An investigation into the confidence levels of veterinary nurses when caring for exotic species

Due to the increasing popularity of exotics (classified as lagomorph, rodent, reptile or avian species) as pets and the willingness of owners to seek veterinary advice, there is a much higher demand for veterinary nurses to develop their knowledge and clinical skills of these species. An exotic patient’s level of care is determined by the level of knowledge the professional holds, therefore to ensure successful treatment, all veterinary staff require an understanding of the basic biology, husbandry and medical parameters of each individual species. Previous research, within human nursing and sport studies, has demonstrated that increased confidence has a positive effect on an individuals’ performance.