Death is something that we will see on a regular basis. Wherever you are in your journey to becoming a Veterinary Nurse, the loss of a patient will always be hard.
You will be asked to assist with euthanasia appointments, where you will witness the taking of that pet’s life. The ending of their suffering or potential for suffering. You will see clients that scream and even faint. You will see clients that are inconsolable. You will see the elderly clients, the young couples, the singles. The clients who just want it over. The clients who cannot stay and with a trembling hand stroke their pet one more time and then rush out. You are present for the most painful moment in that owner’s life. You are witnessing them at their most vulnerable.
Author
Carrie Kearns ACC Dip PBC, VCA, Cert Pet Bereavement BC,MACCPH, Adv.Dip BCT
Carrie Kearns, Companion Animal Bereavement Counsellor and tutor for Innovet CPD Training. She spent 16 years as a veterinary care assistant in practice and moved into bereavement counselling full time 3 years ago. Her aspirations are to change how the world sees companion animal and other animal losses. To bring awareness to the pain and loss and support needed. To be the best Companion Animal Bereavement Counsellor she can be. Quirky fact about Carrie is that she has a birthmark in the shape of a hamster! Email: carrie@animalbereavementcounsling.com
DOI: 10.1080/17415349.2021.1905400
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To cite this article: VOL 36 (05) • May 2021 • Veterinary Nursing Journal pp152
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