35:21 GMT

Thanks SuzyM !!

Totally agree with what you are saying - just keep doing what you are doing, us EVNs need to keep pushing the limits of what we can do. Remember we are a long way behind SA nurses but most of the things they do can be transferred to equine, it all takes time to change the way things are done though!

Re: what is the role of an equine nurse??

SuzyM — Sun, 22 Sep 2013 17:05:13 GMT

Hi Kate, many congratulations on gaining your DipAVN (Eq)!!! I would love to do this but a) money and b) it would be totally wasted and unappreciated in my current job prevent me from doing so. I totally agree with you that equine nurses could do so much more, especially things like repeat blood samples, suture removals, and dressing changes, but it is SO difficult to convince some vets that we are capable.

Some of them are a bit out of touch with what training we do and how it can actually benefit them. Where I work, there is also a fear of employing qualified nurses because of perceived wage costs. Perhaps part of the solution lies in staff organisation and, as George said, job description. I think my job description basically says I will do whatever, whenever and wherever the vets say so (!). I can't complain too much as I do have a good job which I love and appreciate, but it doesn't stop me wanting to do things better.

I too find that clients will often talk things through in a more relaxed manner with nurses than with vets, perhaps because they don't feel they are wasting our time (even though we are possibly busier than the vets!!).

I try to work by example and use as many of my skills as I can as often as I can. Perhaps the day will come when it will be assumed I will do these things, rather than having to shout from the rooftops for 'permission'!

Re: what is the role of an equine nurse??

Kate Lomas — Fri, 20 Sep 2013 23:23:29 GMT

Oh, and I think nurse clinics are a definite area for expansion for EVNs! I gained the DipAVN (Eq) this year (one of the first 3 in the country, woohoo!) and the most thought-provoking part of the last year was discussion on nurse clinics. How many times do we have a patient at the practice because the owner can't medicate/bandage it? Why couldn't EVNs do repeat bloods and assessments on chronic laminitis? If you think about it there is loads we could do, both in practice and on visits, and I find clients seem more able to talk to an EVN about the practical management of their horses.

Really am going to sleep now :)

Re: what is the role of an equine nurse??

Kate Lomas — Fri, 20 Sep 2013 23:17:54 GMT

Oh, and we also totally oversee the day-to-day care of inpatients, and just ask a vet to review if concerned. As your vets get to trust your judgement they will realise that you can redress a wound without them watching you every second, and you probably have a better idea of how the colic patient is progressing than they do ;)

Re: what is the role of an equine nurse??

Kate Lomas — Fri, 20 Sep 2013 23:15:35 GMT

Great thread! I was the first EVN in our practice, from the early days with 2 stables and a padded box for GAs to a full equine hospital now. In our practice (mixed but SA and EQ departments run seperately) we have receptionists and grooms, so most of our time was spent nursing - probably 70% nursing, 30% admin. In my opinion I think the most valuable role of the EVN is providing the highest quality nursing care to the inpatients - theatre practice etc is fairly transferrable from SA nursing, but equines have very different needs in the hospital.

For example: the acute laminitic patient - if it was left to grooms/vets/interns, that patient might only get medicated, fed, mucked out. The EVN is the one which makes sure all it's other needs are met - diet plan, make sure it can access food/water if recumbant, pain scoring, environmental enrichment, hoof care, alternative analgesia, preventing/managing pressure sores.

I could probably add loads more to this, but it is late - might pop back tomorrow :)

Re: what is the role of an equine nurse??

SuzyM — Fri, 20 Sep 2013 13:12:16 GMT

Hi again, It's great to hear some like-minded opinions. I think it depends very much on where you work as to how much 'actual nursing' you get to do. Personally, although spoilt by having grooms, I actually miss the contact with the horses when grooming them and I don't always agree with how some aspects of care are carried out by our grooms (e.g. diet/nutrition); I think nurses can be better at judging what is needed for each patient because we are more aware of how their clinical condition affects them. It's all a very important aspect of nursing and I think this IS the 'actual' nursing. Of course, I communicate with the grooms and discuss things but sometimes it can be difficult to keep track of every case. Many clinics use their nurses well and I have a great position because I get to do all manner of nursing tasks and work directly with the vets and specialists. It is a rewarding and challenging job. I think nurses who were just mucking out would become disollusioned very quickly. Variety is the key!

