Trainee veterinary nurses learn to support veterinarians and owners in animal care through classroom and clinical experience, including internships. They may perform various tasks, from administrative duties to assisting with emergency procedures. Specific requirements vary by jurisdiction, and career planning is important for future nurses. Some positions offer payment, while others do not.
A trainee veterinary nurse spends time learning to support veterinarians and owners in the care of animals. Veterinary nurse training takes place largely in a formal classroom, but clinical experience is also required and much of it is gained through a veterinary nurse internship. Many positions offer no monetary compensation, but some veterinary hospitals and individual physicians do offer paid trainee positions. During the course of these positions, a trainee veterinary nurse can help with administrative tasks, in addition to performing various examinations and procedures on animals brought into a facility for medical care.
Specific requirements for a veterinary nurse career vary by jurisdiction in which a trainee veterinary nurse lives and works. In most cases, however, interns are required to learn from hands-on experience in an office, hospital or clinic. Many veterinary programs offer internships for interns, while others rely on interns to find their own internships through which experience can be gained.
When pets and other animals are brought into a veterinarian’s office or hospital due to injury or illness, a trainee veterinary nurse may be assigned to assist. In this capacity, the trainee can perform a variety of tasks, including gathering information through a written and oral intake process so that a veterinarian can be informed of the animal’s symptoms and prepare the animals for an examination, documenting weight and measuring the temperature of the animal. Interns can also be assigned to clean equipment and prepare exam rooms, ensuring that all the equipment a veterinarian needs for an exam is present in one room.
A veterinary nurse trainee who is close to completing a program may be allowed to perform tasks that an entry-level trainee cannot. This can include assistance with emergency procedures as well as assistance with more routine but delicate procedures such as having x-rays performed. A senior intern can also talk with pet owners about procedures and tests, as well as answer questions.
Time spent on career planning is also common for a veterinary nursing intern. Communication with the team of teachers, counselors, mentors, and others involved in an intern’s education is important for a future nurse to gain perspective and guidance on her career choices. Studying job opportunities, keeping up with industry changes and devising strategies for career advancement are also among the activities in which trainees are routinely involved.
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