So You Want To Be A Veterinary Nurse? 

Veterinary nurses (V.N’s) work alongside veterinary surgeons to provide a high standard of care for animals. As well as providing skilled supportive care for animals they carry out tasks such as minor surgery, monitoring patients during anaesthesia, medical treatments and diagnostic tests under veterinary supervision. They also advise and educate on all aspects of animal care.

Qualified VN’s have their names placed on a list of veterinary nurses with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).

Qualified VN’s can chose to continue working in veterinary practice where some chose to move into practice management, supervise staff and/or train other nurses.

Careers outside of practice may include work in research establishments, laboratories, universities, colleges, zoological/wildlife parks,
charities, pharmaceutical companies and breeding/boarding kennels.

More information on becoming a VN is available from the British Veterinary Nursing Association Ltd. At www.bvna.org/smartweb/careers/careers

Entry Requirements

You must have a minimum of 5 G.C.S.E’s at grade C or above which must include Mathematics, English Language and a Science subject or hold an ‘Animal Nursing Assistant’ (ANA) or ‘Veterinary Care Assistant’ (VCA) qualification (with Functional Skills Level 2 in Application of Number & Communication).

A list of approved course providers and a list of current Training Practices (TP’s) is available from www.rcvs.org.uk

Hope this helps.

Good Luck in your chosen career.