What's after nursing...

Re: What's after nursing...

Siobhan Steven — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 21:15:11 GMT

Don't want to hijack thread... but that's per night, I am looking at The Luxor, about 360 pounds all up, but split between two and with a very strong Aust dollar that's ridiculously cheap. Food is cheap in Vegas as well. Its 200 for registration. We are having a couple of days in San Fran on the way back to Aust. I went to BSAVA in 2008 so will be interesting to compare, the programme looks frustratingly good! In as much as there is SO much to see, some of it clashes!

Sorry to change subject guys.

My weight loss clinic would be called 'Chubby Checkers'. Cute?

Re: What's after nursing...

Caro Laithwaite VN — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 19:26:48 GMT

Oh l would love to go there money has conspired against me please let me know how it goes l spend ages each year looking at the WVC and thinking one day, congress not interested WVC definatly.

How much is your hotel do l read some of the ads right and it is about $60 to 100 for the full convention or is that /night?

Re: What's after nursing...

Siobhan Steven — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 01:39:05 GMT

Sometimes I think about what else I would do, have tried other industries from ski instructing to chef, but there's nothing tat makes me happier than being around my patients. Even at the moment while I work 3 days a week at a University Vet Hosp and have to drive 3 1/2 hours each way and spend the time away from home overnights... I would like to get into weight management (pet, not human!) and nutrition, just SO many fattys out there, and as I'm in the surgical side of things at the moment and see so many problems attributed to weight and diet it would be nice to help people. I am also looking at getting my American Academy of Veterinary Technician Anesthetists qualification, takes a bit of CPD, hence spending some stupid amount of money and going to the WVC in Las Vegas in Feb 2011 with a vet friend. And then theres the dream of going to Africa for a few months and working on a wildlife refuge...that can happen when my surgeon retires....

Re: What's after nursing...

Nick Shackleton — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 22:33:22 GMT

That's why I'm doing part time study! working within a hospital and undertaking a Foundation Degree. we shall see where it leads!

Re: What's after nursing...

Juliet Drummond DAVN (med) RVN D32/33 — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 22:24:06 GMT

OMG what a subject, i have been nursing since 1990, and qualified since 1996,

i'am now a head nurse (something i said i'd never be)

i'am constantly thinking about what else i could do, i feel like i was born a vet nurse lol

i have thought about midwifery, paediatric nursing, but i'm not great with people! (and people poo!)

i also worry about money, how do you live when you go back into fulltime education?

i feel like i'm in a bit of a rut, i love the nursing roles, but i'am sick of feeling like a pleb on occassion, and i feel like alot of you do, that i an't progress

i'm confused.com

Re: What's after nursing...

Louise B — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 11:44:31 GMT

Oh. Okay. Not sure how many hours contact the average forensic science course offers but it does sound way on the low side for the first year at least. Contact hours in the sciences are usually pretty high due to the nature of the course. What were the other unis offering contact hour wise?

Re: What's after nursing...

SmegSlayer — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 15:31:57 GMT

Didn't get a tour of the campus i would be at, or see the labs (kinda important for a forensic scientist?) and it was a full time course and my attendance would be 1.5 days a week!?!?!? full day monday and then Friday morning

Re: What's after nursing...

Louise B — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 11:15:35 GMT

Depends if you want to go to uni this year or next really. Go this year and save 9-18k on tuition fees but start paying back when you are earning £15,000 or go next year not save this money but not start paying back until you are earning 21k. The courses that rejected you will have been heavily oversubscribed so can be very picky about qualifications. It is worth chatting with the admissions tutor to find out whether they would be acceptable next year (when application numbers will be lower). Application numbers will be at a record high this year!

Sorry you didn't get in though for your fave course - is the other really so bad?

Re: What's after nursing...

Nick Shackleton — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 11:09:34 GMT

[quote user="SmegSlayer"]

I've just submitted a UCAS application to go back to university and study Forensic Science.