I am the only qualified nurse at my practice; there is a student who is due to qualify in a few months and two unqualified nurses, plus two grooms. We have 12 vets, 2 interns (although one is more like an assistant vet than an intern during the day), and stabling for 14 horses. Our surgical caseload is quite varied and we perform all the usual things like castrations, sarcoid removal, tooth removal, sinus surgery, tiebacks, fracture repairs etc and emergencies including colics, joint flushes, caesarians etc. We are 1st opinion and referral. Since we have had an intern program (only the last 3 or 3 years), this has helped ease the nurse's workload (although also means I don't get to place catheters or scrub in so much, but you can't have everything!).

Since qualifying, the vets have let me do more, but most of them don't know what I am and am not allowed to do! They aren't used to having a qualified nurse around, but I've been part of the furniture long enough to tell them and stand up for myself. As far as I'm concerned, it's good for them!!

It's great to hear some positive equine nursing posts (I think we're just slightly outnumbered!). If you want any other specific info, feel free to PM me.

Re: what is the role of an equine nurse??

george hunt — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 16:23:54 GMT

thanks for your post and glad you are interested in becoming an equine nurse we are a very small group and I think its important for horses in practice that equine nursing continues to grow as a profession.

Yes you would be able to get a job as a small animal nurse in an equine practice but I would strongly recommend topping up your qualification to and EVN too. I have been a small animal nurse for twenty years and currently started my equine nursing qualification and just completing one assignment has demonstrated how different horses are and so this is why I feel that nurses should be trained to the same high standard as small animal nurses.

I have heard many people say that all an equine nurse does is muck out to but we can do far more!! Rossdales would be a great place to see practice as they use their nurses to their full potential however other practices can just use equine nurses as over qualiifed cleaners/yard staff in my opinion This would definitely give you a good idea of what the job entails! I love the nursing side of our job and do feel a little cheated in equine practice as don't feel there is as much nursing however I feel its an area that should be improved because horses deserve the same care as small animals!!

hope this helps and good luck with whatever you decide to do

Re: what is the role of an equine nurse??

DeeleyCat — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 15:24:59 GMT

Hi! This is a REALLY interesting and VALUABLE post as far as I am concerned. I am currently studying to be an SAVN but aim to continue my education into equine. I have horses myself and have worked as a groom for many years prior so am well educated in handling all sorts of horses in different situations from riding schools, to foaling to emergency situations. I have my BHS Stages I and II also.

Colleagues have tried to warn me off equine nursing saying that all I would be doing would be mucking out and trotting up - a far cry from my current very hands on role!! I love the nursing side of my job - hence why I am a nurse, and even though I'd be working with my true passion of horses, I think I would miss the practical side to being a nurse - but reading both posts above I'm pleased to see that they seem to be wrong!!!! I of course understand that there are a lot of tasks which I do currently like monitoring anaesthesia and intubating etc that only vets do but sounds like I will be looking further into getting the equine top up once qualified :-)

I was also told by a lecturer that not all Equine practices will require me to have the top up and that being an SAVN will suffice to get a role in an equine practice?! Is this correct?! I was surprised by this statement...!!??

Also... just a bit of advice... I was going to look into the possibility of doing a couple of weeks work experience in an Equine Practice - ideally a hospital such as Rossdales or similar next summer - what is the likelyhood of me getting such a placement?? I can understand if possible to get a place they would be in hgh demand, but would being a SVN already be an advantage?...

