Patting pretty puppies and cuddling cute kittens as they get their annual boosters is what many folks think of when it comes to a veterinary nurse.
Of course, there is a caring role involved with vet nurses, as with their counterparts who care for us two-legged patients.
But they also need to have a solid medical background and face some difficult times when supporting the veterinary surgeon.
Animal lovers might consider this a cool career, but you need to consider what kind of animal lover you are. Can you be strong on care and health rather than just sentimentality?
Dealing with pet owners who are stressed about what will happen to wee Wookie takes real strength of character.
Dogs and cats will take up most of your work, being the most popular pets, but there will also be rabbits and hamsters, mice and rats, pigeons and parrots.
And don’t forget pet owners will also need to know their beastie bestie is in the best hands, if something is ailing their gecko, snake or tarantula.
So vet nurses will need to feel comfortable and confident handling any animal brought to the examination table by troubled owners.
The main role is to support the vet but nurses need a deep knowledge of a wide range of animal health issues, as well as the confidence to take samples, administer stitches, and provide clear recovery advice to owners who might not be as attentive as they should be in their immense joy at taking a pet home again.
There is a hands-on caring role, too, particularly for animals who need to stay in. They will be concerned at the absence of their human family, so the nurse will need to provide affection alongside the feeding, cleaning and walking.
There are two ways to train. Finding an apprenticeship with a practice can be combined with a college course or you can enroll on a course that organises work placements.
It’s a competitive sector, so if you can show a commitment to working with animals, maybe at an animal shelter or kennels, this will be a gold star on your CV.
As your career progresses there will be further study to keep up with new treatments, so it’s a lifelong commitment.
But if animal welfare really is your passion, there should be no problem with that – only lots of cooing, clapping and cuddles.
For a wide range of roles in Medical and Healthcare visit s1jobs