You may have seen them in green scrubs, maybe holding a wiggly puppy or comforting a worried owner, but do you really know what they do?
Following on from Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month in May, I’d like to pull back the curtain to shine a light on the incredible nursing team at Village Vet Hampstead, led by Sarah Nicoll, our clinical nurse manager.
RVNs are not just ‘vet assistants’.
They are skilled, qualified professionals with years of training under their belts, providing skilled medical care to animals under the direction of a veterinarian.
Their role is diverse, combining clinical expertise, patient advocacy and client education.
Our nursing team here at Village Vet Hampstead also perform a wide range of medical procedures.
These include monitoring anaesthesia to ensure patient safety during surgery, administering medications, performing diagnostic tests such as taking blood samples, running lab tests and assisting with X-rays and ultrasound, along with wound management and helping emergency care patients.
Our brilliant nursing team also play a crucial role in client education and support, helping pet owners understand their animal’s needs by explaining treatments, medications and post-op care, advising on nutrition, weight management and subjects such as parasite control, and demonstrating techniques like bandage care or administering medication at home.
As well as this crucial work with our clients and patients, many of our senior nursing team members take on leadership and training roles, helping to mentor student veterinary nurses, alongside providing and taking part in educational workshops and continuing professional development (CPD) sessions.
So next time you’re in at the vets and see an RVN, know that they’re not just “helping out”, they’re leading, healing, educating and innovating.
Village Vet provides exceptional veterinary care thanks to an expert team working within state-of-the-art facilities.
For more information, visit https://villagevet.co.uk.
Roxy O’Brien is a registered veterinary nurse and practice manager at Linnaeus-owned Village Vet’s Hampstead practice.
