Align-ju FEATURE schools myself , I particularly wanted to inspire these young people and highlight that we share the same background . The students were aged between 11 and 18 years ; some were aware of the profession and had already expressed an interest in joining , while others had never heard of a VN , so it was a real mix .
I started my presentation by talking through a ‘ day in the life ’ of a VN , showcasing the many different roles and responsibilities , such as client communication , anaesthesia , in-patient care and surgical nursing . We then discussed skills the students may already have that would make them a great VN , such as a passion for animal care and welfare and an enjoyment of practical activities . I also discussed the different routes into the profession – namely an apprenticeship at a college or going to university – and the pros and cons of each .
The students found the bandaging practical activity extremely engaging . I brought a stuffed dog with me , which I pretended had injured its leg , and asked the students what they would do to help it . Their suggestions were spot on and included cleaning the wound , checking for other trauma , and placing a bandage and a buster collar . I then demonstrated a bandaging procedure and let the students try bandaging the stuffed dog , which had them queuing up and even staying behind after school to have a go !
I absolutely loved connecting with the students I met at the schools . We discussed their understanding of the VN ' s role , what is involved in the career and how they could achieve a career in veterinary nursing . I found the project very rewarding ; my passion for my profession has deepened through teaching and talking about it with school students . I would encourage any VNs with an interest in teaching to get involved in a similar project .
The feedback from these visits was overwhelmingly positive and the engagement from the students showed a genuine interest in learning about veterinary nursing . It was a privilege to be able to raise awareness of my profession and be welcomed by the schools and students .
“ I absolutely loved connecting with the students I met at the schools ”
I would highly recommend other VNs carry out their own outreach project if they ' re interested in getting out there and sharing their enthusiasm for veterinary nursing . I am sure this will be only the start for me !
I would like to express special thanks to Langford Small Animal Referral Hospital and the University of Bristol Clinical Skills Lab for allowing me the time and resources to carry out this project .
Get involved
Visit https :// www . stem . org . uk / stem-ambassadors / become-astem-ambassador or scan the QR code to find out more about becoming a STEM Ambasssador .
Volume 40 ( 1 ) • February 2025
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