Veterinary Nurse
What the work is
Cares for animals under treatment or in temporary residence at veterinary facilities, and assists Veterinarians to perform procedures and operations.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Provides care and support to animals under treatment or in temporary residence at veterinary facilities
- Assists Veterinarians in performing procedures and operations on animals
- Prepares animals for surgery, including administering anaesthesia and monitoring vital signs
- Administers medications and treatments to animals as directed by Veterinarians
- Assists with diagnostic procedures such as taking X-rays or collecting samples for laboratory testing
- Provides post-operative care to animals, including monitoring their recovery and administering medications
- Ensures hygiene processes are maintained, including cleaning and sterilising equipment and facilities
- Provides basic grooming and hygiene care to animals, such as bathing and grooming
- Educates pet owners on proper animal care, and provides advice on nutrition, exercise and preventive health care
- Assists with euthanasia procedures and provides emotional support to pet owners
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a busy suburban veterinary clinic with a waiting room, a treatment area and a ward of recovering patients. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- A nervous puppy leaves the clinic wagging after a gentle first visit
- A patient you cared for through a long week goes home healthy
- An owner thanks you for explaining something in a way that helped
Hard days
- A full waiting room, a ringing phone and an emergency arriving at the same moment
- An animal that does not recover and an owner who is grieving at the counter
- Cleaning, laundry and paperwork at the end of an emotionally long day
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 341231, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.