Nursing jobs with animals

[ncgirl77]

I am looking for a career that joins both my passions....animals and medical. And before its even asked being a veterinarian is out for other reasons. What I would LOVE to do is take my dog Harmony to certification courses of some sort and have her then be able to come to work with me as a nurse. I don't know how much of this is even possible given that nursing is usually a 12 hour shift job. I'm looking for advice on "schools" for my dog, any special courses I need to take as well as jobs I could live this dream out in. I am very willing to move so all options are on the table. I've looked into AAT programs and heard about Flynn the therapy dog but not sure where to go with it to make it a career. Thank you!!!!

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

In Los Angeles, California at the children's hospital, their pain management team of nurses uses a dog to take around to the children. It a bigger hospital. It's on you tube under children's pain management. Check it out.

Keep looking I am sure you find something, probably in bigger cities where there are more options and needs. Best wishes! I absolutely love animals too! ?

Having a therapy animal "on staff" at a hospital or LTC facility is not uncommon. But it's generally not all day every day and not an employee owned pet. If so, not done while on the schedule to treat patients as a therapist or nurse. Therapy animals are generally brought in by volunteers (who may happen to also be a part of facility staff). My sister is on staff at CHALA, not as a nurse but a therapist. She's good friends with one of the therapy dog owners, even dog sits. The dog is brought to the hospital as a volunteer at scheduled times. The owner does not bring the dog to work while treating patients.

Some LTC, subacute and ALF facilities have a pet or two on site. The residents care for and feed the animals. Those strong enough who can ambulate with a pet take the animal for walks. I've seen a facility include pet care as part of the nursing & therapeutic care plan.

I don't think it's realistic to think that as a working nurse you can take your dog with you for a 12+ hour shift and care for patients while assuring your pet is adequately cared for especially in acute or subacute care. What if your patient requires urgent care or rapid response when your dog needs to go out? It's more complicated in pediatrics as children are stable until they are not.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

My beautiful weimaraner is a certified therapy dog. The training and expense was mine. She did not go to work with me...we did this at children's hospitals and LTC on our own time. The kids LOVED seeing the Sesame Street dog! They need health certificates and each facility has their own rules. But hey maybe you could start your won theray business. We visited colleges as well.

Look into canine good citizen https://www.akc.org/akctherapydog/organizations.cfm

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

[klone, MSN, RN]

My husband used to work for a home hospice company that had a 6-bed inpatient unit, generally used short term for caregiver respite. He would sometimes pick up an overnight shift on that unit, and he would bring our Great Dane in with him. Atticus would wander the halls, check out the rooms, lay his big block head on the bed for pets. We were in the process of going through the therapy dog certification when he died (age 3, Addison's Disease). He was the best dog ever.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

As a volunteer there are opportunities. Paid ones? Not that I have ever seen.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

My husband used to work for a home hospice company that had a 6-bed inpatient unit, generally used short term for caregiver respite. He would sometimes pick up an overnight shift on that unit, and he would bring our Great Dane in with him. Atticus would wander the halls, check out the rooms, lay his big block head on the bed for pets. We were in the process of going through the therapy dog certification when he died (age 3, Addison's Disease). He was the best dog ever.

I'm so sorry. Sounds like an awesome intuitive dog.

[sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN]

several LTC Facilities I was DON at, i would take one of my dogs as therapy dog....... He was very obedient and charming........

I was fortunate in my DADs regulatory nurses were fond of therapy dogs :)

[klone, MSN, RN]

I'm so sorry. Sounds like an awesome intuitive dog.

He was. We have since gotten another Great Dane, but we call him the Mediocre Dane, because he isn't as awesome as our other dog (but I still love him dearly). :)

[Racer15, BSN, RN]

Alas, not much has changed. I was a vet tech and loved it, but the pay was very poor and there were no health insurance benefits. I couldn't make a living. Hence why I am a nurse.