Become an Equine Veterinary Nurse

The work of an equine veterinary nurse is necessarily more of a specialist job, compared to that of a small animal veterinary nurse. They deal with all aspects of horse care and the related veterinary procedures.

Entry Requirements

The minimum age to start training at an approved equine training practice is 17 years. To be considered for training, candidates need 5 GCSEs at Grade C or above and subjects must include English, Maths and 1 Science (Biology, Physics, Chemistry). Comparable qualifications may be considered for example, NVQ/SVQ at Levels 2 and 3. A background of working with horses is recommended and personal fitness essential.

For people who already hold the Veterinary Nurse qualification, and are listed with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, a fast track/add on is possible; provided they have a minimum of 2 years post-qualification experience of working at a suitable equine practice. Consideration should be given for the possible expenses incurred to cover examination entry fees and courses.

What Does an EVN Do?

Equine Veterinary Nurses (EVNs) have to deal with all aspects of horse care. Once qualified, they may take on more responsibility but remain under the professional supervision of vets. The student nurses complete routine jobs like mucking out and disinfecting stables, sterilising surgical instruments, feeding and leading horses. They are monitored by senior nurses and appropriately assessor-trained vets.

EVNs assist vets in the preparation of drugs, are permitted to give catheter injections, intra-muscular and subcutaneous injections (with veterinary supervision of quantities). They also care for in-patients, prepare and carry out laboratory work and help the vets in surgery/clinics and theatre. Good communication skills are important for giving feedback on patients and to assist the smooth running of their teams. Teamwork is essential, particularly when everyone is working under pressure for example, in the diagnosis and immediate treatment of emergency cases.

Facilities and Duties

Specialist equine clinics have the facilities to deal with a broad range of conditions on site. A main block of stables is commonly used for general care patients so they have company without the risk of injury to each other.

Isolation areas with stables will be required for infectious, suspected infectious or currently undiagnosed patients. Named members of staff, including a vet, an EVN and a student, per shift, will normally be the only people permitted to enter this area. Each of these will work according to strict isolation procedures.

A separate mare and foal facility is provided to keep mares and foals together during treatment of either or both, to minimise disruption of their close bond and avoid added stress. Brood mares may stay in another area for Artificial Insemination treatment.

Stallions are kept away from other horses at all times.

Preparation boxes are kept empty of bedding and water, to facilitate the preparation of horses for surgery and for ease of disinfection. The operating theatre itself has a special floor-to-ceiling, anti-bacterial coating and houses the heavy-duty surgical equipment needed to manoeuvre and operate on these large patients! Nurses will prepare for, and clear up after, surgery.

Following operations the EVNs monitor patients’ in specially padded recovery rooms and keep concise records of each horse. They report their findings to the duty vets and alert them to any significant changes in the patients’ condition.

Summary

Work and conditions for EVNs can be physically demanding. They are required to work on a rota that covers night duty and weekends and be prepared to assist vets in a large variety of tasks. Promotional prospects are quite good and a Head Nurse can sometimes command between £23,000 and £27,000.