To study this apprenticeship, you will need to be aged 18 or above at the start of the programme. It is unlikely that a veterinary practice will offer an apprenticeship to someone under the age of 18.
If you are 16 or 17 and have found an employer who will support you with an apprenticeship, please contact us before applying.
Veterinary nursing is the supportive care of animals receiving treatment within a veterinary practice. A veterinary nurse works as a member of the veterinary team, providing expert nursing care for sick animals. Veterinary nurses also play a significant role in educating owners on maintaining the health of their pets. They carry out technical work and are skilled in undertaking a range of diagnostic tests, medical treatments and minor surgical procedures, under veterinary direction. Veterinary Nurses are registered professionals and work within the standards and scope of practice defined by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) here.
What will I do on this apprenticeship?
By the end of this course, you'll have gained knowledge and clinical skills for the veterinary nursing of small animals. While there are only five units, you'll learn about all the following topics:
- animal husbandry and welfare
- daily practice
- nursing care plans
- preparing for professional registrations
- cell structure
- central nervous system and associated nursing
- infection control
- musculoskeletal system and associated nursing
- skin, wound care and bandaging
- body fluids, homeostasis and fluid therapy
- circulatory system and associated nursing
- urinary system and associated nursing
- medicines and dispensary management
- first aid and emergency / critical care
- respiratory system
- digestion, nutrition and feeding
- reproduction and breeding
- endocrine system and associated nursing
- pain management
- diagnostic imaging
- anaesthesia
- operating theatre management and nursing care