Veterinary Nursing

This Apprenticeship covers a range of skills and duties that support a veterinary surgeon. Veterinary nursing is the care of animals receiving treatment within a veterinary practice. Veterinary nurses will carry out a range of diagnostic tests, medical treatments and minor surgical procedures under the supervision of a veterinary surgeon; as well as educating owners about maintaining the health of their pets.

Veterinary nurse training involves clinically-based training and at least two years of work within an approved veterinary nurse training practice.

As an apprentice, you’ll be employed as a veterinary nursing assistant. You'll probably work with domestic animals such as cats, dogs, rabbits and caged birds – although you could be working with horses and farm animals too.

On the Advanced Apprenticeship, you’ll either be a senior veterinary nurse or vet practice manager helping to run the business side of things.

It’s a job that can be incredibly rewarding, but you’ll also have to deal with seriously sick or injured animals, and sometimes have to put them down. It’s a job that requires compassion, but not sentimentality; scientific knowledge; confidence when handling animals; and a willingness to help out with some of the more unpleasant tasks involved in getting sick animals back to full health.

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