Imagine nursing and caring for a patient who cannot tell you if they are in pain, feeling thirsty, hot or disoriented? Veterinary nurses learn the specialised skills needed in caring for sick or injured animals during all avenues of examination, treatment and surgery.

In Western Australia, there are around 530 registered veterinary nurses. Seventy five per cent of veterinary nurses work in the Perth metropolitan area, five per cent work in the South West, with the remainder thinly scattered throughout the rest of the State.

While 96 per cent of veterinary nurses are female, males are strongly encouraged to enter this field if it appeals.

In 2004, 17 people commenced the Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing and 53 were in training.

The Florence Nightingale Of The Animal World

A dog has just been bitten by a snake and a cat has been admitted with kidney failure. The veterinary nurse's day is busy, centred on the care and welfare of these and other animal patients. Like a regular nurse, they have to perform a wide range of duties assisting the veterinarian in examinations and surgery.

This may include cleaning, sterilising and preparing surgical instruments, monitoring the anaesthetic during operations and giving medication and injections under veterinary supervision. They may insert catheters for intravenous fluids, develop x-rays and perform clerical duties and do receptionist work.



According to Kate McMillan, former Hospital Manager at Swanbourne Veterinary Clinic, it is the variety of duties that has kept her excited about her job for more than 30 years. You can expect every day to be different, as each animal represents a different medical challenge.

'I love the fact that each phone call can alter your day in an instant, or one person can walk through the door and alter everything,' says Kate.

This could include accompanying the vet to do a house call to check a sick cat, seeing an emergency road victim or holding together a piece of intestine while the surgeon stitches it together.

In a rural practice it wouldn't be unusual for a veterinary nurse to file horses' teeth and assist in an emergency caesarean operation on a cow.



The Truth About Cats And Dogs

A love of animals may not be enough, however, to sustain you in this job. There are a lot of menial tasks to be done such as cleaning the kennels and mucking out dog faeces. Even a senior intensive care nurse like Susan Mayes who works at Murdoch University Veterinary Hospital has to do her share of these tasks. Although she does have a positive slant on kennel duties:

'Cleaning kennels can be a good thing because you are directly checking the patient. Are they eating? Are they distressed? And you do need to make the place as aseptic as possible so your animal will not get an infection or bring it into the hospital. It's about having pride in your workplace.'

A veterinary nurse must also be prepared for the fact that some animals don't recover, or may need to have euthanasia (death by chemical injection). A veterinary nurse may have to dispose of animal remains and arrange cremations.

Grief counselling skills are important as the vet nurse must help a client come to terms with the loss of a 'family member', especially in small animal practices where vet nurses have established an excellent rapport with their clients and are perhaps seeing a second or third generation of pets come through the door.

'The unnecessary euthanasia, when an owner can't cope any longer with a pet and have a healthy animal put down is the hardest part of the job,' according to Kate McMillan.



Opportunities In Veterinary Nursing

Traditionally, the nursing professions attract more females than males and veterinary nursing is no exception. Job growth is average with only about 30 new openings a year, although there are also employment opportunities in associated areas such as catteries and animal refuges. Some vet nurses can find work as drug company representatives or sales representatives in companies such as Uncle Ben's or Hill's Nutrition.

There are great opportunities for the career-minded veterinary nurse to make this an exciting career. Veterinary nurses can specialise in areas such as dental, critical care and emergency, surgical or practice management.

There is a Continuing Veterinary Education Unit at Murdoch University which runs short courses for their veterinary staff and also for veterinary nurses employed elsewhere. Ongoing training prepares you for work in varied areas, such as the 24 hour emergency department, the oncology ward at Murdoch University (where the dogs and cats undergo chemotherapy) and doing physiotherapy on dogs recovering from operations (four legs to work on, instead of two!).

The Veterinary Nurses Council of Australia, drug companies, animal health food companies and Bentley TAFE also offer ongoing education and seminars throughout the year.

Salaries vary with experience and age. Qualified veterinary nurses just starting out earn approximately $38,000 per year while those with a few years' more experience (senior nurses or hospital managers) can earn closer to the lower 50's.

Education and Training

To become a veterinary nurse you need to complete the one-year Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing offered through either Swan TAFE (Bentley Campus) or through a private training organisation. Competition is fierce, with over 400 people applying for the 25 places offered each year at TAFE. The private provider also offers 25 places per year.

Entry is based on both academic and work experience criteria. You will need to have completed Year 10 with an average level of 3.5 in each of four Learning Areas including English, mathematics and science, or equivalent. It is advisable to get work experience in a veterinary surgery or related animal field while still at school. For further information on the particular course, please contact the TAFE campus direct or check the TAFE site and/or the NTIS site (for details of the private provider) both sites are listed below.

You can also undertake a traineeship in Veterinary Nursing. For more information, contact the Australian Apprenticeships Hotline on 13 38 73 (local call cost).

Once qualified, veterinary nurses in Western Australia are required to become registered with the Veterinary Surgeons Board.

	Other Training Providers
	National Training Information Service website.
	TAFE Colleges
	Homepage links and contact details for all TAFE Colleges in WA.
	TAFE Handbook
	An online guide to full-time TAFE courses available throughout WA.

Australian Veterinary Association (WA)
28 Charles St South Perth WA 6151 Ph: (08) 9367 6827

Veterinary Surgeons Board of Western Australia
PO Box 1124 South Perth WA 6951 Ph: (08) 9367 4674 Fax: (08) 9367 1295 Email: vsbperth@wt.com.au URL: http://www.vetsurgeonsboardwa.au.com

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