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C A R E E R S A D V I C E
11
EQUINE MATTERS
CAREERS
ADVICE AND GUIDANCE
Careers:
Equine Veterinary Nurse
Marie Rippingale Bsc (Hons) REVN G-SQP from Scarsdale Veterinary
Group
describes the role of an Equine Veterinary Nurse in Practice.
E
quine veterinary nursing is a dynamic
and challenging vocation and in my
opinion it is the best job in the world!
To be an Equine Veterinary Nurse (EVN) you
have to have a strong love of horses but you
also need to be disciplined, organised and
capable of adapting to any situation. The first
veterinary nursing training scheme was set
up in 1961, but a specific equine veterinary
nursing qualification has only recently been
introduced. The first EVN examination was
held in 2000 and the first certificates
awarded in 2001. Qualified EVNs carry out
a number of functions in equine practice and
are specifically trained in the following areas:
●
Taking x-rays
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Giving medications
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Administering fluid therapy
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Bandaging
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Caring for and supporting patients
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Assisting with the monitoring of anaesthetics
●
Scrubbing in to assist with surgical
operations
●
Theatre practice
●
Critical and emergency care
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Laboratory work
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Foal care
●
Law, ethics and legislation
All procedures carried out by an EVN are
under the direction of a veterinary surgeon
in line with legislation.
There is a large organising role to consider
too. EVNs are often responsible for running
the operating theatre and sometimes the
pharmacy. The most important role the EVN
has is monitoring and assessing the inpatients.
The main goal is to ensure that patients
recover as soon as possible.
Veterinary nurses as a whole take a holistic
view of patients which means the functioning
of all body systems is taken into account as
well as those that are compromised. The
patient's mental wellbeing will also be
considered, as a happy patient will recover
faster than a stressed patient. It is essential for
an EVN to have a working knowledge of
equine behaviour as this can be adapted to
enhance care given.
The EVN will provide plenty of necessary
TLC for patients, using techniques like
grooming patients to mimic their natural
behaviour which encourages them to relax
and feel at ease.
EVNs monitor patients by regularly recording
clinical parameters e.g. heart rate,
temperature and respiratory rate. Just
recording parameters is not enough
qualified EVNs can identify abnormalities
and instigate action to amend inconsistencies
and improve patient welfare. This is where
good communication skills are required,
as EVNs must update the case veterinary
surgeon regularly regarding the progress of
their patients. As EVNs are mainly based
at the practice they are always in close
proximity to patients which makes monitoring
more efficient. Producing patient care plans
helps to guide holistic nursing of patients
and encourages the use of evidence
based medicine to improve standards of
inpatient care.
How do I become an Equine
Veterinary Nurse?
RCVS Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary
Nursing
The NVQ system of vocation training has
now been phased out and replaced with the
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS)
Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing. This
qualification is completed whilst students are
employed at the practice and takes either 2
or 3 years. Students go to college on either
Veterinary Nurse
Marie Rippingale
XLVets Practice
Scarsdale Veterinary
Group