杉本恵子 みなみこいわペットクリニック医療サポートセンター院長
Keiko SUGIMOTO Director, Minami-Koiwa Pet Clinic, Medical Support Center

Hello everyone, my name is Sugimoto

same goals.

and I am a veterinarian. I have a clinicon the outskirts of Tokyo, just across

Next, I would like to talk about the current roles of

the river near the border of Tokyo andveterinary nurses at animal hospitals.

Chiba prefectures.
Up until now, the roles pet nurses have been expectedToday, I would like to talk from theto perform have included nursing activities, reception

viewpoint of animal care, which is to say, the current

work, cleaning and administrative tasks, all of which

status of animal care and the greater demand forhave been rather general functions. However, together

veterinary nurses in the ﬁeld where diversiﬁed tasks andwith an increasing need for ʻdiversiﬁed careʼ as well ascapabilities are in need.

due to progress made in recent years, the provision ofservices by animal clinics has transformed dramatically.

When I started as a practitioner, there was no such thingAlso, the scope and responsibilities of clinics andas a ʻVeterinary Nurseʼ. As some of our presenters today

practitioners have become more speciﬁc, some of them

have pointed out already, the position of Veterinary

specializing as eye doctors, dentists, orthopedists, orNurse was ﬁrst created with the development of Small

neurologists. Still others have introduced acupuncture

Animal Medicine as its background. The need foror alternative medicine services. You can even findveterinary nurses to assist practitioners became veryclinics that only care for exotic animals or birds. Whatapparent and demands to supply proper training for thewe can say is that, veterinary nurses now have much

position followed. This is what happened in Japan.

wider options to choose from. They can now decide theOrganizational structures also had to change so that, in

way they wish to go to match their competencies anddue course, it has become common practice for us tointerests.

operate with proper assistance from veterinary nurses.
Furthermore, a wider coordination between high-tech
After spending 12 to 13 years as a vet my vision grew

institutions, specialist hospitals and university hospitals

much clearer. What I decided I would like my clinic tois now available for small clinics, a development which

do is to provide a form of care for animals that strikes ais paving the way for small clinics to achieve newgood balance between Western medicine andpossibilities. I believe that these developments will push

alternative medicine, a balance from which therapeutic

animal medicine in a new direction and thatcapabilities are effectively utilized. For this reason lasteducational systems and school curricular for veterinary

year I changed the name of my clinic from ʻMinami-nurses will catch up with the new requirements. I have

Koiwa Pet Clinicʼ to ʻMinami-Koiwa Pet Clinic Medicala feeling that these new demands will eventually

Support Centerʼ. In order to cater to a wider public, we

become the standard for the animal care ﬁeld in future.

want to be able to work with pet owners to support
their pet animals and provide them with better lives.

The diversification that has taken place in the fieldThatʼs the role I would like my clinic to play. My key

might mean you have to decide where and how toobjective is that animal medical treatment is provided

apply your knowledge and experience. This would,

as a collaboration of doctors, nurses, owners and otherdepend on not only the situation that your hospital isrelated individuals all working together towards thein, but also the positioning of the hospital. I think thisWorkshop Ⅴ Animal Care ̶ Role of Animal Hospitals and Nurses

27dictates the roles of vet nurses. Just to name a few, I

Vets nurses are not only a necessity but they have also

believe nurses should excel in specific technologies. I

become an absolutely fundamental part of animal care.

think they need to have excellent interpersonal skills for

Having said that, I do find it particularly encouraging

processing the animals and owners as they go throughthat the Japanese Veterinary Association is now

the administration procedures for a hospital stay or

becoming fully established. Under a uniﬁed command,examination. They should have the knowledge to givethe Association has already started initiatives to certify

owners guidance on how to care for animals at home,

vet nurses and gain them a higher status within society.

preparing their meals, and so on.

I am fully aware of the importance of granting
qualifications to nurses to protect them and,

Other expected qualities include compassion, which

meanwhile, nurses should try to maintaining that otherenables them to show sympathy for owners, an

important quality, human decency.

aptitude for organization, and the skill to foresee whatneeds to be done next. For example, vet nurses

The qualities expected of a good receptionist are;sometimes serve as an intermediary, clarifying theinterpersonal skills, a mild-manner and pleasing

condition/ symptom of the patient on behalf of thedemeanor - someone who is always happy to help

doctor or setting up tools and materials in advance of aanimals and owners. Good communication skills areclinical examination, for example, checking the animalʼsalso vital because receptionists are expected to performtemperature. Doctors could develop mutual trust whenas doctor intermediates with the patients to provide

they have such highly capable nurses and feel at easecrucial information about the treatment required. The

concentrating on their primary job.

