Essential Skills in Emergency & Critical Care for Vet Nurses – Sydney Recap

Our Essential Skills in Emergency & Critical Care for Vet Nurses workshop in Sydney brought together qualified veterinary nurses keen to strengthen their emergency and critical care skills. The day was led by Renee Brown DipVN, AVN, RVNS(AU,NZ), VTS-ECC.

The workshop focused on the practical skills nurses need to confidently place and manage essential indwelling devices. Through guided practical sessions, attendees worked on:

  • Nasal oxygen and nasogastric tube placement
  • Urinary catheterisation in male and female dogs
  • Triage and assessment of the emergency patient

For each procedure, attendees learned how to select appropriate equipment, prepare the patient, and perform placement with confidence and precision. Just as much emphasis was placed on what happens next: maintaining strict aseptic technique, monitoring patients, and identifying early signs of complications to support the best possible outcomes.

The collaborative, hands-on format gave everyone plenty of practice and the chance to learn from each other’s clinical experience.

Attendees left with sharper practical skills and greater confidence in managing emergency and critical care patients in their own clinics.

Speaker Biography

Renee Brown

DipVN, AVN, RVNS(AU,NZ), VTS-ECC

Ren’ee completed a Certificate in Health Science and Technology at the Universal College of Learning in 2008, followed by a Level 6 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing in 2010. Her emergency nursing experience began at Massey University Veterinary Teaching Hospital (MUVTH) in New Zealand, where she initially joined as a locum veterinary nurse in 2011. During this time, she also worked in general practice alongside her studies, before securing a full-time position at MUVTH in 2013.

With a strong passion for Emergency and Critical Care, Ren’ee has continued to develop advanced clinical skills throughout her career. She recently achieved certification as a Veterinary Technician Specialist in Emergency and Critical Care (VTS-ECC) through the Academy of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Technicians and Nurses (AVECCTN), and in 2021, she was awarded a scholarship from the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (VECCS) — recognising her technical excellence and commitment to advancing emergency nursing practice.

Beyond her clinical expertise, Ren’ee is dedicated to mentoring and supporting junior nurses, helping them grow their skills while delivering exceptional patient care. Now based in Sydney, Australia, she continues to broaden her emergency and critical care experience, particularly in areas such as tick paralysis and spider and snake envenomations — conditions not encountered in New Zealand.

Essential Skills in Emergency & Critical Care for Vet Nurses AU (October 2026)