I’m so pleased to be back at University. I’ve been back a week and am enjoying lectures and living with my friends.
My modules this semester include Haematology, Clinical Biochemistry and Immunology and Veterinary Parasitology. Last week was mainly introductory lectures but I can see how much I am going to enjoy them.
I’ve also started my Dissertation. I’m really excited to get in the lab and start learning more about my research area!
I recently got a job with Goddards as a Locum receptionist and unqualified veterinary nurse. I have been working with them for nearly two months now. I mainly work on reception and out in the prep room.
While on reception I deal with customer enquiries, answer the phones and book appointments. Working as a receptionist has allowed me to work directly with clients and to gain cash handling experience when it comes to shutting and locking up the practice at night.
While working in prep I help with restraining animals for bloods, vaccinations and inserting and removing catheters. I also help set up for dentals and surgery and sterilise and pack surgical kits. In wards I monitor patients that are in for surgery and clean the wards and kennels.
Last week I took over the role as a ward assistant for two days.
I spent my time mainly in wards doing hourly checks. Checks included monitoring inpatients drinking, eating, urine and faeces, taking dogs out for walks and giving patients any tablets or non injectable medication.
If an animal needed any injectable medication I would let the inpatient nurse know.
I would also check that drip lines were still in and running correctly by clamping off the leg and sometimes using a flush.
Other roles included taking TPR’s, cleaning of wards and packing and sterilising surgical kits.
Last week was my first week back at Animal Ark vets in Goodmayes. I am working part time as a practice assistant.
My roles included sterilising and packing surgical kits, cleaning wards, monitoring inpatients, running bloods in the lab and restraining animals for blood tests and for removal of catheters. I also put away the order each day and dispensed medicine from the pharmacy for patients.
This was my last day at Wylies. It had gone so quickly especially because of what happened on my first day. I’m planning to go back soon to finish the day that I missed.
In the morning I was in theatre again. I observed another stray and castrate.
I also observed stenotic nares surgery. This surgery was performed on a French bulldog. It’s a surgery where the airways of the nose are opened up to help with breathing. It’s becoming a more common surgery as the trait of narrow airways, making it difficult to breathe, is passed on when the animal is bred.
I also observed a operation to remove a tonsil and soft pallet reduction in a bulldog which had difficulty breathing.
In the afternoon I observed more clinical procedures, sat in in consults and helped out in kennels.
In the morning I observed some more clinical procedures like dentals, bloods being taken and catheters being put in. I also helped out in kennels cleaning and walking the dogs.
In the afternoon I was in theatre. I had to change into scrubs and wear a hair net and face mask to keep things sterile. I observed two castrates and a spay. As the spay was on a large dog a machine was used to cauterise the blood vessels and limit bleeding. Afterwards I helped clean, sterilise and pack the surgical kits that were used.
Day 3 involved observing more clinical procedures, helping out in wards and setting up for a dental.
I got to watch an endoscopy on a cat to find out the reason for its vomitting. A hair ball was found in its trachea which was then removed. Stomach biopsies where also taken.
I also observed an ultra sound scan on a dog with severe jaundice. While scanning, it was found that he had pancreatitis. The pancreas was inflammed and as it was picked up on the scanner indicated a problem. Blood results also showed liver damage as ALT and AST levels, which are enzymes in the liver were extremely high.
For treatment the dog was put on anti-inflammatory medication and antibiotics to treat for a bacterial infection he had.
On my second day at Wylies I got to sit in on some vet consults. Two consults were a cruciate repair check up. The cruciate is a ligament that helps with movement of the knee and attaches the femur to the tibia. The other consult was a booster vaccination on a cat.
After this I helped out in wards, monitoring the animals, feeding them, walking them, cleaning kennels and making sure there was always a wash load on. I also got to play with some abandoned kittens that had been found in someone’s back garden. They are all rehomed now which is good!
For the rest of the day I then observed clinical procedures. I got to watch things like X rays, body scans, blood tests and dentals.
All this week I’ve been completing work experience at Wylies in Upminster. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it and got to see all areas of the practice. Im sad that tomorrow is my last day but hopefully something new will come from it!
Day 1 was a bit of a disaster for me. I ended up getting too hot in q nurse consult and fainting. (Due to a thing I have called pooling) I hit my nose and had to go up a and e. Don’t worry if this happens to you as fainting isn’t unusual in the practice.
That’s all that I got up to on day 1. I’ll post about day 2 tomorrow and I can promise you it’s a lot more interesting…
Hi everyone,
I know I haven’t posted in a while. I’ve been concentrating on exams and coursework the past couple of months.
Just wanted to let you all know I haven’t forgot about this blog and I’ve got some exciting things planned over summer.
There’s just over a week left of second year and it’s gone by so quickly. Can’t wait to start posting again soon
Vet Journey 