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    • Ask The Expert
    • 28 Feb, 2020

    A day in the life of our veterinary nurses

    The role of a Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN) is a busy and challenging one, and our skilled nurses have a packed schedule each day, caring for animals and supporting our vets.

    As well as helping in consultations and surgery, our vet nurses also run a variety of clinics and are always on hand to advise owners on their pet’s health and well-being. Head Nurse Charlotte Whalley shares a typical day for the vet nurses in our Community Vet Clinic.

    8am

    RVN Amy assists the vets as they admit the animals coming in for surgery that day. It is the vet nurses’ job to calculate and prepare the anaesthetic drugs and pain relief injections.

    8:30am

    Time for RVN Graham to check on the patients in our hospital ward, administering any medications or treatments and making sure everyone has had their breakdast. Sometimes there is some loud meowing or a bark to let us know they are ready to eat!

    9am

    Surgery starts and the first patient is brought in. We prepare the animals for surgery and monitor their vital signs while they are under anaesthetic.

    10:30am

    Depending on the rota, while some vet nurses are in theatre, others assist in the vaccination clinics. These are held twice a week on a Thursday and Saturday. RVN Demetra wodks alongside vet Emily, preparing the vaccines, helping to carry out health checks and making sure each patient’s medical record is kept up to date.

    12pm

    The animals that have had surgery are monitored during their recovery. As they wake up, we offer them some food. Most patients need to be nil by mouth overnight prior to having an anaesthetic so they are often hungry; others need a little more encouragement to eat!

     

    12:30pm

    We always make sure our hospitalised animals get lots of TLC. Keeping our patients comfortable and entertained is an important part of our job and minimising stress will help to promote recovery.

    1pm

    It’s time for a lunch break after a busy morning and a good chance for RVN Kelly to catch up with Josh from our Kennels team who has some news to share about one of our animals who has been happily rehomed.

    2pm

    Patient Tommy has come in for a Nurse Clinic appointment. RVN Pam clips Tommy’s nails and does a weight check, then gives his owner some advice to help with his weight-loss programme.

    3pm

    Felix has been neutered today, and has recovered from the anaesthetic and is ready to go home. RVN Kelly goes through aftercare advice with his owner and check the fit of his cone collar to make sure that he can’t lick his surgical wound.

    4pm

    RVN Graham makes sure that all of the surgical instruments are thoroughly cleaned, air-dried and then sterilised, ready to be used again tomorrow.

    5pm

    RVN Graham checks on the hospitalised patients one last time, then heads home for a well-earned rest. At 7:30pm the vet nurse on late duty will administer any evening medications that are needed before handing over to the night staff, who will keep a close eye on the animals until morning.

     

    Community Vet Clinic

    Find out more about the services we offer at our Community Vet Clinic services, including all of our Nurse Clinics.

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