How to Become a Veterinary Nurse in Ireland
Veterinary nursing is a popular profession in Ireland, especially because of its heavy reliance on farm animals. Though this profession has been around for a while, it has recently become a regulated profession, placing stricter rules on practitioners and requiring more education of trainees. Fortunately, nursing students have a few choice institutions that will allow them to fulfill the Veterinary Council's requirements, and should get them practicing veterinary nursing in as little as three years. Just be sure to keep up on the Veterinary Council's rules and requirements to be sure that you are legally allowed to work as a veterinary nurse within the Republic of Ireland.
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Instructions
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Apply for a three-year course in veterinary nursing. The University College Dublin, the Dundalk Institute of Technology, St John's Central College and the Athlone Institute of Technology all offer programmes in veterinary nursing. The Dundalk Institute of Technology, however, will not receive accreditation by the Veterinary Council of Ireland until approximately 2010.
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Attend classes on nursing, biology, anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, surgical nursing, anaesthesia, animal genetics and behavior and many others. You may also specialize in areas such as exotic animals, ethics, and health and safety.
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Begin an internship with an on-campus or off-campus veterinary facility in order to gain practical hours that will supplement in-class learning. The length of these internships typically depend on the requirements set forth by your respective college, and can vary from one year to one week.
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Receive your degree in veterinary nursing and apply for registration within the Veterinary Council.
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Apply for a position with a veterinary clinic or hosptial or with a company that works with animal nutrition, animal welfare or animal pharmaceuticals.
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Understand that a veterinary nurse can perform the follow tasks, according to the Veterinary Council: assist in a caesarean section, assist in surgical procedures, hold and handle tissue, assist in sedation, administer intravenous medication, take X-rays, perform minor medical procedures, treat an abscess or ulcer, as well as a few other tasks.
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Uphold the ethical guidelines and code of conduct that have been established by the Veterinary Council
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Tips & Warnings
In July 2008, veterinary nursing became a regulated profession, meaning that practicing nurses must be registered with the Veterinary Council.
EU citizens who have obtained a comparable degree in veterinary nursing may be able to register with the Veterinary Council in order to practice in the Republic of Ireland. However, specific guidelines and instructions should be followed. Contact the Veterinary Council at +353 (0)1 668 4402 or visit online at vci.ie.
Most of the veterinary nursing courses will focus on pets such as dogs, cats and birds, as well as farm animals and horses. Some may also touch upon exotic animals, though those are usually specialty courses.
