A veterinary nurse student spends time learning how to assist veterinarians and animal owners with animal care. Although most veterinary nurse training takes place in a formal classroom setting, clinical experience is also required, and a veterinary nurse internship provides a lot of it. Although many positions do not pay, some veterinarian hospitals and individual doctors do pay trainees. A veterinary nurse trainee may assist with administrative tasks as well as perform various examinations and procedures on animals brought into a facility for medical care while working in these positions.
The specific requirements for a career as a veterinary nurse vary depending on where a veterinary nurse trainee lives and works. Trainees are typically required to learn through hands-on experience in an office, hospital, or clinic setting. Many veterinary programs provide job placement for trainees, while others rely on trainees to find their own internships to gain experience.
A veterinary nurse trainee may be assigned to assist when pets and other animals are taken to a veterinarian’s office or hospital due to injury or illness. A trainee in this position may perform a variety of tasks, including gathering information through a written and oral intake process so that a veterinarian is aware of the animal’s symptoms, documenting weight, and taking an animal’s temperature in preparation for an examination. Trainees may also be assigned to clean equipment and prepare exam rooms by ensuring that all of the equipment required by a veterinarian is present in the room.
A veterinary nurse trainee nearing completion of a program may be permitted to perform tasks that an entry-level trainee would not be permitted to perform. Assisting in emergency procedures, as well as more routine but delicate procedures like providing x-ray examinations, are examples. A senior trainee may also be able to explain procedures and tests to pet owners and answer questions.
A veterinary nurse trainee’s time is frequently spent on career planning. For a future nurse to gain perspective and direction regarding her or his career choices, she or he must communicate with teaching staff, counselors, mentors, and others involved in the trainee’s education. Trainees routinely engage in activities such as researching job opportunities, staying up to date on industry changes, and developing career advancement strategies.