Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Now Ye're Talking - To A Veterinary Nurse
Options
-
15-07-2015 1:23pm#1
Comments
-
-
-
-
-
-
Advertisement
-
We do love our pets in this country. Boards' Animals & Pets forum is always busy for example. I share my flat with a Hermann's Tortoise called Alexander and I can't imagine life without him (and he's gonna outlive me by some margin anyway, he's only 5 now and should live till he's 70).
Today we have someone who's job helps get our animals and pets back to us if they've fallen ill or have suffered an injury. Veterinary Nurses are the people who help out a vet just like people nurses.
It's worth pointing out that our site rules about professional/medical advice still stand - if you have an animal with some sort of ailment, bring it to a vet! Asking someone on the internet what to do is beyond irresponsible.
Sure Dav you might live another 70+ years
:cool: 0 -
OMG my FAVE AMA so far!!
I love animals more than people so this AMA is going to be sooooo interesting to me 
Do you ever get really attached to any animals that come in for operations etc?
Do you feel teary day to day when sad things happen? (I personally would be an emotional WRECK)
Have you ever taken an animal home to keep/rescue that may have come in or been brought in?0 -
-
Hi everyone!
First of all, thanks a million for taking the time to ask questions, I'm surprised there are so many already!
And secondly, thanks for the opportunity to do this AMA. Hopefully it'll make people aware of what a veterinary nurse like me does. I still find a lot of people haven't a clue unfortunately, but things are definitely changing.
I'll answer all your questions as best as I can 0 -
Hollister11 wrote: »Sure Dav you might live another 70+ years:cool:
I'm nearly 40, so I somehow doubt it 0 -
Advertisement
-
-
Wow, I'm pleasantly suprised that there are so many really really good questions, thanks so much everyone!ScienceNerd wrote: »Do you work mainly with household pets, farm animals, or a mix?
Have you ever had to report a case of animal cruelty?
Hi ScienceNerd.
I am actually between jobs at the moment. I've got around 2 years of experience under my belt (been qualified for 5 but it's a tough area to get a position in. I've only worked with companion animals, dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs mainly but I've seen a couple of rats, mice, geckos and terripins. In my last clinic we did neuter a ram though.
Edit: I forgot to answer the other question. I haven't had to report a case of animal cruelty but unfortunately I think it's inevitable with the way things are going in Ireland.It's an impossible question, but what is your favourite animal.....and it can be animal, bird, insect or whatever. Just as long as you don't say human
Hello FanadMan. Yikes, that is an impossible question (but I'm sorry to say it's not humans)! But if I was pushed I would have to say dogs, with cats coming a very close second. I also have a weird fascination with butterflies.Rockiemalt wrote: »Whats the best part of your job?
Whats your least favorite aspect of it?
If you train as a vetinary nurse are there other opportunities aside from working in a vet practice?
The best part of my job has to be sending a happy and healthy animal home with very happy and relieved owners, epsecially if it's an animal that has been very ill.
Worst part has to be treating an animal for a long time, getting attached, and then having them suddenly deteriorate and even pass away. That always hurts, always.
Aside from working in a vet practice, yes, there are other opportunities. A couple of my college classmates have gone on to study veterinary medicine in Slovakia. Some work as reps for drug companies or food companies, a few went on to do other things, one did a MSc in Toxicology. It's really not restricted to working in practice but that's what type of job I'm looking for myself at the moment. I absolutely love working in practice because no two days are the same, no two cases are exactly the same.Hollister11 wrote: »How to you manage to cope when you see animals who have been badly mistreated ?
i don't think I could hold my self together if I came across distressed animals like that.
Hi Hollister11. Thankfully I haven't come across any deliberate cruelty just yet, but unfortunately I do think it's inevitable. I have come across a few cases of neglect, which can be just as bad. Personally I do have my moment to get upset and/or angry, but then I have to do my job and help the animal. I've seen a couple of very bad embedded collars, one was so bad that I genuinely have no idea how the owner did not smell it, it was horrific. You honestly just have to remember why you're doing your job, for the animal's healthy and wellbeing.Is there a job ceiling? As in, do you reach a certain rate of pay and stop there?