[/quote]

Just heard in last few weeks that the uni I really wanted to go to have said no due to "previous experience/qualifications being incompatible with the chosen course" and my second favourite have discontinued the course. The one I hated have welcomed me with open arms...

[/quote]

have you thought about doing an access course??? CAn be done either part time or full time (2 yrs PT and 1yr FT)

and just come across this one that is distance learning online!

http://www.hotcourses.com/uk-courses/Health-and-Social-Care-Level-3-60-Credits-towards-Access-to-Higher-Education-Diploma-courses/page_pls_user_course_details/16180339/0/w/52583582/page.htm

Re: What's after nursing...

SmegSlayer — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 09:48:57 GMT

[quote user="SmegSlayer"]

I've just submitted a UCAS application to go back to university and study Forensic Science.

[/quote]

Re: What's after nursing...

Katie B — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 23:18:26 GMT

[quote user="pugwon"]

I have just given up nursing after 12 years. Although I am still in practice so i suppose its not a complete change. I am now the Large animal Nurse in our practice,and I love it. Its very different from 'normal' nursing as im doing A LOT of admin (writing up tb tests and other defra paper work mostly), but I get to go out on farms and assist the vets, I do lameness assessments on dairy herds, foot trimming, vaccinating and blood sampling.

[/quote]

That sounds so exciting! Does many vet nurses go on to become Vets? Or is that a silly question?

Re: What's after nursing...

pugwon — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 22:00:45 GMT

Re: What's after nursing...

Kim Buckley — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 11:32:28 GMT

Our head nurse/head of training at work has been recommending the RVC diploma over the other one because it is at a higher academic level and so would be recognised outside of vet nursing. I have a friend from uni doing the RVC one and she spoke to my head nurse before she decided which one and this is the reason she gave.

Plus the RVC one is a lot more convenient as it's only an hour from me.

There are several nurses at work doing it at the moment and they all seem to be enjoying it. Will see what work say.

Re: What's after nursing...

Maisy — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 11:31:27 GMT

[quote user="Nick BATFINK Shackleton Dip AVN(surg)VN MBVNA"]

Good luck with that Kim! The only thing is has the RVC Diploma being accredited by the RCVS. If it hasn't you won't get a diploma badge. Unless they provide one themselves.

The only two that are accredited are myerscough and haper adams

[/quote]

The RVC issue out a badge. A lot of the post qualification courses for VNs aren't accredited by the RVCS, the only real difference is that any post nominals aren't shown on the RCVS listing.

Re: What's after nursing...

Nick Shackleton — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 09:35:38 GMT

[quote user="Kim Blowing RVN"]

[quote user="Nick BATFINK Shackleton Dip AVN(surg)VN MBVNA"]

I personally think that if they want to retain nurses there needs to be more courses available for nurse. Look at the number of certificates and diplomas available to vets......

[/quote]

It's such a shame there aren't more for nurses to do. Going to ask about doing the RVC diploma next year. Want to get my teeth into something!

[/quote]

Good luck with that Kim! The only thing is has the RVC Diploma being accredited by the RCVS. If it hasn't you won't get a diploma badge. Unless they provide one themselves.

The only two that are accredited are myerscough and haper adams

Re: What's after nursing...

Kim Buckley — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 16:50:40 GMT

[quote user="Nick BATFINK Shackleton Dip AVN(surg)VN MBVNA"]

I personally think that if they want to retain nurses there needs to be more courses available for nurse. Look at the number of certificates and diplomas available to vets......

[/quote]

It's such a shame there aren't more for nurses to do. Going to ask about doing the RVC diploma next year. Want to get my teeth into something!

Re: What's after nursing...

Nick Shackleton — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 12:01:20 GMT

[quote user="Kim Blowing RVN"]

[quote user="Katie Brocklebank"]

Do you all really want to go into something else? But then I am starting my training this coming September (so I aren't a vet nurse yet!) and I can't wait. The dream for me is to become qualified Vet Nurse and then work for a charity animal hospital like RSPCA or Blue Cross and work my way up to Head Nurse. I would also love to work as a vet nurse for a charity in America, that has always been a massive dream for me! Above all I just can't wait to get started, so sick of doing none jobs where you don't make a difference to anything. So excited, I spoke to my college and got the books that I need on order for my christmas pressies, gives me something to read and look forward too!

