May is Veterinary Nurse Awareness month!

Veterinary Nurses make up part of the veterinary team in any practice.  Their role includes many and varied jobs from monitoring anaesthetics, and caring for hospitalised patients, to laboratory diagnostic tests, taking x-rays, assisting with physiotherapy and running a range of nursing clinics. They also provide lots of love and cuddles for pets that visit the practice!

The Veterinary Nursing team can be made up of Registered Veterinary Nurses (RVNs), Student Veterinary Nurses (SVNs) and Animal Nursing Assistants (ANAs). Here at St Boniface we have 4 RVNs, 2 SVNs and 1 ANA to look after your pets during their stay.

Being a Registered Veterinary Nurse means they are enrolled on the register for Veterinary Nurses with the RCVS.  In order to qualify as an RVN, a series examinations and practical training have to be passed.  They can be recognised by their bottle green uniform and their registration badge.  Student Veterinary Nurses are training to be nurses and will be enrolled on a course at College or University. They can be recognised by their light green and white striped uniform. Animal Nursing Assistants assist with the care of patients and have sometimes completed an Animal Care course at college level. Uniforms vary but they often wear burgundy uniforms.

Check out our Facebook page and website throughout the month of May, as we will be presenting the different job roles, responsibilities and opportunities for Veterinary Nurses, as well as information on how you can train as a Veterinary Nurse.

We will also be running a competition in which you can win the opportunity to come along and spend the morning with the Veterinary Nurses and get a real “behind the scenes” experience!