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Veterinary nurse
Hours
35-40 per week
Starting salary
£14,000 + per year
Veterinary nurses help veterinary surgeons (vets) by providing nursing care for sick, injured and hospitalised animals. They also play an important role in educating owners on good standards of animal care and welfare. If you love animals and want to look after their health, this could be ideal for you.
A veterinary nurse needs to be calm and confident when handling animals. You’ll need to be sympathetic when dealing with upset or nervous owners. You’ll also be willing to carry out messy or unpleasant tasks.
You can qualify as a veterinary nurse either through work-based training or through higher education. Both routes need either five GCSEs at grade C or above, including English, maths and two science subjects. Or the ABC Level 2 Certificate for Animal Nursing Assistants.
WorkDesc
The work
As a veterinary nurse, your duties would include:
- preparing and carrying out nursing care plans
- holding animals and keeping them calm during treatment
- giving injections and drugs (as instructed by the vet)
- getting blood, urine and other samples from animals, and carrying out laboratory work at the practice
- sterilising instruments
- taking x-rays
- preparing animals for operations
- helping vets during operations
- carrying out minor procedures such as removing stitches.
- talking to clients about the care and progress of their animals
You would often have other responsibilities, including:
- taking care of animals staying in house (feeding, cleaning their accommodation, grooming and exercising)
- holding clinics for suture removal, post operation checks and weight management
- giving owners advice about caring for their animals
You could also have administration and reception duties.
HoursDesc
Hours
You would work between 35 and 40 hours a week, often with evening, weekend and on-call duties.
Your employer would usually provide a uniform and protective clothing.
IncomeDesc
Income
Veterinary nurses can earn between £14,000 and £22,000 a year, depending on experience. Senior veterinary nurses can earn around £25,000 a year.
Accommodation may be provided.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
EntryRequirementsDesc
Entry requirements
You can qualify as a veterinary nurse either through work-based training or through higher education. Both of these lead to Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) registration as a veterinary nurse.
Work-based training
You could work towards the RCVS Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing whilst you are working. This is an apprentice style option, and you will need to find employment at a training practice first. To find training practices in your area, contact RCVS Awards or check their website.
To undertake the diploma, you would need to have five GCSEs at grade C or above, including English, maths and two science subjects, or equivalent qualifications, which include:
- ABC Level 2 Certificate for Animal Nursing Assistants
- City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma For Veterinary Care Assistants.
When you are looking for work as a trainee or assistant, it could help you if you have relevant experience. This could be as a volunteer with a local vet, or in other kinds of work with animals, such as at local kennels or RSPCA centres.
Higher education
Instead of work-based training, you can complete an RCVS-approved veterinary nursing degree or foundation degree, which includes work experience placements. This combines RCVS-approved training with the academic qualification. It will take you longer to qualify than through work-based training, but it could give you more career opportunities, such as research or teaching.
To do a higher education course you would usually need:
- at least two A levels or equivalent qualifications, preferably in chemistry and biology
- and five GCSEs (A-C) including English language, maths and two sciences
Check the exact requirements with individual colleges and universities.
See the RCVS website for a list of approved courses. You can search for course providers on the UCAS website.
TrainingAndDevelopmentDesc
Training and development
Once you are qualified and experienced, you can add to your skills and knowledge by doing short courses or further qualifications, including:
- RCVS Diploma in Advanced Veterinary Nursing
- BVNA Pharmacy Management for Veterinary Nurses
- BVNA Certificate in Dentistry.
You could develop your career prospects by taking higher qualifications such as HND, foundation degree or degree courses.
SkillsAndKnowledgeDesc
Skills and knowledge
To become a veterinary nurse, you will need to have:
- concern for animals without being too sentimental
- calmness and confidence when handling animals
- a tactful and sympathetic approach with upset or nervous owners
- an interest in science, particularly biology
- willingness to carry out messy or unpleasant tasks
- the ability to communicate well with owners and colleagues
- administration and IT skills.
