Nursing in Veterinary Setting

jeepgirl, LPN, NP · May 18, 2005

hummmm if they do i am totally open to that! i am sure the pay is wayyyyyyyyyyyy lower.

NJLPN · May 18, 2005

Hi, I was wondering if anyone has any info about working in a veterinary hospital as a nurse, either LPN or RN. I've been told that some animal hospitals will hire nurses but I don't know how true that is. Does anyone have any experience with this? Thanks for any help!
~Kelly

I have seen advertisements for LPN's with surgical experience to work in veterinary hospitals in my area in NJ. I have no idea what salary would be like. The position would be veterinary tech. which are more or less nurses for animals. (I worked as a vet assistant my senior year i high school) They assist with surgical procedures, IV insertion and meds, vital signs, etc.

MissJoRN, RN · May 18, 2005

I'm sure... some hospitals will hire people off the street to train, so why not a nurse? That's how i got a job as a vet tech years ago. The pay is terrible though, you really have to like it, but one of the reasons I first considered OR nursing was to expand skills and leave myself open to returning to a vet hospital... surgery is surgery, more or less. But I would really love to do equine NICU at New Bolton... dream on:D

If it's what you want to do, look into it! It's neat that vet techs do a little of everything- in pt and out pt nursing, pharmacy, radiology, etc. Good Luck!

Josie

Andi33 · May 18, 2005

Hi, I was wondering if anyone has any info about working in a veterinary hospital as a nurse, either LPN or RN. I've been told that some animal hospitals will hire nurses but I don't know how true that is. Does anyone have any experience with this? Thanks for any help!
~Kelly

The vet clinic that I worked for for 5 years had 2 licensed vet techs. One had gone to a four year college and the other went for 2 years. At their branch clinic in a nearby city, they did hire an RN who was fed up with human nursing and wanted to work with animals. I really don't think that she was paid what an RN makes, and I think she was paid less than the licensed techs, but she loved the work so didn't mind the pay cut. Normally vet clinics hire only vet techs. Even though the nursing principles are the same, anatomy and physiology are totally different (obviously). But basically, the fundamentals are the same (drug therapy, radiology, surgery, IV therapy, hospitalization, and chemo), just to name a few. It's a very interesting field, especially if you love animals. It's very rewarding. Hope this helped.