My name is Tess (the blonde one with Daphne, the Boston Terrier), and I have been a Veterinary Nurse at Point Vet in Queensland, Australia, since way back in 2012! Vet Nursing is like no other job out there!
“I could never do it, it would be too sad.“
When I tell people that I am a Vet Nurse, I often hear people say “I could never do it, it would be too sad”. I always think to myself, oh boy, there is so much more and so much happiness that can come from this career, and I want to use this space to provide everyone with a little bit more insight into what a great job it can be!
A perky good morning!
We arrive at the clinic bright and early, before the clinic opens, to perform a full examination on any hospitalised patients that may have stayed in overnight. A full examination of the pet involves checking heart and respiration rate, and temperature, checking their pain levels, administering any necessary medication and providing them with a fresh new comfy bed, with lots of hugs and affection!
Then from 7:30am – 11am, it is all guns blazing as our patients start coming through the door. Patients admitted for surgery are escorted out the back, where our team of about 3-4 vet nurses begin performing blood tests, placing intravenous catheters, calculating doses & administering any medications, including pain relief, antibiotics and sedation.
We will also have two vet nurses in on reception for the day. The nurses at the front desk start checking our emails just in case we have patients coming from the Animal Emergency Services Hospital that will need immediate attention upon arrival. They also perform all our follow-up and post-operative calls to see how our patients from the previous days are recovering. They give copious amounts of advice, and guidance and are the ultimate problem solvers for our clients who call throughout the day.
When you work day in and day out, surrounded by poorly animals, nurses learn and begin to pick up on the key identifiers that assist in steering us in the right direction towards the solution.
What actually goes on “out the back”?
Our surgical nurses spend time out the back preparing and working out an anaesthetic plan specifically tailored to manage all the surgeries within that day between 11 am-3 pm.
We often perform up to 10 general anaesthetics in one day, so it is up to our surgery nurses to have all of our patients ready and prepped for anaesthesia. Usually, in the morning, these same nurses will perform x-rays, dental scales and polishes, nail clips (x 1000), express many anal glands (gross but satisfying!) and administer routine injections such as arthritis boosters.
Next, we will begin by setting up and testing out the anaesthetic equipment, including oxygen testing, refilling anaesthetic agents, gathering necessary medications for the procedure, and the sterile instruments or miscellaneous equipment the vet will need.
Cuddles and lots of praise are received whilst the team are administering an intravenous anaesthetic induction agent to our patients as they drift off smoothly to sleep. We keep them snuggly warm, and comfortable during their procedure. We constantly monitor their heart, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and temperature and monitor pain levels whilst under the anaesthetic.
In recovery, we stay with the pet and disconnect all the monitoring equipment. The endotracheal tube can be removed once the pet has begun to come around and can safely start to swallow. We pop the pet in a comfy warm bed and sit (snuggle if we are lucky) with them until they are fully awake and happy. Once recovered and sitting upright, we will give you a call to let you know how your pet is going and book a pickup time for that afternoon.
Is that the time already?
We must remember that these babies are waking up in an odd place and are confused by the new faces, and doing things, and we cannot simply explain what is happening. And so, we aim to get them home as soon as they are safe too, so they can recover fully in the comfort of their own home. Being mindful of this and giving our patients that added bit of attention throughout the day really does go a long way in making them feel just that little bit more comfortable with us.
Of the afternoon, our vet nurses usually indulge in coffee and croissants (our favourites), and then we get straight back into it. In preparation for our patients going home, we remove their catheters and get their medications and aftercare notes ready to go home. We then sterilise and clean EVERYTHING! Everything must be sparkly fresh and ready to go for the next day. I say it like it’s a small job, but wow! There is a lot, but I won’t bore you with those details.
A spanner in the works…
Given the nature of the industry, we also often act as an emergency hospital throughout the day too. We have got to be prepared for absolutely anything to come rushing through the door. Depending on what it is, it can sometimes totally throw our scheduled day out of whack! It can be exhilarating and challenging, but I tell you what, no two days are ever the same. The abundance of things we get to do and see is the reason why I, personally, love being a veterinary nurse.
What’s not in the brochure
Vet nursing can be a difficult job. You’re go, go, go all day! One minute you’re taking a call at reception, then you’re lifting a dog onto the X-ray table, and next, you’re rolling around on the ground with a 60kg Bull Mastiff, followed by up on a bench performing CPR! There is no rest for the wicked! It can be physically demanding, so we try to rotate everyone’s roles within the clinic, so no one gets too worn out. But it does keep us fit!
Whilst around 70-80% of Vet Nursing is relatively positive, uplifting, and a great career, there is a very well-known sad side to working within the Vet Industry. You would probably have guessed that I am talking about the most difficult decision a pet owner will ever make – saying goodbye to their cherished pet.
It simply does not get any easier and we never really do “get used to it.” We get stronger over time and instead look at situations from a peaceful and positive perspective. A bright light at the end of the day where a dog is no longer in pain, a cat won’t suffer from discomfort and a peaceful goodbye where a whole family can be together to support and remember all the wonderful times they had shared.
Nurses are a vital part of the support team for our clients and our vets. There is nothing else quite like it.
Written by Tess Nolan
