How to Become a Veterinary Nurse in Australia
If you are a pet lover and working with animals is your passion,
becoming a veterinary nurse can be challenging, fun and exciting. In
Australia, a veterinary nurse’s position is very important in the
running of a vet practice.
Career options and Qualifications
If you like working with animals, veterinary nurse can be a lucrative
profession for you. You can be a qualified veterinary nurse or an
unqualified one. To become a qualified veterinary nurse, you just need
to complete the one year Certificate IV in veterinary nursing, offered
through either Swan TAFFE or take the help of private training
organization.
Nurses can also specialize with a Diploma in Veterinary Nursing,
allowing more knowledge in areas like dental, emergency / critical care
or surgery care. While unqualified nurses usually learn their skills on
the job and are restricted in the jobs they can do.
The career options for vet nurses include working at vet practices,
pharmaceutical industry or animal shelters. Accredited vet nurses who
join the Veterinary Nurses Council of Australia are allowed to work in
international practices, allowing for travel and wider experience. These
nurses learn the specialized skills needed in caring for sick or injured
animals during all avenues of examination, treatment and surgery.
The entry to this hospital is based on both academic and work experience
criteria. You need to have completed 10 years with an average level of
3.5 in each of the four Learning Areas including English, Mathematics
and Science, or equivalent. It is advisable to get work experience in a
veterinary surgery or related animal field while at school as it could
reap you some extra benefits.
The job description
Veterinary nurse has to perform huge tasks, irrespective of judging the
work ambience. The job description may include pre and post - operative
care, feeding and exercising the animal patients, cleaning and
sterilizing, preparing surgical instruments, monitoring the anesthetic
during operations and giving medication and injections under veterinary
supervision. Sometimes these nurses also help with clerical and
administrative duties coupled with developing good Public relations.
Opportunities are plenty
Nursing professions attract more females than males and veterinary
nursing is no exception. There are great opportunities for the
career-minded veterinary nurse to make it a financially stable career.
Veterinary nurses can specialize in areas such as dental, critical care
and emergency, surgical or practice management.
There are plenty of employment opportunities in associated areas such as
catteries and animal refuges. Some vet nurses can find work as drug
company representatives or sales representatives in companies such as
Uncle Ben's or Hill's Nutrition.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, in 2007 vet nurse
wages ranged between $20,000 and $35,000 per year for an average of 39
hours of work a week. Women make up 97.5% of current veterinary nurse
positions and the industry has around 20 to 30 new job openings a year.
Salaries vary with experience and age. Qualified veterinary nurses just
starting out can earn approximately $38,000 per year.
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