10/14/2024
My veterinarian says NO on 129.
There is not a single doctor in this picture….
This patient arrested and is surrounded by ICU/ER nurses that are LEADING a CPR code.
Veterinary nurses go through several years of studying, pass boards and go through massive cross-training in their workplace. One nurse will know how to draw blood, place IV catheters, run multiple bloodwork analysis machines (and troubleshoot them), monitor anesthesia, do client communication, manage complicated equipment, calculate CRIs, console a client that lost their pet AND make sure they cuddle their patients so they don’t feel scared. This is a short list of the multiple responsibilities that these amazing individuals have. But today, I want to specifically give a shout out to ICU and ER veterinary nurses.
Veterinary ICU and ER nurses are the most bad-ass nurses you’ll ever encounter. If you don’t blink an eye at this statement, it’s probably because you’ve had all your trainees go through ER to be trained first before they go to their other services, you’ve run to ER/ICU to have them stabilize that consult that turned into an emergency, you’ve sought out their amazing phlebotomy skills when no one else can get an IV, and you’ve trusted them with your patients once they are hospitalized in the ICU.
Veterinary ICU/nurses are struggling right now… they are short staffed, under paid and some are under appreciated and underutilized for their skill level. I will say this over and over again… LISTEN to your nurses! When they tell you they are concerned, go over to that patient and examine them again, ask them for their input, listen to their ideas, treat them as the qualified health professionals they are. They play a vital role in patient care and we would not be able to function without them.
This picture reflects the competency, autonomy, leadership and passion that you can nurture in your nurses if you allow them grow and treat them as our equals.
Show your ER/ICU nurses some love, not just today, but EVERY DAY.
