I have just completed 3 weeks of work experience doing veterinary nursing and feel disillusioned?

I have been doing many tasks with the vets and nurses but it seems that much of the vet nursing job is routine and cleaning and not actually caring for the animals as I was hoping to do. Is this a normal example? Should I give up on this career as its more about organising things than caring or have I got the wrong impression and it is satisfying and worthwhile? I am making a career switch from IT here and I want it to be right and meaningful to me. Thanks.

A Veterinary Nurse is the term used in the UK which I think is equivalent to Vet Technician in the US (from what I have read). I was basically working for free for 3 weeks to get an insight into the job. I don't mind some cleaning but it seemed from what I observed that the nurses could not spend much time with the animals. I have my own animals which I love immensely.

I think its like most work experience. You tend to get the thin end of the wedge especially in a caring type job like that. If you give it more time then the staff there will see you can "take the crap" and will draw you in closer to the caring healing side. I can imagine they've had loads of people coming in and not lasting more than a few weeks, kind of like natural selection, the ones without the stubbon-ness drop out. If you can do the unpleasant cleaning jobs you are more likely to be able to cope with possibly distressing scenes with the animals. Know it sounds like a bit of a leap but being able to knuckle down and get it done is a major plus . Also experience is everything. Vet nursing may not be for you in the long run but maybe another branch of animal care is. Zoo's , Equestrian, RSPCA think about it the list is endless. A good reference to approach your next step does wonders. Stay in touch with your work experience placement and don't be shy in asking careers advice. A little bit of voluntary work here and there tends to loosen peoples tongues and helps you get contacts that could be useful. Hey good luck....

My advice. Give it at least six months. You have to crawl before you can walk. Remember your mom telling you this..

Caring for animals is a lot of cleaning. But you may have gotten in with a vet who doesn't believe in utilizing a vet technician's skills. But the word you use is nurse...so is it that you are a vet "assistant" and not a vet technician? If you have no schooling (degree) then yes the job duties you described are in line with the position. If you have a degree then your job duties will encompass more responsibilities than you described. Another thing to consider is TRUST...the vet has to trust you to do the more technical aspects of the job before he/she will let you do them. Understand? I hope you stick with it and maybe find a more diverse even updated job environment where the vets will utilize a vet technician.

I work in a hotel for Pets (don't laugh, it is called a hotel).

90% of what I do is janitorial in nature, it is the other 10% that makes it worthwhile.

Someone has to take care of the day to day, nastiness that goes on with animals. It is an important and necessary service which you are providing.

Working around animals, in any capacity, is tons more rewarding than working in almost every other field I have tried.

So, give it a little more time, if you still feel it isn't your cup of tea, find something you love to do and try to make money doing that.

Don't switch jobs just for the sake of switching jobs, make sure you like what you will be doing.

Good luck

working in a veterinary clinic is very tedious after awhile. you may want to try to get a position in a veterinary emergency clinic, or a local humane society- you'll feel like you are making more of a difference than in a regular clinic setting ie: routine spaying, neutering and vaccines. some of the girls at my work volunteered to help after hurricane katrina-with all the abandoned pets- i think they really loved being needed like that.
in a emeregency clinic you can go home at night knowing you saved an animals life!!(the downside is way more heartbreak- unfortunatey)
i hope you make the right decision for you- it ain't always fun, it certainly isn't glamorous, but it is a very fulfilling way to make a living

Hi, if you ever go into a vets and observe this is mainly what they do, sometimes you will get the odd task of seeing to the animals when the vet doesnt need to be around, You where only there for three weeks so they wont give you big jobs to do until you are there for a few month then they know what you are capable or not. I know when my dog go his leg injured the nurse took his stiches out and we have seen the nurse for various other reasons, but they have been there for ages so i guess the longer you are there the more you do. You only get to fully have one to ones with animals if you are actually the vet. Everything has a routine ans as you are in a vet surgery everything has too be spotless and clean. At first you will be an apperntice and get the jobs noone wants to do. But I say stick with it as obviously being a veterinary nurse isnt just cleaning as you do see them dealing with the animals from time to time. I woud have a think, and see what you prefer. As in myself I would prefer the Vet nurse as i dont mind a bit of cleaning. But just think what you will see your self doing. I would try and see if you can have a trial in IT and see which one you want to pursue. Good Luck

My son also worked in a vets and found the same as you. Most of the tasks are relating to reception, filing, cleaning, walking dogs. Occasionally helping with some animal treatments such as xrays or operations. Good luck in your search for a new
career its not easy to decide on something you may be doing for many years ahead. Remember most jobs are humdrum some of the time but it can be what you make it yourself.

Who is that guy above me? A very good answer indeed.

some vets don't properly utilize their techs/nurses. Do the more senior nurses get to do stuff or does everyone basically clean. I have worked for doctors who did everything down down to blood draws by themselves while their "techs" cleaned poop. I have also worked for doctors who have techs do everything aside from doctor duties. this includes dental procedures, IV fluid care, intubations ect. So they may be starting you off simple. If you are there for a few months and still not happy with the work load, search elsewhere.