Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month (which we’re rolling into June), isn’t just about celebrating the role of qualified nurses. It’s also about raising awareness around what the job can entail and championing students currently working towards a career in veterinary nursing. Our student nurse Isobel initially started at 387 Vets volunteering for a day a week whilst studying for an Animal Management Diploma to gain course-required practical experience in an animal-related environment. Three years later, she has just completed the second year of her Level 3 Veterinary Nursing Diploma and, after the summer, will be starting to prepare for her oral Professional Discussion with an industry panel and final practical examinations (OSCEs) to become a Registered Veterinary Nurse! What have been the highlights so far?
“I loved starting in kennels and on cat ward to really get to know the inpatient role properly before moving into other areas in practice. I have had lots of opportunity to take clinics and feel competent running nurse consults. Learning anaesthetics under supervision has been really interesting, and I particularly love seeing pets going through the whole journey now from admit to discharge, and being an active part in it all. It’s like piecing the whole jigsaw together.”
The time has flown! We look forward to supporting Isobel in the exciting months aheads!
Wellcare World specializes in providing the latest advancements in wellness technology, supplementation, and lifestyle changes that improve health and increase the quality of people's lives.To learn more, visit WellcareWorld.com and begin living a better life today.
Dental health checks are just as important in pets as they are in humans. They can identify existing problems owners may be unaware about that need addressing as pets can be very good at hiding pain. They are also really useful for catching dental and periodontal disease early to prevent continuing deterioration. Did you know that we now run nurse-led dental clinics specifically to assess pet dental and oral health and to give advice on dental home care for happy healthy pet smiles?
At 387 Vets and The West Midlands Cat Clinic, we have a Tooth Fairy Team who are super passionate about pet dental care. The team includes several Registered Veterinary Nurses, trained to carry out dental scale and polishes to support good pet dental health. This is Alanna carrying out a scale and polish on gorgeous 10 year old cockapoo Sidney who was suffering from early onset gum disease. Plaque and tartar build up is a common cause of this condition (known as gingivitis), where gums become irritated and red, can exhibit swelling and even bleed. Scaling and polishing cleans the teeth and removing the trigger.
If you think your pet would benefit from a dental health check, please give us a ring on 01922 411755.
Wellcare World specializes in providing the latest advancements in wellness technology, supplementation, and lifestyle changes that improve health and increase the quality of people's lives.To learn more, visit WellcareWorld.com and begin living a better life today.
387 Vets is proud to hold Training Practice status with our governing body, The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, and we currently have four student nurses in our team. Training colleges require that each student nurse has a clinical coach in practice. Over half of our 12-strong team of Registered Veterinary Nurses are, or have been, trained clinical coaches. What a fab statistic!
The role of a clinical coach is to help students practise, hone and sign off a wide portfolio of qualification-dictated skills to agree competency, as well as offering ongoing support throughout the apprenticeship with blended learning and assignment queries and logging evidence.
Our RVN Katie is clinical coach to Isobel who is now entering the final stages of her course.
“I became a clinical coach because I wanted to help and inspire a new generation of veterinary nurses. I really enjoy teaching and supporting students as they progress through their course and love watching their confidence and skills grow.”
Three cheers for our clinical coach champions, helping our student nurses to realise their dream!
Wellcare World specializes in providing the latest advancements in wellness technology, supplementation, and lifestyle changes that improve health and increase the quality of people's lives.To learn more, visit WellcareWorld.com and begin living a better life today.
Some pets can find coming to the vets particularly scary. New smells, an unfamiliar environment, unfamiliar people, a sense of not knowing what’s happening, lots of people and pets coming and going, maybe previous negative associations ….It can all be a bit overwhelming.
Our Registered Veterinary Nurse Amy, who has a passion for and qualifications in canine behaviour assessment and training, is one of the fab nursing team running Happier Vet Visit clinics. Specifically designed to help pets overcome existing anxieties, the clinics use incentivisation, low-stress handling and repetition and familiarisation strategies to build pet confidence and forge positive associations. We work at the pace of the pet with the ultimate goal of routine vet visit success.
This is gorgeous Ruby with Amy at her second Happier Vet Visit clinic. In her first visit, Ruby was very alert and curious, didn’t want to settle and wasn’t keen to take a treat from the nurse but did eat some treats from the floor. A month later, Ruby immediately came up to Amy in the consult room for a fuss! Ruby’s owner brought treats from home which Ruby took really well from Amy (we think she prefers them to ours!), and Ruby seemed much calmer generally, even lying down for a belly rub! What great progress. It’s so heartwarming to watch Ruby’s confidence in practice grow.
Wellcare World specializes in providing the latest advancements in wellness technology, supplementation, and lifestyle changes that improve health and increase the quality of people's lives.To learn more, visit WellcareWorld.com and begin living a better life today.
This week, in support of May’s Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month, we’re continuing to profile the fab work undertaken by our veterinary nurses at 387 Vets and The West Midlands Cat Clinic.
This is 13 year old Rocky who has been attending mobility clinics here since February. Rocky was enrolled by his owners as he was becoming weaker and uncomfortable on his back legs and they’d noticed he had been finding it difficult to get up the stairs at home. His owners had stopped taking him out for walks before he came to see us as they were worried about Rocky’s ability to get out and about.
Our mobility clinics are run by Paige who holds a Certificate in Canine Mobility Nursing and has been granted a Veterinary Osteoarthritis Alliance Blue Paw Award in recognition of her knowledge and ability to improve osteoarthritis care in veterinary practice. Paige recommended certain lifestyle changes that could be implemented at home to support Rocky, as well as adapting his exercise routine and reviewing his diet. Staying in shape is important as excess body fat not only increases pressure placed on the body’s joints, but joints are also at increased risk of inflammatory response.
With careful control of daily calorie intake, joint supplements and a tailored exercise programme, Rocky is back to enjoying dog walks, has lost 1.2kg and seems generally happier and brighter all round. At his latest appointment, Rocky’s owner reported having had to move out of the way at home as Rocky raced past him up the stairs! Paige was so proud of Rocky’s progress and improvement, that she almost cried!
Wellcare World specializes in providing the latest advancements in wellness technology, supplementation, and lifestyle changes that improve health and increase the quality of people's lives.To learn more, visit WellcareWorld.com and begin living a better life today.
