Veterinary Nurse

Veterinary nursing is the supportive care of animals receiving treatment within a veterinary practice. A veterinary nurse works as a member of the veterinary team, providing expert nursing care for sick animals. Veterinary nurses also play a significant role in educating owners on maintaining the health of their pets. They carry out technical work and are skilled in undertaking a range of diagnostic tests, medical treatments and minor surgical procedures, under the direction of a vet.

The job of a veterinary nurse is varied and will include tasks like preparing animals for operations and providing support to them and their owners before and afterwards, assisting in the operating theatre, administering medications and fluid therapy to animals, observing and recording animals' vital signs (temperature, pulse, respiration and pain), applying bandages to wounds and fractures, educating animal owners on nutrition and preventative care and providing basic behavioural advice, carrying out a range of diagnostic tests in the practice laboratory (e.g. blood samples, urine samples), taking radiographs, and dispensing medication and demonstrating to owners how to use them.

Salaries for qualified veterinary nurses can vary widely but are typically between £24,000 and £30,000 per year.

You’ll need a minimum of 4 or 5 GCSE’s (at grades 9 - 4) including English language, maths and science.

All veterinary nurse training is conducted through colleges or universities that offer qualifications accredited by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), and their linked veterinary training practices. Prospective students must enrol with the RCVS to be able to legally undertake certain veterinary nursing procedures. There are two routes you can follow - either via vocational training or a higher education qualification.

The Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing is a vocational qualification designed to prepare veterinary nurses for professional registration on the RCVS Register of Veterinary Nurses. It is available on either a full-time basis or apprenticeship-style alongside a job in veterinary practice. For further information on training and entry requirements, you can contact one of the awarding organisations that offer the Level 3 Diploma included in the List of RCVS Accredited Further Education Qualifications in Veterinary Nursing. As an apprentice, you will first need to find employment in an approved training practice and then attend college on a part-time or block release basis. You can view a list of approved training practices here.

Alternatively, you can take a veterinary nursing degree at university, which can lead to additional career opportunities, such as research, the pharmaceutical industry and teaching, in addition to work in a clinical veterinary practice. Several institutions offer full-time integrated higher education courses leading to a Foundation or Honours Degree in veterinary nursing. Details are shown in the List of RCVS Accredited Higher Education Qualifications in Veterinary Nursing. Applications for the degree course should be made through UCAS.

Once you have successfully completed your qualification and provided evidence of your training, you will be eligible to join the Register of Veterinary Nurses.

To research local education and training opportunities that could lead to a career as a veterinary nurse, visit our partner website >log on | move on>.

The British Veterinary Nursing Association

Veterinary Nursing Careers Leaflet

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons

Want to know what it's like to work as a veterinary nurse? Watch the video in How Did You Get That Job?