[/quote]

I don't want to go into anything else at the moment but I can see why people do. There isn't a lot of progression within veterinary nursing and the pay isn't brilliant. I love what I do and would hate to work in an office but I would also like to be able to afford to move out of home.

[/quote]

I agree with Kim. I have been nursing since 1997 and qualified for nearly 10 years now. I main reason for me wanting to leave was definitely the lack of progression. I had gained the advanced Diploma and wanted to progress and do further studies centred on radiography, yet as it currently stands there are no other courses available. I personally think that if they want to retain nurses there needs to be more courses available for nurse. Look at the number of certificates and diplomas available to vets......

Re: What's after nursing...

Kim Buckley — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 11:55:26 GMT

[quote user="Katie Brocklebank"]

[/quote]

Re: What's after nursing...

Katie B — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 12:44:50 GMT

Re: What's after nursing...

Katie B — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 12:33:17 GMT

[quote user="kaz84"]

I'm at this cross roads at the moment. i think im at the end of the road, been nursing for nearly 10 yrs and feel that a change is in need. I have been looking into research and animal tech jobs for the past year. also have applied for uni for animal welfare... I personally have been recommended not to go into reping due to the hours and pay... by a rep... so i've been put off. ahhhhh decisions decisions. i think im more opting for uni :D

[/quote]

Why don't you go for RSPCA Inspector their always looking for Veterinary Nurses?

Re: What's after nursing...

kaz84 — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 11:49:02 GMT

Re: What's after nursing...

Phrin Vernon RVN — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 23:06:07 GMT

Personally I just cannot stomach the thought of most human nursing!

Although saying that, my son was in SCBU for 6 weeks, and the nurses there - well their job seemed similar to ours in lots of ways - nursing these teeny tiny beings that have no way of telling you what they are feeling.....to be 100% honest, when I first met my son it was 24hrs post c-section, and he was in an incubator, being tube fed, on an ecg, pulse ox etc, and the nurses very tentatively asked me how I would feel about tube feeding and nursing him.... I surprised them when I just got stuck in! For those first few days, before we bonded, it was just like nursing a kitten!

He's not like a kitten any more - he is a proper little boy, full of slugs and snails and puppy dogs tails

I looked into radiography briefly during my 'stay at home mum' break, but it wasn't for me. I love vet nursing, and the only other direction I can envisage, would be teaching, but only once I got too old to pin a rotty down, or too blind to hit a vein lol!

The thought of repping, lab or insurance work fills me with dread! Management might be an option, but I know I would just be itching to be down there on the shop floor!

So I guess I'll be nursing till I drop!

Re: What's after nursing...

Dippy — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 22:33:06 GMT

[quote user="Kim Blowing RVN"]

My friend who was training to be a paramedic, became a vet nurse and is now at vet school (not confusing at all!) is married to a paramedic and I love listening to some of his stories. I think you would have to be incredibly patient with people! I think all the drunk people would wind me up!

[/quote]

They used to p me off enough on the end of the phone!

Re: What's after nursing...

Tracy Windler RVN — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 22:28:13 GMT

I've been researching human nursing courses and midwifery. I'm more interested in the midwifery side, though. I do love babies! Seriously, though, it seems like such a worthwhile and challenging job. Much like ours, but with better recognition! Just not sure I could manage the 3-4 years of more studying. I know what I was like after 2 years of VN training!

I have a bit of a pipe dream of building an eco-house in the sticks somewhere (although hubby has stipulated it must have internet access if he is to live there too!) and live a very basic, mainly self-sufficient life, perhaps working part-time to supplement our income so we can have holidays or treats etc?? Maybe one day ........

Re: What's after nursing...

paula morgan — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 22:27:46 GMT

I would like to be a gamekeeper or a wildlife photographer, only one problem am crap at takin photos! x