You may also decide to share and develop your expertise through volunteering projects , which are run all over the world . Websites such as Worldwide Veterinary Services ( wvs . org . uk ) [ 5 ] and The Runaway Vet ( therunawayvet . com ) [ 6 ] offer plenty of information for VNs on volunteering , working and travelling abroad . Your veterinary nursing qualification can open many doors and opportunities , from caring for endangered species in the Amazon or bears in Asia to volunteering closer to home with British wildlife . As VNs , we can feel proud of being part of a vast and diverse veterinary community that spans the globe . By connecting with each other and sharing our knowledge and experience with other professionals and practices , we can enhance patient care globally and hugely enrich our own lives and careers .
Conclusions
The journey to becoming an RVN can be difficult , and the amount of knowledge you need to gather should not be underestimated . Our roles can be challenging at times , but the challenges are usually outnumbered by the many rewarding and enlightening moments .
On qualification , it ' s important to remain committed to your self-development and to keep your skills current and relevant . Discover which areas of veterinary nursing interest you , so you , your practice and your patients will get the most from your career . VNs play a vital role in the profession and , as such , we all deserve to feel proud , motivated and empowered .
REFERENCES
1 Whiteman S . Acute pancreatitis – diagnosis and treatment . Veterinary Nursing Journal . 2020 ; 35 ( 9 – 12 ): 318 – 321 . Available from : https :// doi . org / 10.1080 / 17415349.2020.1811821 .
2 Webb A . Huge surge in contacts to Vetlife so far in 2023 . Available from : https :// www . vettimes . co . uk / news / huge-surge-in-contactsto-vetlife-so-far-in-2023 / [ Accessed 1 May 2023 ].
3 Vetlife . Available from : https :// www . vetlife . org . uk / [ Accessed 5 May 2023 ].
4 Veterinary Defence Society . About VetSafe . Available from : https :// www . thevds . co . uk / aboutvetsafe [ Accessed 23 June 2023 ].
5 Worldwide Veterinary Service . Available at : https :// wvs . org . uk / [ Accessed 20 May 2023 ].
6 The Runaway Vet . Start Here . Available at : https :// therunawayvet . com / start-here / [ Accessed 20 June 2023 ].
Insights from other VNs
“ Your teammates are important and a great source of support . If you ' re thinking , feeling or experiencing something , the chances are that a colleague has too . The job can actually be really fun ; working with pets , their owners , and likeminded people on a daily basis . We ' re all a bit bonkers , and it ' s great !”
Kayleigh Lamb , lead kennels RVN , qualified 2016
“ The mental strain can sometimes be difficult . There is pressure from all aspects of the veterinary team , including other VNs , VSs and the reception staff . It can be really hard when you lose a patient ; you can question whether you could have done more for them , even when you know you ' ve done everything in your power to keep them alive . However , the positive cases are extremely rewarding and there ' s a great sense of accomplishment when things go right . I love the fact that you can make fantastic friendships , share knowledge with clients and even bring new life into the world , all on the same day .”
Kayley Williams , RVN , qualified 2020
“ I wish I ' d reminded myself more often that all the hard work would be worth it in the end . I would also add , don ' t put too much pressure on yourself as a student . It ' s really important to not compare yourself to others – learning is a process and it is different for everyone .”
Lydia Goacher , RVN , qualified 2023
“ Initially , I didn ’ t realise VNs could specialise ; some nurses love theatre nursing , for example , while others prefer medical nursing . I enjoy nursing patients in hospital and I like that my career caters for my interests and I can focus my CPD on medical nursing .”
Laura Nixon , RVN , qualified 2017
“ I really enjoy being an RVN as I get to do what I love every day . However , I didn ' t realise that the job would be so emotional . Sometimes cases can be upsetting and you can find yourself having to support clients emotionally too , which I wasn ' t expecting . The amount of knowledge you need to gain during your training can be daunting – but it ' s all worth it in the end !”
Lauren Allen , lead surgical RVN , qualified 2020
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