Compassion in Action: How empowering veterinary nurses strengthens practice

By Sharnah Lee RVN

Sharnah Lee is a Registered Veterinary Nurse from Bury St Edmunds. Passionate about supporting and empowering Veterinary Nurses within practice, she is committed to promoting teamwork, professional development and high standards of patient care and is currently studying for a degree Certificate in Anaesthesia & Analgesia. Outside of work, Sharnah enjoys spending time with her two cheeky cocker spaniels Rupert & Wellington.

To celebrate Veterinary Nurse Awareness Month, this article highlights how compassion and empathy, when recognised as professional strengths, drive better outcomes across veterinary practice. From patient care, to team culture and client trust.

More than clinical skills

The biggest strengths Registered Veterinary Nurses (RVNs) bring to practice lie not only in their clinical ability, but also in their communication, consistency with clients, emotional intelligence and patient advocacy. These qualities shape the day-to-day experience of care¹.

RVNs are often the steady presence throughout a patient’s journey. They are the ones clients remember speaking to on the phone, the familiar face during repeat visits and the person who notices when something subtle with a patient has changed. That continuity builds trust – and trust makes everything else easier, from explaining treatment plans to supporting difficult decisions².

These qualities influence daily practice in ways that are easy to miss because they happen in small, quiet moments. An RVN who takes an extra minute to reassure a client may improve compliance with medication³. Picking up on a patient’s stress signals can lead to adjustments that support recovery. Clear, empathetic communication can prevent misunderstandings before they escalate.

RVNs are often well placed to identify inefficiencies, highlight client concerns or suggest improvements to patient care, so it’s important that practice protocols give the opportunity for their insights to be recognised and considered⁴.

Why compassion matters in practice

Compassion is at the heart of veterinary nursing, shaping not only how care is delivered, but how it is experienced by both patients and their owners. RVNs are often the primary point of emotional connection within a practice, providing reassurance during stressful consultations, supporting clients through difficult decisions and advocating for animals who cannot speak for themselves. This compassionate approach helps to build trust, improves client communication, and can positively influence clinical outcomes by reducing fear and stress in animals⁵. Just as importantly, compassion fosters a sense of purpose and professional pride, reminding nurses of the meaningful impact of their role. In a profession that can be emotionally demanding, maintaining compassion while also being supported to protect one’s own wellbeing is essential to delivering high-quality care and sustaining a fulfilling career.

A survey conducted as part of a wider UK veterinary workforce research project investigating factors affecting recruitment and retention in the UK veterinary nursing profession⁶ highlighted a clear relationship between job satisfaction and future intentions among RVN’s, showing that those who feel valued and supported are more likely to remain in the profession, while those who feel under-recognised or under-utilised are more likely to consider leaving.

This pattern has important implications for empowering veterinary nurses in practice. It suggests that retention is not driven solely by the rewards of the role, but by whether RVN’s are given genuine professional respect, appropriate use of their clinical skills and meaningful opportunities for development. Empowerment in this context goes beyond encouragement or wellbeing initiatives; it requires structural change within veterinary teams to ensure RVNs are trusted, included in decision-making and enabled to work to their full scope of practice. When RVNs feel their contribution is recognised and their expertise actively valued, job satisfaction improves, retention increases and the profession becomes more sustainable. Empowering veterinary nurses is essential not only for individual fulfilment, but for the long-term strength and stability of veterinary practice as a whole⁷.

Simple ways to involve RVNs more

Getting more value from RVNs doesn’t require making big changes. A few small shifts can make a noticeable difference.

Bring RVNs into discussions – this could be as simple as inviting an RVN to join parts of a team meeting or asking their input on specific cases or practice protocols.
Make space for feedback – quick debriefs after busy clinics or complex cases can highlight useful ideas. Even informal conversations can uncover practical practice improvements.
Support nurse-led work – many RVNs run clinics and handle client communication. Expanding these responsibilities, such as enabling clients and patients to see the same RVN consistently, can strengthen relationships, build trust and improve continuity of care and the overall client experience.

The benefits for everyone

Involving RVNs in effective team-based care may help clients’ understanding of what is happening with their pet, and help them to feel supported and listened to, and consequently, more connected to the practice. Fully integrating nurses into multi-disciplinary teams can also aid communication, strengthen working relationships and increase job satisfaction for team members. Practice efficiency may also improve as the skills of the wider veterinary team are utilised more effectively.

Recognising the emotional side

Compassion is a strength, but it can also be demanding. RVNs regularly deal with emotional situations, from supporting clients through difficult decisions, to coping with patient loss. Over time, this emotional demand can take a significant toll on RVNs’ mental health, contributing to stress, compassion fatigue and in some cases, burnout⁸. Supporting RVNs doesn’t have to be complicated – it can start with making time for breaks, checking in after tough cases and encouraging open and supportive conversations. Even small actions can help create a more supportive working environment⁹.

A fresh perspective

Veterinary Nurse Awareness Month is a chance not just to celebrate nurses, but to think about how their role fits into modern practice. Compassion and empathy are not just personal traits. They are skills that support better care, stronger relationships and healthier teams.

When practices recognise this and make space for RVN’s to contribute more fully, the whole veterinary team benefits. Often, it starts with something very simple… listening.

References

[1] Lue TW, Pantenburg DP, Crawford PM. Impact of the owner-pet and client- veterinarian bond on the care that pets receive. JAVMA. 2008;232(4):531-540. doi:10.2460/javma.232.4.531

[2] Delamarter M. Mastering the Art of Veterinary Nurse Communication [Internet]. Today’s Veterinary Nurse. 2023. Available from: https://todaysveterinarynurse.com/personal-professional-development/mastering-the-art-of-veterinary-nurse-communication/

[3] Loftus L. The non-compliant client by Loni Loftus [Internet]. British Veterinary Nursing Association. 2022. Available from: https://bvna.org.uk/blog/the-non-compliant-client-by-loni-loftus/

[4] Orpet H. How well do you know your patient? The need for nursing assessment Hilary Orpet [Internet]. British Veterinary Nursing Association. 2022. Available from: https://bvna.org.uk/blog/how-well-do-you-know-your-patient- the-need-for-nursing-assessment-hilary-orpet/

[5] Vivian S. Low-stress handling for long-term wound care. The Veterinary Nurse. 2019 Dec 2;10(10):522–6.

[6] Hagen JR, Weller R, Mair TS, Batt-Williams S, Kinnison T. Survey investigating factors affecting recruitment and retention in the UK veterinary nursing profession. Veterinary Record [Internet]. 2022 Sep 9;191(12). Available from: https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/vetr.2078

[7] Vivian et al, Journal of Veterinary Medical Education, 2022. What Factors Influence the Perceptions of Job Satisfaction in Registered Veterinary Nurses Currently Working in Veterinary Practice in the United Kingdom?

[8] Chapman AJ, Rohlf VI, Moser AY, Bennett PC. Organizational Factors Affecting Burnout in Veterinary Nurses: A Systematic Review. Anthrozoös. 2024 Apr 15;1– 36.

[9] Optimizing Work Schedules in Veterinary Practice: Impact on Staff Wellbeing and Career Satisfaction [Internet]. Today’s Veterinary Nurse. 2026. Available from: https://todaysveterinarynurse.com/practice-management/optimizing-work-schedules-in-veterinary-practice-impact-on-staff-wellbeing-and-career-satisfaction/

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