Qualifications to Become a Veterinary Nurse

Veterinary nurses play an important role in a veterinary practice.  Veterinary nurses assist veterinarians in a myriad of ways, such as unearthing the medical history of an animal, soothing a frightened pet, performing diagnostic tests and cleaning up messes.  There are several requirements necessary to become a veterinary nurse.

Education

Veterinary nurses must attend and complete schooling as a veterinary technician.  In order to be valid, the degree earned must be from an accredited school, so when considering schools, make sure the one chosen is accredited.  Veterinary technician degrees typically take two years to complete.

Certification

After completion of school, prospective veterinary nurses must take and pass the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE).  This test is designed to show that students paid attention in class and have the knowledge to care for animals while they are at the veterinarian office.  After students pass the test they can become certified as a Veterinary Technician and it is much easier to get a job once certified.

Hands-on Experience

Most people entering a veterinary technician program will already have experience with animals, but colleges encourage and require even more hands on experience.  Making sure the students work with the animals, not just the textbooks, ensures the students are comfortable with animals and the interaction helps the students put what they learned in class into action.

Personality

When it comes to being a nurse, of any kind, the qualities of empathy and patience are necessary.  Veterinary nurses cannot be reserved and short-tempered people, as injured animals may act out or be uncooperative because of fear.  A veterinary nurse must understand this and continually seek ways to put the animal at ease so that the animal can be comforted, evaluated and cared for.