Articles
Hygiene and aseptic work in the veterinary clinicHygiene · 8 minHygiene is the foundation of clinic work. The veterinary nurse must be able to perform correct hand hygiene, cleaning and disinfection and work aseptically around operations to protect patients, staff and other animals.Reception of patient and recording in patient fileClinic work · 7 minThe veterinary nurse is often the first to meet the animal and owner. A good, systematic reception — with history, observation and correct record keeping — forms the basis for the veterinarian's diagnosis and treatment.Handling fixation and animal welfareAnimal handling. · 7 minSafe and secure handling protects both the animal, the owner and the staff. The veterinary nurse must be able to read the animal's signals, restrain gently and reduce stress so that examination and treatment can be carried out properly.Preoperative and postoperative careClinical care · 8 minAround an operation the veterinary nurse is the patient's guardian. Correct preparation before anesthesia and attentive care after waking are crucial for a safe course and good healing.Sampling and simple laboratory analysisLaboratory · 8 minTesting is an important part of making a diagnosis. The veterinary nurse assists with and performs sample collection, and the quality of the sample determines whether the result is reliable. Correct technique, labeling, and storage are therefore crucial.Medicine management and dosageMedicine · 8 minIncorrect medicine or wrong dose can seriously harm the patient. The veterinary nurse must know routes of administration, calculate doses correctly, store medicines properly and document everything given — always according to the veterinarian's prescription.Anesthesia monitoring and vital parametersAnesthesia · 9 minAn anaesthetised animal cannot look after itself. The veterinary nurse monitors vital parameters recognises early signs of problems and acts on instructions. Systematic monitoring — from preoperative risk assessment to wake-up — is what makes anaesthesia safe.Acute patient, triage and resuscitationAcute and critical care · 9 minAcute patients require rapid, systematic assessment and action. With a fixed triage approach and knowledge of resuscitation principles, the veterinary nurse can prioritize correctly, prepare equipment and contribute effectively when seconds count.Pain assessment and pain managementClinical care · 8 minAnimals can't tell you they're in pain and many instinctively hide pain. The veterinary nurse must be able to recognize pain signs, use systematic assessment tools, and contribute to pain management according to prescription — for both welfare and healing.The history of veterinary science — from farrier to animal clinicHistory · 9 minThe veterinary nurse's profession stands on the shoulders of a long development: from earlier times' blacksmiths and 'wise men' who treated agricultural animals, through the founding of the Danish veterinary school in 1773, to a modern animal clinic with hygiene, anesthesia and laboratory. The veterinary nurse itself is a young profession that emerged from 1960s private apprenticeships to a formal vocational education.X-ray and radiation protection at the animal clinicTechnique · 8 minX-ray is a central diagnostic tool at the animal clinic, but unlike the patient, the staff is exposed to radiation again and again, recording after recording. Since 2018, there has been a legal requirement for a radiation protection coordinator, and in 2023 the Health Authority issued comprehensive guidance on how the regulations are complied with in practice. The article covers the principles of safe working techniques, dose monitoring and responsibility distribution.Dental care and dental treatment in dogs and catsClinic · 8 minPeriodontal disease is one of the most common disorders in dogs and cats, and it often develops hidden until damage has occurred. The article reviews the internationally used AVDC classification, why a proper dental examination requires anaesthesia, and the role of the veterinary nurse in dental X-ray, teeth cleaning and record-keeping.Zoonoses, bite wounds and working environmentSafety · 8 minWork with animals involves a real risk of zoonoses — diseases that transmit between animals and humans — and for bite wounds which are often under-reported as work accidents. The article reviews how transmission spreads, what to do with a bite wound, and what responsibility occupational health and safety law places on your employer.Surgical assistance and instrument knowledgeTechnique · 8 minDuring an operation the veterinary nurse is often the anesthesia nurse and operating assistant at the same time. The article reviews the most common surgical instruments the principles for choosing suture material why compresses and needles are always counted and how instruments are prepared for the next procedure.Clinical nutrition and feeding plans for hospitalized patientsClinic · 8 minA sick or hospitalised animal that does not receive proper nutrition heals more slowly and weakens quickly. The article reviews why admitted patients must have an individual feeding plan how tube feeding is used and why clinical nutrition today is a separate specialty area for veterinary nurses.Authorisation and the Framework of Legislation for the TradeRules · 8 minVeterinary nurses in Denmark can become authorized following an order issued under the Veterinary Act, and authorization gives the right to perform specifically determined treatments. The article reviews the authorization scheme, the principles of the Animal Welfare Act and why it is your own responsibility to know the rules that set your daily work.Main course, practical work and journeyman's testEducation · 8 minVeterinary nurse education is an alternating education where most of the time takes place at the apprenticeship, while theory is gathered during school stays at Hansenberg in Kolding. The article reviews the path from basic course through education agreement to main course and journeyman exam, and what you need to master along the way.Career paths and specialization after trainingCareer · 7 minA journeyman's certificate as a veterinary nurse is the start not the end of professional development. The article looks at where qualified veterinary nurses typically work which clinical specialities you can further train in and what it takes to become a certified veterinary nurse.