Nurses
My patient can't tell me when and where they hurt!
Veterinary nursing is a rewarding and challenging career. The benefits are many. It is a hands on occupation that brings you into contact with animals and their owners. No two days will ever be the same, so you can be assured that you will never experience a dull day. The veterinary industry is rich with dedicated and committed individuals who not only give 100% to their jobs, but provide many hours of voluntary work raising orphaned and homeless animals.
Veterinary nurses are a valuable and essential part of the veterinary healthcare team. Their personal skills encompass communication, flexibility, empathy, a commitment to increasing their knowledge and of course be passionate about pets. They learn specialised skills needed in caring for sick or injured animals during all avenues of examination, veterinary diagnosed treatments, general anaesthesia and surgery.
Find out more and find some great links by selecting MORE.
Every day is a journey
A cat has just been admitted with kidney failure, a motor vehicle accident victim has just walked through the day, and the waiting room is full of clients. Not only does the nurse assist the veterinarian in medical procedures and surgery, they also are a hub of information and communication for their clients.
In addition, their daily schedule includes cleaning, sterilising and preparing surgical instruments, monitoring the anaesthetic during operations and giving medication and injections under veterinary supervision. They also may insert catheters for intravenous fluids, develop x-rays and perform clerical duties and receptionist work.
A passion for animals is a major attraction for potential candidates for the veterinary industry however new recruits soon find out that there are also a number of menial tasks that must be done each and every day. Even the most senior of nurses may need to lend a hand to cleaning kennels or picking up dog faeces.
In addition, a nurse must be able to cope with the fact that some people may not treat their animals with the same respect that you and I might. Or at the same time some owners can't cope with a healthy pet and may choose to have their animal's euthanised.
A veterinary nurse salary is usually reflective of their age and experience. Nurses will be the first to point out that they do the job for the love of it, not the pay packet. In saying this, nursing within Australia now has a first-class career progression which means that nurses can now move into management and administrational roles within the industry. The most experienced of nurses or even the practicing vet will agree that the veterinary industry is not paid for the energy and effort they put into their patient. This is an emotional industry and we do it for the love.
Where to start - turning dreams into reality
The current qualification that provides an individual with the skill to provide competent support to a Veterinary Practice is a Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing (RUV 40404). Prior to this, a Certificate II may be completed and gives credits towards this final certificate. This is a National qualification recognised in all states in Australia.
All training providers in Australia offer accreditation to this qualification through the Veterinary Nursing Training Package. Once this initial qualification has been gained further units of study can be achieved up to Diploma level, dependant on the skills you utilise in your practice.
For more information on these qualifications contact your selected registered training organisation or go to the National Training Information Service to choose a training organisation. Greencross Vets chooses to send their nurses through the Australian Agricultural College Corporation for Certificate II and Certificate IV and through the Animal Industry Resource Centre for Diploma level qualifications. Within each state there is also a minimum of at least one TAFE offering these qualifications. Enrolments may be full-time/part-time (at the training institute) or studied externally where the nurse can be employed and learn while completing their qualification. The external study mode is preferred by most nurses as it combines an income with the qualification they require for their job. Qualifications in Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing are competency based but tend to take the average student up to 3 years to complete.
Many training organisations require a minimum amount of regular work placement within a vet clinic in order to enrol so this should be kept in mind as the first priority when trying to enter the industry.
The other popular way of gaining employment and a start within the industry is to be employed as a Trainee (similar to an Apprentice). Many employers like hiring in this way as the award wages are lower per hour, the employer receives Federal government incentives to assist with the costs of hiring and training you, and the employer is only obliged to keep you employed until you finish your qualification. If you are employed as a Trainee your employer may offer to pay for your qualification's course fees, however this is not a requirement. At Greencross Vets we prefer to hire on an "as need" basis. This way we pay all our nurses our normal above award wage and are not only with our company for the time it takes to complete the qualification. Greencross Vets will then organise a traineeship for our new employee if this is the most cost effective way for the qualification to be studied.
For more information on Veterinary Nursing careers visit the Veterinary Nurses' Council of Australia Website - The VNCA offers support and direction for Veterinary Nurses and sets and maintains standards for excellence in animal care through quality education and support.