What are Mobile Vet Nurse Clinics?

Anyone can call themselves a veterinary nurse and wear the uniform without any form of training, as the title vet nurse is not a protected profession. So when you take your animal to the vets for an operation for example, the person monitoring their anaesthetic and recovering your animal may not even be competent or have any formal training to do so...crazy right?

As a Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN), their name should appear on the RCVS register stating when they qualified and where they practice. An RVN has undergone extensive training (at least 2 years), exams and OSCE practical examinations, to ensure they are competent to be on the register of veterinary nurses. RVN's also have to undertake annual CPD (continued professional development) to ensure their skills are kept up to date. Auntie Jessie is a Registered Veterinary Nurse and has been qualified since 2016.

Sometimes I am called upon to help owners maange their pets after they've been dicharged from hospital. For example, a dog or cat that requires lifting/supportive sling for toileting, bladder expression, physiotherapy, cage rest, tube feeding, subcutaneous injections etc. Please note I will need to liase with your vet to ensure I am receiving appropriate care plan instructions in line with your Veterinary Surgeon's advice.

A little reminder - A Registered Veterinary Nurse is not a substitute for your Vet if you have any concerns regarding your pet's health. Veterinary Nurses cannot diagnosis nor dispense medication for your pet. The RCVS (Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons) regulations ensure that Veterinary Nurses cannot perform any schedule 3 procedures outside of working in a veterinary practice. There may be circumstances where your pet needs referring to the attention of a Veterinary Surgeon rather than a Veterinary Nurse.