Also interested in the other job opportunities question.
Are you ever afraid of any of the animals?
Hello Mr Walsh. Great question! At the moment in Ireland, there isn't actually a pay scale for veterinary nurses, so a person with ten years experience and a person just out of college could potentially be earning the same amount. Rates of pay is entirely up to the clinic paying the nurse. This is actually a topic that has been discussed between myself and some colleagues and we're hoping that things will change in the near future.
In fact, veterinary nurse wasn't actually a protected term until very recently, which mean that literally anyone could call themselves a veterinary nurse and work in a practice without a qualification. That has recently changed and everyone that wishes to call themselves a veterinary nurse must have the relevant qualification(s) and be registered with the Veterinary Council of Ireland.
I've answered the job opportunities question as best as I can, but if you would like to know anything else feel free to ask.
Yes, there are definitely times where I have been scared of the animals, but only if the animal is aggressive. An aggressive cat is terrifying.
DeltaWhite wrote: »OMG my FAVE AMA so far!! I love animals more than people so this AMA is going to be sooooo interesting to me
Do you ever get really attached to any animals that come in for operations etc?
Do you feel teary day to day when sad things happen? (I personally would be an emotional WRECK)
Have you ever taken an animal home to keep/rescue that may have come in or been brought in?
Hi DeltaWhite, thanks for the questions! I hope this AMA is as interesting as you hope for!
Yes, I definitely do get attached to animals that come in for surgery and treatment. It's difficult not to get attached for me but I actually like that aspect of the job. If you can get attached while getting the animal to trust you also, it makes treatment much less stressful for the team and the patient.
There is actually one dog in particular that jumped into my mind when I read this question, and that I still think about. Unfortunately he was quite ill and was euthanised. One of the nicest, most relaxed and loveable dogs I have ever met. I will admit I did have a little bit of a cry when I found out he'd been put to sleep.
I have had teary moments, yes. (See above) We're all human so I think it's a normal reaction to have, in fact I would worry if I didn't have that type of reaction. Actually, thinking about it I've had more of those moments than I can count. It can be a very emotional job sometimes.
As for taking an animal home, it hasn't happen. Yet. I think most vet nurses will tell you that they've done it, in fact all of the nurses I know from work and college have rescued animals that have been brought to their clinics. I think it's sort of inevitable so in the future the answer to this question will probably have changed!Wichita Lineman wrote: »Was there any particular incident or reason inspiring you to become a Veterinary Nurse in the first place?
Hi Wichita Lineman I suppose there probably were a couple of different incidents. One time I found a tiny blackbird in my back garden and decided to try and mind it. Unfortunately it died, but I can't imagine I was any more than 10-11 years old at the time. My mam said she knew from the time I was very young that I was going to work with animals in some capacity, I always loved animals, always. I was the type of kid that picked up spiders to put them in a safer place, I loved finding caterpillars and all that kind of thing. We always had dogs, in fact there was never a time where we didn't have at least one dog. I also used to love going to relatives houses if they had pets. I actually had my heart set on becoming a vet until I saw practice at the age of about 16 and it changed my mind. That's when I was 100% sure nursing was what I wanted to do. 0 -
-
Thank you for doing this! I am a huge dog-person, so I'll be fascinated by this!
Most of what I could have asked has probably been already asked, so I'll try to keep it on a new topic.
Most of the questions dealing with emotional attachment to animals is very understandable. But in any business where a degree of "professional coldness" is required, what do you do in order to cope with having to be slightly detached from the whole process? Or is it better for the owners/families of the pet in question for you to show a little bit of emotion?
You mentioned that it is hard to get work in your profession sometimes and that you are currently between jobs. Naively, I assumed that there was a shortage of people working in veterinary medicine, considering the insanely high points requirement and the strenuousness of the course. So, basically, how difficult will it be for you to find a new position? And is this due to the economic downturn or has this always been the case?
You mentioned that you largely dealt with household pets (dogs, cats, etc.) in your practice. Would this be your preference, or would you prefer to be dealing with larger, more "commercial" animals, or are household pets your niche preference?
What is the most exotic animal you've ever dealt with? Any snakes or spiders or other weird things of the creepy, crawly, jungle-y type?
