A review by emilyrainsford
Tales Of A Vet Nurse by Jade Pengelly

hopeful informative sad

4.0

I found this little gem while shelf checking in the Animal section of our non-fiction collection at work. 

I'm telling you, next time you're at the library, try checking out the hidden corners of the non-fic shelves. You'd be surprised at the cool stuff you can find! 

This one one actually only published last year and is all about the author's experiences as a vet nurse. She has worked in multiple clinics in New Zealand and the UK and has lots of stories to tell.

I think this is one of those jobs that really has to be a vocation. This book gave a wonderful behind-the-scenes insight into the realities of vet nursing. It's an incredibly varied role - interesting but also intense - and frankly a lot more thankless than it should be. Vet nurses need a huge breadth of specialised knowledge across many species, often deal with difficult situations and long hours, and get paid a pittance.

The tales in this book cover the full realities of the role, which can be bittersweet. There are the fun, cute, and heartwarming stories, but also a lot of heartbreak. As the author says "the highs are high, and the lows are so low." It might be sadder than the cute and cheery cover would have you expect, but that's the reality of it.

I really enjoyed this read, it was a really interesting insight into the realities of being a vet nurse.