Registered veterinary nurses (RVN’s) are an essential part of the veterinary team. RVN’s take on a variety of different roles in the practice; including reception work, performing x-rays, taking blood samples and monitoring anaesthetics. However, did you know that the title of a veterinary nurse is not protected? This means that anyone could call themselves a veterinary nurse, despite having no official qualifications.
Let’s have a look at the role of a veterinary nurse and establish why the title should be protected.
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What is a veterinary nurse and what do they do?
RVN’s are adaptable, highly skilled and have extensive knowledge regarding the care of animals. They are an integral part of the daily running of the veterinary practice. And they can take on a variety of different job roles within the practice.
Training to become an RVN can take a minimum of 3 years. RVN’s usually attend a university or an accredited college and often work as a student veterinary nurse during their training at a veterinary practice. The veterinary nurse course is challenging and takes hard work and determination.
Tasks that registered veterinary nurses carry out include:
Taking samples
If you bring your animal to the veterinary practice, they may need to have samples taken. This includes samples of blood, faeces, hair and skin. Veterinary nurses can obtain these samples if they have been directed by a veterinary surgeon to do so.
The act of taking blood is often carried out by nurses. This involves using a needle and syringe and drawing blood from an animal’s vein. This is usually the jugular vein located in the neck, or the cephalic vein found in an animal’s forelimb. There are a variety of complications that can arise from a blood sample being incorrectly taken and RVN’s are adequately trained to do so.
Monitoring anaesthetics
If an animal needs a general anaesthetic, an RVN will most likely care for the patient whilst they are under an anaesthetic, as the veterinary surgeon carries out the procedure.
RVN’s have extensive knowledge on how to assist the vet in maintaining animals whilst they are under anaesthesia. Vital signs are regularly checked to include the animals heart rate, respiration rate, blood pressure, capillary refill time, gum colour and eye position.
There are multiple problems that can occur during an anaesthetic that both the RVN and veterinary surgeon can try to work together to try to solve.
Reception duties
Veterinary nurses can often take on the duties of a receptionist, booking appointments, operations and answering client queries.
Admitting and discharging animals
If you bring your animal in for an operation, it is most likely that a veterinary nurse will admit your animal for the procedure. This will include discussing the operation in detail to include risks and problems that may occur.
Likewise, following your pet’s operation, a veterinary nurse will usually discharge your pet and discuss post operative care and treatment.
Nurse consultations
Many practices have now introduced nurse consultations. These usually include second vaccinations, post operative checks, anal gland expression and administering of regular medications.
Nurse consultations allow veterinary nurses to share their knowledge with owners and enables them to offer help and advice when needed.
Why should the role be protected?
The role of a veterinary nurse should be protected, due to the sheer dedication that RVN’s have put into their qualification. From an RVN’s point of view, having someone who has not professionally trained and who is not qualified to carry out the work of an RVN call themselves a veterinary nurse can be insulting to our profession.
From an owners point of view, there are a multitude of problems that could arise from an unqualified nurse carrying out tasks on their pet. As owners, we all want the best possible care for our pets. It could be possible that someone who refers to themselves as a veterinary nurse, without having any official training or qualifications, could unfortunately cause unintentional harm to an animal.
Protecting the title of a veterinary nurse will not only protect animals and owners, but also gives RVN’s the true recognition that they deserve.
How do I know if someone is a registered veterinary nurse?
When you attend your veterinary practice, there are a couple of ways that you may recognise different members of the clinical team.
Different coloured scrubs
Members of the clinical team often wear scrubs as they are comfortable, practical and easy to wash. Practices have different ways of identifying members of the clinical team with different colours. Many veterinary practices have their RVN’s wear green scrubs.
Different coloured scrubs may help you identify a member of the nursing team, however, just because they are wearing a specific colour may not mean that they are registered as a veterinary nurse.
Introductions
When you deal with a member of the veterinary team, they will often introduce themselves and their job role. I usually start all of my client interactions with “Hi, I’m Ben and I’m one of the registered nurses here”. This helps owners to understand who I am and my position within the practice.
If you haven’t been introduced to a member of staff – just ask! That way you will know who you are dealing with and what their job role is.
Name badge
Name badges will tell you who a member of staff is without you having to ask. Most veterinary practices will have the staff members name followed by their qualifications.
There are a variety of roles within the clinical team including veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses, student veterinary nurses and veterinary care assistants.
RVN badge
Once a student veterinary nurse has qualified as a registered veterinary nurse, they will be sent an official qualified badge by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).
Many nurses will wear this as part of their uniform and is a sign that they have completed their veterinary nurse training.
Final thoughts on protecting the title
The title of a veterinary nurse should be protected as a way of recognising the hard work and determination that goes into becoming a registered nurse. The topic of protecting the title is constantly discussed throughout the veterinary profession and there have been many debates around the topic. Hopefully, in the not too distant future, the title of the veterinary nurse will be protected which can only provide better care for you and your pets.
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