Thanks again for the original post and any further information you can provide!! xx

Re: what is the role of an equine nurse??

george hunt — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 13:53:50 GMT

no this is a great help thanks! all the things you have mentioned I do at present but on my own with no help from anyone else!!! which as you can imagine can be hard to do well! You seem to share my enthusiasm for high nursing care and I agree we need to increase the profile of good qualified equine nurses. Unfortunately trying to convince my practice of this is proving difficult and especially being on my own have no-one to bounce ideas off!!

This is a great help to know what others do as I feel I need to establish a job role to set a standard for myself to establish nursing in the practice and hopefully further nurse in the future, what surgical caseload do you have? we have 10 vets and 1 1/2 interns (which take a fair amount of actual nursing away from - although I feel nursing is better done by a nurse as we do it better than vets!!) what shifts to your nurses do?

I know there is only so much I can do being a single nurse but want to start as I mean to go on and hopefully make a difference in the long-term

thanks for taking the time to reply!

Re: what is the role of an equine nurse??

SuzyM — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 13:21:22 GMT

Hi George! Very interesting post - the worlds of small animal and equine nursing tend to be kept apart to a large extent which is a shame as we all do the same jobs essentially. From talking to others, there seems to fewer nurses employed per vet in equine practice than SA in general. There are obvious differences, such as equine anaesthesia and monitoring has to be carried out by a vet (nurses can assist and are invaluable in anaesthetic emergencies if well trained and up to date).

At the equine only practice where I work, there are 12 vets and 4 nurses. There are 2 grooms who do all the mucking out and grooming. The nurses share duties but each of us has a main role in a certain area. For example, my own role is mainly as theatre nurse. On a typical day, I will help with morning rounds preparing medications, trotting up and restraining patients, sometimes cleaning wounds and changing dressings, and updating records. Then I will prepare for whatever procedures are booked in, so will set up the endoscope/gastroscope/x-ray etc etc, or prepare theatre and place or assist to place i/v catheters and remove shoes. During surgery, I will scrub in when required or circulate making sure surgeon, anaesthetist and patient are all 'happy' (setting up equipment, passing instruments, checking patient positioning and adjusting as necessary, passing urinary catheters, fetching oxygen/drugs etc), then I assist with recovery and monitoring and walk the patient back to the stables when they are stable, check them over and phone the owner to inform them all is well (if it isn't, a vet phones them). Then there is all the cleaning...

After surgery, I go to the lab and see what samples need running...all the usual stuff, haematology, biochemistry, worm egg counts, tracheal washes, bacteriology, and posted samples etc. There are always patients needing checks, trotting up, lungeing, joints to scrub, x-rays to assist with (sometimes take), patients to clip and prep ready for the next day's surgery, errands to drive equipment from vet to vet, and the never-ending stream of equipment left by vets on return from their visits for us to clean. On that note, I take cleaning of endoscopes very seriously (colleagues think I have an unhealthy obsession (!) but I think it's really important to get it right as respiratory diseases in horses are so easily spread and the endoscope is the perfect fomite!).

One of the other nurses manages the dispensary as her main role which is a huge job and between us we sort equipment servicing & repairs, liaise with reps and keep every area of the practice stocked, clean and tidy (well, we try!!).

I think equine practices have been quite slow to appreciate the value of trained nurses; the most important quality they wanted when I joined as an unqualified member of staff was the ability to handle all manner of horses competently - which of course is vital, but there is so much more which is also essential (infection control, knowledge and understanding of ethical and legal issues, and how to react in emergency situations being a few areas which spring to mind where there are definate advantages to having trained nurses). I'm not trying to slate all the unqualified nurses before that whole debate fires off (!), I'm all for experience AND training - I worked as a nurse unqualified for 7 years before training and I have worked with some fantastic unqualified nurses, but I grabbed the first opportunity I got to qualify and I'm so glad I did as I do everything so much better now. I do think vets sometimes miss the bigger 'nursing' picture. What do you think?

Sorry to ramble on for ages, I hope this has been some help?