Our role as a vet nurse is to help treat and care for sick and injured animals. We also help with routine surgeries and consults. We do this by using what we have been trained in; phlebotomy, anaesthesia, nutrition, surgical nursing, client communications, emergency triage, radiology, radiation treatments, pharmacology, laboratory diagnostics, caring for in-patients, professional cuddler and many more!
As clients arrive with their pets, the Vet Nurse’s chat to them regarding the procedures being done and how we will do them, answering any questions the client may have. The nurses will fully examine the patient and may do a pre-anaesthetic blood test to make sure all of their vital organs are functioning and healthy.
One of the first jobs a Vet Nurse does to prepare a patient for surgery is putting an IV line in and take a blood sample. We use a fear free and low stress approach to help the patient feel more comfortable while being with us here at the clinic. Then with the Vets we work out the best way to proceed with the anaesthetic and what drugs to use. Each patient has different needs so planning for their anaesthetic plays a crucial part in how smooth their surgery and recovery goes.
The Vet Nurse’s priority in the surgical room is to monitor the health and safety of their anaesthetised patients and to help the Veterinarians prepare for the surgical procedure.
Some of the responsibilities include things such as; IV fluid therapy, record keeping of vitals and procedures performed, administering medication, monitoring heart rate, respiration rate, blood pressure and assistance to the surgeon as needed.
The Vet Nurse stays in the surgical suite doing these checks for every procedure that includes sedation or anaesthesia.
One thing that happens to every patient when they are under sedation /anaesthetic is that they lose their ability to regulate their body temperature, so one of the ways we combat this is by wrapping them in lots of soft warm blankets, heat pads, bubble wrap and socks on their feet!
After the patient has finished their surgery they are moved into Recovery until they are fully awake and ready to go home. The Vet Nurse stays by their side the whole day and regularly monitor their vital signs. Waking up from an anaesthetic can be scary for patients and they can be very confused, so the Vet Nurses make sure the patients are safe, warm and quietly comforted.
When the patient has woken up enough we often give them a small feed to help them feel better and also give them some extra pain relief.
As our patients are ready to go home, a Vet Nurse’s job is to discuss post-surgical care with the owners and answer any questions they may have. This incudes explaining any take home medications and booking in any requires post-op checks.
After all the patients have gone home the Vet Nurses organise and prepare all the surgical instruments and kits. We clean cages, prepping them for the next day and do some admin like phoning the owners of patients that are coming in for surgery in the next few days or checking in on those who have been recently in for surgery.
Written by Elke Meinsma of VetsOne
