ABSTRACT: The majority of first-opinion practices have an in-house laboratory and RVNs are well placed to become adept at maximising the diagnostic information that can be obtained. Refreshing skills learnt during VN training, in addition to learning a few new techniques, can provide greater diagnostic yield from samples being examined externally and more information from samples examined in-house. Laboratory work is interesting and enjoyable and providing our veterinary surgeons with the best information with which to treat patients is the ultimate reward.

Author

Anji Jonas BSc(Hons) RVN

Anji qualified as an RVN in 2005 and has a keen interest in medical nursing and laboratory diagnostics. She has completed nurse training at Axiom and IDEXX Laboratories and is in the final year of her Dip AVN at Harper Adams University. Anji works in a mixed first opinion practice, is a clinical coach and also lectures and teaches laboratory techniques. In practice she is often found behind a microscope getting overexcited about an unusual blood smear or infecting students with her enthusiasm.

Keywords: laboratory techniques; diagnostics; cytology; urinalysis; general practice

To cite this article: Veterinary Nursing Journal • VOL 31 (02) • February 2016 pp48-51

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