Veterinary nurses and technicians are on the frontline of animal welfare — providing hands-on care, pain management, and welfare assessment — and are increasingly recognised as key advocates for animal welfare within clinical settings.
Veterinary nurses play an underrecognised welfare role because they spend more time with hospitalised animals than any other clinical professional. Their ability to detect pain, provide enrichment, and advocate within the clinical team for welfare-positive decisions is a significant welfare asset. Supporting career development, expanding scope of practice, and addressing the occupational welfare of nurses themselves — including mental health support — improves both professional sustainability and animal welfare outcomes.