Veterinary Work Experience
The Zoological Society of London offers ‘work experience’ (WE) placements at ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo for qualified and trainee veterinary nurses during July – September each year.
Applications for Summer 2010 veterinary nurse placements have now closed.
Each WE placement will be for a two-week period (Mon-Fri) and there will be a total of six successive placements at each site.
The placements offer a unique opportunity for veterinary nurses to gain work experience within the Zoo environment, working full time with wild animals (and some domestic ones too!). The first week will give an insight into the day-to-day husbandry and care of in-patients; new arrival quarantines and sick animals undergoing treatment and the second will be more clinically based.
Whilst zoo work can be very exciting and challenging and we do deal with many different species, it is well worth remembering that whilst some days may be full of clinical procedures, others are quiet and give us the opportunity to stock up and catch up on paper work. It can be very unpredictable and varied work, which keeps it interesting but this does mean that we can never guarantee what you will get to see during your placement.
All veterinary nurse work experience placements for Summer 2010 have now been filled, applications for next summer will be accepted from January 2011.
We are unable to offer work experience placements within the Veterinary Department for non vet nurses, however it is possible to gain work experience with the animal keepers and more information on this can be found here: Work experience
Claire Maher one of ZSL’s Work Experience Veterinary Nurses
'I thoroughly enjoyed my two week work experience placement with the Veterinary Department at ZSL London Zoo. Everyday was varied and exciting giving me the chance to nurse an array of animals many of them rare, some endangered and certainly very few of which I would have the opportunity to see in general practice.
'It was wonderful to have the opportunity to work with the veterinary team at the zoo, all of whom having a vast amount of experience and knowledge and all only too happy to answer any of my questions and help me to learn some new skills in the nursing of wild animals.
'Not only did I gain invaluable experience during the time I spent at ZSL London Zoo but it also showed me the possibilities of where a career in veterinary nursing could lead me in the future.'