And finally, the most important question of all: Aren't Siberian Huskies the most gorgeous, cuddly, lovable and amazingly brilliant animals out there?! 0 -
-
JaseBelleVie wrote: »Thank you for doing this! I am a huge dog-person, so I'll be fascinated by this!
It's not a problem at all. Hope you enjoy the thread! I'll answer these one at a time.
Most of the questions dealing with emotional attachment to animals is very understandable. But in any business where a degree of "professional coldness" is required, what do you do in order to cope with having to be slightly detached from the whole process? Or is it better for the owners/families of the pet in question for you to show a little bit of emotion?
Excellent question. This one is going to be a tough one to answer but I'll do my very best. Personally (and in my experience), I think you need a balance between professional coldness and showing some emotion. I actually find that most clients do actually like for the veterinary team to show a bit of emotion. I think it makes them trust you, but at the same time it's very important to remain professional. You have to judge which clients to take which approach with which can be a challenge. Some people would love a bit of a fuss made of them, for want of a better expression, and some people would just prefer that you just get them in and out of the clinic as fast as humanely possible, especially when you're dealing with a recently deceased animal or a euthanasia case. You have to become quite good at reading people.
You mentioned that it is hard to get work in your profession sometimes and that you are currently between jobs. Naively, I assumed that there was a shortage of people working in veterinary medicine, considering the insanely high points requirement and the strenuousness of the course. So, basically, how difficult will it be for you to find a new position? And is this due to the economic downturn or has this always been the case?
Another great question. At the moment I am finding it difficult but maybe that's because I'm anxious to get back into practice. I feel it's probably due to the economic downturn. Things are getting better so I'm hoping that something will turn up very soon. I've only been out of work since March. I was unlucky enough to graduate when the downturn was just beginning so I'm actually not sure what things were like before.
You mentioned that you largely dealt with household pets (dogs, cats, etc.) in your practice. Would this be your preference, or would you prefer to be dealing with larger, more "commercial" animals, or are household pets your niche preference?
Yes, companion animals are definitely my own preference. I find working with companion animals is really interesting. That said, I wouldn't mind working with cattle etc.
What is the most exotic animal you've ever dealt with? Any snakes or spiders or other weird things of the creepy, crawly, jungle-y type?
I haven't dealt with a massive amount of exotics to be honest. I've seen a couple of geckos, one or two turtles, a terripin. I've not seen a snake or a spider yet but they are popular so I'm sure I'll see some further on in my career.
And finally, the most important question of all: Aren't Siberian Huskies the most gorgeous, cuddly, lovable and amazingly brilliant animals out there?!
Yes, they are gorgeous! So energetic though! I know a couple of people with huskies and they're all completely hyper. They are absolutely beautiful dogs though. 0 -
Is being a vet nurse worth it? I've heard a people say that they'd never be a vet nurse (and one of them was a vet) due to the amount of work vs the amount of pay.
Whats the most common condition you've seen?
(PS I've a tortoise around the same age as yours Dav! It's a Horsfield though)
Hello!
Tough question, but a good one. For me, despite the fact that I am currently jobless, it is worth it. I will say that the money is not great at all, especially in smaller clinics, but I love the job so in my opinion it is worth it. Your friend is right regarding the amount of work work vs the pay though. I'm not selling it as a career, am I?!
Most common condition would vary from animal to animal. I dealt with mainly cats and dogs. In cats, in my experience, the most common condition would probably be urinary issues (mainly blockages), whereas I find ear conditions and anal gland problems were very common in dogs.0 -
-
-
-
Advertisement
-
-
-
-
-
thegreatgonzo wrote: »Hi i'm a veterinary nurse too and I'm delighted you are doing this. I've often wished there was a forum on boards for veterinary issues as there are a few veterinary specific work problems that I'd like to discuss anonymously. I qualified 2 years ago and I still find the gulf between the 'best practice' we learned about in college and the reality of some work environments a bit frustrating. Have you had an experience at work where you thought to yourself this is so the opposite of what my lecturers said should be done?
Also good luck in the job hunt:-)
Hi there thegreatgonzo, nice to see another VN about. There are a few of us here on Boards. (I do have my own personal account but thought it best to keep it separate from this.) A specific forum would be a fantastic idea I think. Maybe in the future it will happen.
