How to Become a Veterinary Nursing Assistant 

Your love for animals can be channelled into a rewarding career. If you have an instinctive caring and supportive nature, then the role of Veterinary Nursing Assistant could be the perfect fit for you. Having the opportunity to work closely with animals and nurse them back to health is one that an animal lover can not let pass them by! 

So, what’s involved in becoming a Veterinary Nurse Assistant? Continue reading to learn how you can qualify for this job role through a blend of practical training and studying from home! 

What Does a Veterinary Nursing Assistant Do? 

We all know that the primary purpose of a veterinary clinic is to care for, administer treatments to, and carry out surgeries on animals in need. Some practices cater solely to domestic animals, while others also treat wild animals. 

For a veterinary practice to run smoothly, you need a core group of professionals, and within that cluster is a Veterinary Nursing Assistant. The role is somewhat varied, but you will essentially be responsible for making sure that the veterinary practice you work in runs smoothly and that the animals under your care are well looked after. 

With regards to the day-to-day responsibilities in Veterinary Nursing Assistant jobs, you will likely carry out the following: 
 

• Feeding animals 
• Handling animals 
• Cleaning 
• Administering medication 
• Caring for animals pre and post operations 

While working as a Veterinary Nurse Assistant, you will provide support to the Veterinary Surgeons, Veterinary Nurses, and practice staff. 
 

What Skills Do You Need to be a Vet Assistant? 

Getting trained as an Assistant Veterinary Nurse will help you develop on-the-job skills that you need to be successful in your role. However, there are personality traits and characteristics that you can develop on your own. To be successful in Veterinary Nursing Assistant jobs, you need to possess the following: 
 

• Good communication skills – You will be in regular communication with your colleagues in order to ensure that the veterinary practice runs smoothly. You may also need to interact with pet owners, so good communication is essential in a Veterinary Nurse Assistant role 
• Strong time management – Veterinary Nursing Assistant jobs involve various tasks, as noted above, and you will be included in numerous appointments over the course of a day. This makes it incredibly important for you to be able to organise your schedule accordingly 
• Empathy – While the majority of your work will be helping to nurse animals back to health, there will be times when all options have been exhausted. This can lead to difficult and painful conversations with pet owners, so you need to demonstrate empathy within your role as an Assistant Veterinary Nurse 
• A love of animals – This one is a no-brainer! Having a passion for animals is a key component of a Veterinary Nursing Assistant’s traits 

Study a Veterinary Nurse Assistant Course 

To work as a Veterinary Nursing Assistant, you will need to get qualified. Thankfully we here at Animal Courses Direct provide an Ofqual regulated course that will get you prepared for Veterinary Nurse Assistant jobs.  

The Level 2 Diploma Veterinary Nursing Assistant is a qualification that can be studied through a blend of practical training and online learning. You will be tasked with a series of online modules, which can be completed from the comfort of your own home. 

The practical element will teach you the technical skills you need to care for injured and unwell animals, while also knowing how to provide support to Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Nurses. 

Course Breakdown

Your Veterinary Nurse Assistant course is broken down into 10 modules, with the final one dedicated to a practical placement. The remaining 9 modules consist of: 
 

• Principles of Animal Health 
• Principles of Body Language and Behaviour
• Principles of Hygiene, Cleaning and Disinfection 
• Reception and Administrative Duties in a Veterinary Practice 
• The Pharmacy in a Veterinary Practice 
• Euthanasia and Bereavement 
• Principles of First Aid 
• Veterinary Instruments 
• Care of Wildlife in Veterinary Practice 

You will learn an array of different skills during your studies, giving you the best preparation to apply for Veterinary Nursing Assistant jobs. Some of the skills you will learn include: 
 

• How to manage and maintain accommodation for animals 
• How to feed and water animals 
• How to provide basic healthcare treatments 
• How to manage infections 
• Understanding the anatomy and physiology of animals 

Practical Placement 

The key things you need to know about the practical element of your Veterinary Nurse Assistant course are as follows: 
 

• Finding your placement – You are responsible for securing a placement, either at a registered veterinary practice or an establishment that provides veterinary care, such as a zoo, or animal charity 
• Supervised – During your placement, you will be supervised by a qualified Veterinary Nurse or Vet. They will be responsible for signing off your evidence of training, which can be a mixture of written documents, photos, and videos 
• Assessment – The evidence of your practical training will be assessed by your course  
• Length of practical – The details will be provided to you after you enrol on our Veterinary Nurse Assistant course, but there is no set number of hours. There is a level of flexibility, meaning that you can complete it as a block placement over a few weeks or pencil in a few hours a week for a consistent period 

Course Features 

• Online learning – While a portion of your Veterinary Nurse Assistant course involves a practical element, most of it is delivered online, which means you can learn from home, in your own time and at your own pace. You won’t have to deal with classroom restrictions and timetables. Instead, you can study around your existing schedule! 
• Entry criteria – No experience needed! We accept all candidates over the age of 16 on our Veterinary Nurse Assistant course 
• No exams – The assessment process of this Veterinary Nurse Assistant course consists of online assignments based on the modules covered, as well as a portfolio of evidence from your practical training. The best thing about it is that there are no exams! 
• Validity – Enrolment on our course to become a Veterinary Nurse Assistant is valid for two years, giving you the freedom to complete it at your own pace. On average, our learners complete their course within a year 

Your Career Options After Qualifying as a Veterinary Nurse Assistant 

After completing our regulated Veterinary Nurse Assistant course and achieving your Level 2 diploma, you will be eligible to apply for Veterinary Nursing Assistant jobs. You could find yourself working in the following environments: 
 

• Veterinary practices 
• Pet shops 
• Rescue homes 
• Charity hospitals 

Your learning journey doesn’t have to end there though! If you have ambitions of becoming a Veterinary Nurse, there are Level 3 courses that will help you elevate your career.  

Keep in mind that even if you complete this Veterinary Nurse Assistant course and decide to go in another direction career-wise, this qualification is still valuable. For example, you could work within other areas of the animal industry, such as an animal charity. 

Enrol on Our Veterinary Nurse Assistant Course Today!

If you think that working as a Veterinary Nursing Assistant is the role for you, then what are you waiting for? Speak to one of our Course Executives today to enrol on our Veterinary Nurse Assistant course. Give them a call on 01202 006 040 or reach out online. Alternatively, click below to discover the courses available to you. 

Also, if you adore animals, you can keep track of all upcoming animal awareness days and events with our FREE calendar! Download it here.