Working as a veterinary nurse in Sweden is a responsible and meaningful profession where you play a central role in the care of animals. To practice the profession, you need to be licensed by the Swedish Board of Agriculture, which means that there are clear requirements for education and competence. In this article, we will go through what is required to become and work as a licensed veterinary nurse in Sweden.
What does a veterinary nurse do?
A registered veterinary nurse (often abbreviated DSS) works closely with veterinarians and other animal caretakers in animal hospitals, animal clinics or in ambulatory care settings. Duties may include:
• Preparation and assistance during operations
• Anesthesia (narcosis and pain relief)
• Sampling, X-rays and laboratory work
• Care and nursing of inpatients
• Medication according to regulations
• Communication with pet owners
DSS is thus a protected professional title, and the role requires great accuracy, animal knowledge and the ability to handle both technology and people.
Requirements to become a licensed veterinary nurse
1. Education in Sweden
To become a licensed animal nurse, you must have completed the animal nursing program at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) in Uppsala. The program is three years long (180 credits) and leads to a bachelor's degree in animal care.
During the training you will gain theoretical and practical knowledge in, among other things:
• Animal anatomy and physiology
• Pharmacology and medication management
• Diagnostics and treatment
• Anesthesia and intensive care
• Ethics, animal welfare and communication
2. Application for identification
After completing your education, you apply for certification from the Swedish Board of Agriculture, which is the authority that issues certification for animal nurses in Sweden.
You need:
• Certificate/diploma from SLU
• Personal information and contact details
• Pay an application fee
The application is made digitally via the Swedish Board of Agriculture's e-service.