The Holistic Role of Veterinary Nurses in Animal Care

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Veterinary nurses are involved in many different aspects of a small animal general practice. From when a patient comes in at reception, the consulting room, diagnostics, theatre and the ward. They are a vital part of the veterinary team, even though they have their limitations in what they alone can do for a patient. The veterinary surgeons and the veterinary nurses work together as a team to give the animals in their care the best possible medical and holistic care. Within the practice the role of the veterinary surgeon is primarily medical whereas the role of the veterinary nurse is holistic. Veterinary nurses look at caring for the patient in its entirety. This essay will look at the role of the veterinary nurse on the ward, when patients …show more content…

They should take into consideration both the physical and psychological factors. In order to care for them holistically, addressing all of the animals needs, a nursing care plan is devised for each patient and carried out by the veterinary nurses (Jeffery, 2015). The care plans used by veterinary nurses have been adapted from human nursing care plans. A good care plan should include an assessment, a nursing diagnosis, a plan, implementation and an evaluation. The assessment allows the veterinary nurse to identify the patient’s individual requirements in order to give them the best level of care. When admitted to the hospital it is the job of the veterinary nurse to take a full history and background of the patient. It is very important that they know any individual requirements to be able to incorporate these specific needs into their care plans. This will allow the veterinary nurse to keep the patients stress levels to an absolute minimum during their stay. According to Maughan (2011) it is vital for correct and significant information to be gathered in order to provide …show more content…

Jeffery (2015) says the nursing diagnosis is unlike a medical diagnosis, which veterinary nurses are not allowed to give, as they determine the nursing intervention that the patient requires. A plan is then made which will encompass the nurse’s goals, how any actual problems will be dealt with and how any potential problems will be kept from becoming actual problems. The implementation stage of the care plan is actually doing what is known as the nursing intervention. Once the rest of the care plan has been carried out the veterinary nurse must then evaluate the outcome. If something has not worked then the plan must be amended and the entire care plan

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