A veterinarian cannot simultaneously perform surgery and monitor the patient's vital functions. A trained veterinary nurse is the person who watches the monitors, responds to changes, and cares for the patient before, during, and after surgery. Research shows that the presence of a trained nurse during anesthesia is the single most important modifiable factor in reducing mortality.
The Nurse's Role at the Clinic
The veterinary nurse prepares the patient for surgery: placing an IV catheter, administering premedication, and preparing the surgical site. During surgery, the nurse monitors anesthesia — tracking heart rhythm, oxygen saturation, capnography, and temperature. In sterile assistance, the nurse passes instruments, maintains the sterile field, and identifies potential contamination. After the procedure, the nurse monitors recovery, which is the most critical phase: over half of anesthesia complications occur during the wake-up period.
What Research Shows
The CEPSAF study (Brodbelt et al., 117 clinics, ~185,000 animals) demonstrated that the absence of a trained nurse monitoring anesthesia was a risk factor for death. Over 50% of anesthesia deaths occurred within three hours of the procedure ending — during the recovery phase. The Banfield study (2022) showed that implementing quality standards, including trained personnel, reduced anesthesia mortality by 16% within six months. Redondo et al. (2024) confirmed that 81% of anesthesia deaths occurred postoperatively.
Education in Finland
In Finland, veterinary nurse education has three tiers. The basic qualification (animal care worker, 2–3 years) provides foundational knowledge in animal care. The vocational qualification (clinical veterinary nurse, ~1.5 years) focuses on clinic work: anesthesia monitoring, surgical assistance, laboratory work, and radiography. The highest level is the advanced vocational qualification (EAT), where one can deepen skills in anesthesia, acute and intensive care, internal medicine nursing, or diagnostic imaging. The EAT requires years of clinical experience.
Jenni Ruotsala — Our Head Veterinary Nurse
Our head veterinary nurse Jenni Ruotsala has worked at our clinic since 2014. She holds all three levels of Finnish veterinary nurse qualifications: basic qualification (2010), vocational qualification (2018), and advanced vocational qualification with anesthesia focus (2025) — the highest professional qualification available in Finland. Additionally, Jenni has completed dental training in Sweden at Accesia Academy.