References
Preparing students for practice
Abstract
Traditionally education has prepared veterinary nursing students well to have the knowlege and practical skills to care for patients to the best of their ability. However, in recent years, more emphasis has been placed on the emotional aspects of nursing, and education has had to adapt to prepare students to look after their own wellbeing as well as that of the animals or owners. This paper summarises recent work on this topic and brings together a variety of different ideas put forward by both veterinary and veterinary nursing educators.
We have all been there — on day 1 after qualification, everything has changed. Suddenly you have gone from student to a fully qualified veterinary nursing professional. This is what you have been waiting for — the chance to work with animals, owners and colleagues as a fully formed member of the team — no longer having to wait for approval you are now able to make your own decisions. Why is it then that so many veterinary nurses and veterinary surgeons go on to find stress, upset and disillusionment within the profession? What is it that changes once people are qualified? Does anything change? Or it is more likely that people believe once qualified the questions and uncertainty felt as a student will somehow disappear, but reality is that doubts and questions can remain and even increase after qualification. All veterinary staff know that working with sick animals will be emotionally draining; do they think that they can cope with it and then find a few years later that, like a continuous trickle of water, it can wear down even the toughest of individuals?
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