MoreInformationDesc
More information
Lantra 
Lantra House
Stoneleigh Park
Nr Coventry
Warwickshire
CV8 2LG
Tel: 0845 707 8007
www.lantra.co.uk
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS)
Belgravia House
62-64 Horseferry Road
London
SW1P 2AF
Tel: 020 7222 2001
www.rcvs.org.uk
British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA)
82 Greenway Business Centre
Harlow Business Park
Harlow
Essex
CM19 5QE
Tel: 01279 408644
www.bvna.org.uk
British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA)
Mulberry House
31 Market St
Fordham
Ely
Cambridgeshire
CB7 5LQ
Tel: 01638 723555
www.beva.org.uk
OpportunitiesDesc
Opportunities
Many veterinary nurses are employed in general veterinary practices, but you could also find work in research establishments, laboratories, universities, colleges, zoological/wildlife parks, charities, pharmaceutical companies and breeding/boarding kennels.
You may be able to find work by joining the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA) Employment Register, which publishes job seekers' details and lists vacancies. See the BVNA website for details.
With experience, you may be able to take on more responsibility, such as practice management, supervising staff or training support staff. You could also complete further studies to become a lecturer or researcher.
Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
LMIData
Related industry information
Industry summary
The veterinary nursing industry is part of the environmental and land‐based industries, represented by Lantra Sector Skills Council, which also includes the following industries: agricultural crops; agricultural livestock; animal care; animal technology; aquaculture; environmental conservation; equine; farriery; fencing; fisheries management; floristry; game and wildlife management; land‐based engineering; horticulture, landscape and sports turf; production horticulture; and trees and timber. The sector as a whole currently employs 1,126,000 people (approximately 4% of the UK workforce) in around 230,000 businesses. In addition, there are an estimated 500,000 volunteers working in the sector on a regular basis. Approximately 42% of the workforce is self‐employed.
Veterinary nurses work alongside Veterinary Surgeons in the care and treatment of animal patients, within veterinary surgeries or hospitals. They work with domestic and exotic animals, horses and farm animals. Veterinary nurses provide skilled supportive care for sick animals as well as undertaking minor surgery, monitoring during anaesthesia, medical treatments and diagnostic tests under veterinary supervision. Alternative treatments and therapies are becoming increasingly popular, so veterinary nurses need to extend their traditional skill base to cover these areas and nutritional management. Veterinary nurses also play an important role in the education of owners on good standards of animal care.
Key facts:
- There are approximately 7,783 registered veterinary nurses, there are also:
- Training to be a veterinary nurse usually takes at least two years
- Most students are female, white British, and between the ages of 25‐35 years.
- There are around 4,036 practices.
- The industry is dominated by female workers who account for 69% of all employees, rising to 98% for Veterinary Nurses.
- 64% of veterinary nurses are employed full‐time.
- 98.5% hold or are working towards a small animal qualification.
Jobs in the industry include: head nursing assistant, student veterinary nurse, senior veterinary nurse, nurse assessor, student nursing assistant.
National and regional data
[N.B. The following estimates are for veterinary nurses, veterinary surgeons and ancillary services. Data derived from IDBR, 2008 and Labour Force Survey, 2008.]
East Midlands – There are an estimated 2,932 employees in the regional workforce, in around 275 businesses.
East of England – There are an estimated 4,326 employees in the regional workforce, in around 500 businesses.
London – There are an estimated 939 employees in the regional workforce, in around 360 businesses.
North East – There are an estimated 1,412 employees in the regional workforce, in around 145 businesses.
North West – There are an estimated 2,967 employees in the regional workforce in around 420 businesses.
South East – There are an estimated 7,555 employees in the regional workforce, in around 775 businesses.
South West – There are an estimated 4,093 employees in the regional workforce, in around 580 businesses.
West Midlands – There are an estimated 3,930 employees in the regional workforce, in around 355 businesses.
Yorkshire and the Humber – There are an estimated 3,419 employees in the regional workforce, in around 320 businesses.
Northern Ireland – There are an estimated 2,346 employees in the regional workforce, in around 145 businesses.
Scotland – There are an estimated 2,933 employees in the regional workforce, in around 415 businesses.
Wales – There are an estimated 2,726 employees in the regional workforce, in around 255 businesses.
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