kind of reception provided can potentially drive anowner into a rage or put them at ease depending on

As well as those already mentioned above, there are still

receptionist experience. Poor communication canother tasks such as reception work, accounting, order/

exacerbate owner anger and possibly prolong theprocurement management, and the handling ofrequired treatment period unnecessarily.

complaints. Although complaint handling is typicallydone by the doctors or the principal doctor, the nurse

The roles of a receptionist at an animal hospital are not

may be asked to help out with this and other tasks.

the same as for other reception work. There is no clear
model but certain skills and abilities are needed. Just to

I believe that the care options at animal hospitals

mention a few - sufficient communication, correctly

became more diversiﬁed, and the relationship between

setting things up, a natural work ﬂow, being ready forhumans and pet animals grew closer. As a result,emergencies and briefing doctors on the situation. Allcompanion animals have a much higher presence thanthese skills can reduce patient waiting time and help

before and the quality of care we provide has improved

keep a clinic organized.

overall, alongside the higher expectations placed on us.

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The way animals are being treated, as based on how weJust having one or two nurses to help a vet on-site

operated clinics 30 or so years ago, has been changed.

could make a world of diﬀerence. They can clean up theTo adapt to these changes we need to enhance thetheatre when treatment is completed and have it readyoverall level of hospitals and clinics. The responsibilities

for the next patient, whilst also sorting out drug-expected of one practitioner are rapidly increasing. Thisprescriptions and giving the owner instructions foris why the potential role of the vet nurse is becoming

home-based care and diet based on the animalʼs

increasing vital. Supported by even a little help,

specific treatment history. Helping with any of theseveterinarians would be able to focus on facilitating

could take the weight oﬀ a doctorʼs responsibilities andhigh-quality care whilst still maintaining

thereby enhance care efficiency. Additionally, thecommunication with their animal patients and owners.

doctor can gain some time to plan future treatments.

Workshop Ⅴ Animal Care ̶ Role of Animal Hospitals and Nurses

As I mentioned, at my clinic I have introduced
alternative medicine in addition to conventional

With a higher demand for diversiﬁed and speciﬁed pet-Western Medicine. What little we do know is thatcare services, the capability for each practitioner to work

alternative medicines involve a lot of time-consuming

as a team will become more crucial because teamwork

procedures. In the photo I am showing a soundwill be the fundamental backbone in our work. The

treatment in progress called ʻManners Therapyʼ. The

ability to empathize with others, for both the animals

session takes about 15-30 minutes and a nurse would

and their owners, is our most important credential as abe standing by the side during the entire duration. An

care provider. A big part of our job is to respect animal

additional half an hour would be needed if thelives, and we often have to deal with such issues. I am

preparation included some special arrangements. Thesecertain that the relationships we foster in our working

preparation procedures would include training andlives can be contributed back into society and so give us

having owners well-orientated for the event. Nurses are

all a higher level of recognition. For this, I must say,

expected to be a part of the therapy treatment (underbuilding a partnership within teams is rewarding. It isdoctor supervision of course). This photo shows a nurse

my sincere hope that I will be part of the contribution.

taking part in the training program as an instructor. The

To everybody pursuing a career as a vet nurse, I wish

team aims to build a constructive relationship with theyou the very best.

companion animal whilst making progress on training
and enjoying games. Another service available at ourThank you for your attention.

clinic is counseling. Through counseling, we advise
owners about communication methods we believe will
help them construct a better relationship with their pet
and thereby improve their day to day lives. We seek
solutions with owners in terms of health management
and for behaviour issues. Having instructors withnursing experience for these activities make themhighly-valued, reliable assistants. The photo here showsa homeopathy session in progress, homeopathy being
another form of alternative therapy. The nursesʼ
involvement begins with facilitating the treatment
through to making homeopathic remedies. It only ends
when they place the pet back into the hands of theowner.
Finally, I think it is now time for us veterinarians torecognize that the vet nurse has become anindispensable part of the system, and that we have totake one step further towards the new direction so as tomaterialize “team-treatment”. Having said that, I believe
it is also important to keep abreast of world-wide aﬀairs
in terms of vet nurse roles and draw on them. Beingwell-versed with them will give the nurse advantages
and confidence to stand on their own as responsible
adults and professionals. After all, the vet nurse is going
to be part of all the expected changes that will
eventually bring new progress to animal medicine.

Workshop Ⅴ Animal Care ̶ Role of Animal Hospitals and Nurses

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