I have a bit of experience with that, especially with regard to double bagging surgical kits before autoclaving, covering scissors in surgical kits, and sometimes with regard to restraint of patients, there are probably lots more. It does get frustrating, I can see where you're coming from.
And thank you, I'm hoping something turns up. Checking the IVJ and IVNA websites constantly! 0 -
-
Would you ever consider studying to be a vet? A friend of mine is a qualified vet nurse, she is now studying to be a vet in Budapest! Sounds like a lot of hard work, hopefully will be worth it in the end.
Have you ever been tempted to take any homeless pets sent in home with you to keep? Or have you?
Do you think pet insurance is worth it? If it's something you can't really afford?
Hey Lia_lia. Thanks for the questions.
Personally I don't think it's something I'd ever do. It's very expensive. Plus, five more years in college seems very daunting. I'm happy being a vet nurse though, I think it's what I was meant to do. I hope your friend is doing well though, I admire her.
Yes, I have been tempted several times but unfortunately I'm not in a position to take animals (yet) but I'm sure I'll eventually end up bringing something home, it's almost inevitable. At one stage I really wanted to take a three legged cat but our dogs are not cat friendly.
Insurance ins't something I know a huge amount about but it's definitely becoming popular here, especially in bigger clinics/areas. I think it's worth it, especially if you have a breed of dog that may be likely to develop a certain issue or disease at a later life stage. Some conditions can have costly ongoing treatment so it definitely helps in these cases.0 -
-
Do you learn much in college about exotics? Or is it the sort of thing where you do a module or two and that's it? If you wanted to get more experience with reptiles or something like that, would you have the opportunity to do that in Ireland or would you need to go to the UK?
I have an unnatural obsession with guinea pigs I have 12 beautiful fluffies at the moment. I found it fairly tough to find a practise that was confident and knowledgeable regarding pigs, which makes me wonder if smallies are covered much in college? I know in the UK where guinea pigs are more popular there are a good few practices that are able to do dental work on pigs without anaesthetic. Have you ever come across this here? 0 -
Advertisement
-
Hi Rockiemalt. Hope you're enjoying the thread. Thanks for the questions. I have seen SuperVet and I think he does some amazing work, he must be an incredibly intelligent guy to come up with some of the techniques he has. I haven't seen the most recent season but I think I'll catch up online, I've been hearing great things. It's lovely to see someone so passionate about his job. However, it does seem like he does little else apart from work. That's just my opinion though.Rockiemalt wrote: »Thanks fir all the answers so far. Have you seen Supervet and if so what did you think of it?
Would you ever consider being an animal physio, or hydrotherapist or behaviourist or specialising in another animal area?!
To become an animal physio I'd have to study human physiotherapy as far as I'm aware but I've not looked into it at any length. I would like to do some more training but there aren't many options here in Ireland. Going into the area of behaviour is a bit easier though. Maybe in the future, who knows?Do you learn much in college about exotics? Or is it the sort of thing where you do a module or two and that's it? If you wanted to get more experience with reptiles or something like that, would you have the opportunity to do that in Ireland or would you need to go to the UK?
I have an unnatural obsession with guinea pigs I have 12 beautiful fluffies at the moment. I found it fairly tough to find a practise that was confident and knowledgeable regarding pigs, which makes me wonder if smallies are covered much in college? I know in the UK where guinea pigs are more popular there are a good few practices that are able to do dental work on pigs without anaesthetic. Have you ever come across this here?
Thanks for the question Vojera!
I didn't study a huge amount of exotics material in college. We had a few lectures but at the time exotics weren't as popular as they are now. I would probably have to go to the UK to get more experience in exotics.
Guinea pigs are lovely little creatures. They are covered in college, just not to the same extent because Ireland is still very much a dog/cat country in my experience. I haven't a huge amount of experience with them, I've clipped their nails but that would be it. I've only ever seen one guinea pig anaesthetic but that was for an orthopaedic procedure. Apologies for not answering this question well. The majority of my experience is with dogs and cats. 0
This discussion has been closed.
Advertisement