Veterinary Nurse
Also advertised as: animal nurse, Animal Nursing Assistant, animal nursing specialist, Head Nurse, Registered Veterinary Nurse, Student Veterinary Nurse
Provides nursing care to animals, assists in surgery and supports owners.
What the job involves
Veterinary nurses monitor anaesthetics, run clinics, provide post-operative care, take samples and support owners through difficult decisions. Registration with the RCVS follows a Level 3 diploma or a veterinary nursing degree.
Typical responsibilities
- Monitor anaesthesia and assist in surgery
- Provide inpatient nursing care
- Run nurse clinics and give owner advice
- Take samples and run laboratory tests
- Maintain clinical records and stock
Common employers
- Veterinary practices
- Emergency animal hospitals
- Charities such as PDSA and RSPCA
- Referral centres
Pay, hours and working environment
Typical pay
£23,000 – £27,000 a year
With experience
£29,000 – £36,000 a year
Typical hours
Shift based including nights and weekends on rota
Working environment
Veterinary practice and surgical theatre
Remote working
on_site
Demand for this work
high
Pay ranges are indicative guidance drawn from advertised UK vacancies and published careers information. They are not an offer, and actual pay varies by employer, location and experience.
Skills and qualifications
Core skills
- Animal handling
- Clinical nursing
- Anaesthesia monitoring
- Owner communication
- Attention to detail
Transferable skills you may already have
- Animal care experience
- Working in a clinical team
- Calm handling of distressed people
Requirements employers ask for
- Animal handling
- Clinical nursing
- Anaesthesia monitoring
- Owner communication
- Attention to detail
- Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing or degree
- RCVS registration
- RCVS registration
- protect health and safety when handling animals
- assist the veterinary surgeon as a scrub nurse
- administer treatment to animals
- treat animals ethically
- provide nursing care for animals in recovery
- prepare animals for veterinary surgery
- collaborate with animal related professionals
- provide nursing care for hospitalised animals
- animal recovery procedures
- monitor the welfare of animals
- first aid for animals
- supply veterinary medicine under professional direction
Useful but not essential
- Animal care experience
- Working in a clinical team
- Calm handling of distressed people
- Certificates in anaesthesia, dentistry or emergency care
- maintain stocks of veterinary materials
- deal with challenging people
- maintain administrative records in the veterinary office
- veterinary terminology
- cope with challenging circumstances in the veterinary sector
- process payments
- follow work schedule
- understand the animal's situation
Helpful qualifications
- Certificates in anaesthesia, dentistry or emergency care
Licences and checks
- RCVS registration
Ways into this career
A degree is only one route. Where an apprenticeship, work-experience or qualification route exists, it is listed here alongside the academic option.
Apprenticeships and work-based routes
- Veterinary Nurse (Level 3)
Degree and college routes
- Related subject: Animal management
- Related subject: Biology
- Related subject: Veterinary nursing
Where this career can lead
next
Head Veterinary Nurse
next
Practice Manager
next
Clinical Nurse Specialist
The good parts and the hard parts
What people enjoy
- Registered profession without a degree
- Strong demand nationally
- Rewarding clinical work
What people find hard
- Emotionally difficult euthanasia work
- Pay lower than human healthcare equivalents
Common questions
- Do you need a degree to become a veterinary nurse?
- No. As well as degree routes, this career can be entered through an apprenticeship or by building experience and qualifications on the job. not_required
- How much does a veterinary nurse earn in the UK?
- Typical advertised pay runs from £23,000 to £27,000 a year, rising towards £36,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
- What skills transfer into this career?
- Skills that transfer well include Animal care experience, Working in a clinical team, Calm handling of distressed people.
Related careers
Animal Care Worker
Feeds, cleans, exercises and monitors animals in kennels, rescues, zoos or farms.
Dog Groomer
Bathes, clips and styles dogs, and spots health problems on the coat and skin.
Where this information comes from
- National Careers Service
- Institute for Apprenticeships
Last reviewed 14 September 2026.
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