travel to placement

Re: travel to placement

Sal the 1st — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 18:55:42 GMT

well at least you have found out before you started - and maybe somebody else has been able to make use of that placement that otherwise wouldnt have been able to so I feel you have done exactly the right thing there by finding out in advance. 16 I still feel is awfully young to be starting out in this business (not impossible I know but I personally prefer a trainee to be at least 17 as that year after school gives them chance to gain a bit more life experience and gain a lot more self confidence if that is lacking, not everybody is ready for the big wide world at 16 and there is no shame in that. Its not as easy as some would have you believe)

Have you thought about trying to find a practice with accomodation.(normally i would say avoid these like the plague but there are some decent ones out there that will give you a good inhouse training - it might not be exactly what you are looking for but it should get you on the right track. I do hope you are able to find something but you probably will have to look a bit further afield than you have planned at the moment

Re: travel to placement

sheridan cheshire — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 17:12:41 GMT

Relocating is not an option at 16. I would have had no time to study and probably unable to get to work or home at the slightest sign of bad weather and so would have been classed as unreliable . When I visited I was told I would have to be flexible in the hours worked , which I couldn't have been due to relying on public transport.

Re: travel to placement

Jacquelyn Smith — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 09:05:42 GMT

I don't want to sound harsh, but if you wanted it badly enough you would do the travelling. I am trying to get a trainee/student vet nurse place right now and I am willing to relocate hundreds of miles if I were lucky enough to get a place. When I studied for my ND I would walk 3miles to a train station, take an hours train and a 45 minute bus to get to college, then I would do it all in reverse to get home. This is not a permanent situation. It is a stepping stone to get what you want.

Re: travel to placement

sheridan cheshire — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 07:46:04 GMT

Hi thanks for all the advice, I'm totally gutted I visited the practice it took 4 buses and just over 2 hours. I notified college that I felt I wouldn't be able to carry out this placement 3 times a week as I would be out 6.30 till after 7.30pm that's if all buses arrived on time and I didn't miss any connections (unikely round here) , would not really have time to study on buses due to all been fairly short journeys Also the area where the vets was based is a quiet village and buses quite often stop in bad weather. There was no room to stay over at the surgery. After carefull consideration I felt this was not practical and I would not be able to give my best to the course.

I notified college and was told there was no other placement available and so would be withdrawn from the course. There are 30 vets in my area and I would have thought most surgeries would be grateful to get an extra worker at no cost. This is all I have ever wanted to do :-(

my mum has also lost £50 deposit paid for the course, even though the course was free as I am under 18. Anybody out there who knows of any job vacancies ( anything in a vets) within about 10 mile of Dewsbury, West Yorkshire PLEASE let me know.

Re: travel to placement

Sal the 1st — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 01:01:38 GMT

[quote user="sheridan cheshire"]

Hi I am starting training at college in September , and will attend placement in a surgery 3 days a week. However the placement that I have been offered is miles away and will take me 2 hours each to get there as I rely on public transport. Does anyone think this is unreasonable, Help !!!!!

[/quote]

have you considered visiting the practice and introducing yourself before your placement starts using public transport. This will serve 2 purposes - ie you can have a quick peek around the practice and meet the staff and at the same time you can suss out the journey and see if it is going to be feasible or not before committing yourself

if it really isnt going to work then it is better to find out before you start - rather than having to drop out a short way into course.

Re: travel to placement

NuttyNu — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 20:29:01 GMT

[quote user="Phrin Vernon RVN"]

[quote user="NuttyNu"]

. Would routingly get home about 6.30 in the evening as I couldn't run 13platforms and from outside the station, up the hill into the station and across all the platforms in 1minute so ended up with a 30minute wait until the next train home, then a cycle back home again!

[/quote]

That sounds like Manchester Picadilly?

I used to dread my train being on Platform 13!

[/quote]

No Sorry... Bristol!!! The train was only every 30 minutes, On the hour it was from 7, on the half hour 13. Usually i got there minutes before the hour but because the train started off there... it was never late! :(

Re: travel to placement

Phrin Vernon RVN — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 22:52:19 GMT

[quote user="NuttyNu"]

[/quote]

That sounds like Manchester Picadilly?

I used to dread my train being on Platform 13!

Re: travel to placement

NuttyNu — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 21:59:43 GMT

I know it is different ony doing this one day a week but I used to travel from 6.15 every morning (20min cycle to the train station, 30min train, 30min wait for the bus, 30minute bus journey (If I caught the right one, otherwise 45min journey!) and then had to wait 15mins for the college bit to let us on site for lectures at 9am. Would routingly get home about 6.30 in the evening as I couldn't run 13platforms and from outside the station, up the hill into the station and across all the platforms in 1minute so ended up with a 30minute wait until the next train home, then a cycle back home again!

This was very tiring but It is what I needed to do to get where I am now... still not qualified but another year closer!. Traveling to college now costs me about 100£ a month. This is one day a week. Work or college do not fund this but again, Its something I have to do to get where i want.

I know it can sound dis-heartening and I am not meanign it to be but it will only be for a couple of years. and then you would be able to look closer to home etc once you have qualified. Who knows... maybe in that time a place closer to home may come about and you may get a job closer to home part-way through.

It sounds ages but it will fly by. Also... time in the public transport can help give you time to relax or sort any college work you need to do out! (Thats what I used all my waiting around for!)

Re: travel to placement

Phrin Vernon RVN — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 21:35:03 GMT

Good idea about looking into college bursaries / hardship funds.

There are also bursaries available via the BVNA - they are closed for this year, but it couldn't hurt to apply for any that might help out a bit next year

http://www.bvna.org.uk/smartweb/membership-benefits/bursaries-available

Re: travel to placement

Michelle Rewcastle — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:34:09 GMT

One of my placements was a 2hr bus journey there and back, but i used to write up all my portfolio cases on the journeys home! Gave me some free time to eat/shower/sleep. xx

Re: travel to placement

chloehaddow — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 09:32:08 GMT

Hiya, I was in the same position, I used to have to leave at 6.25am to get to work by 8.30am. I also had to get two buses and carry portfolio etc. Try and see if the college provides extra financial help for students form a low income family. They have special funds to help in such situations. Bus operators also sometimes do weekly tickets that act as a bus pass and i found that i used to save about £5 a week by buying this. I know it doesnt sound a lot, but its £20 a month and it all adds up. What about the practice offereing accommodation, or is this not available? x

Re: travel to placement

Katie Mansfield — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 08:00:38 GMT

I was on the National Diploma last year, so couldn't get student loans or anything like that, only Adult Learning Grant £30 p/wk. However, my college gave me a bursary that you could apply for twice a year to help with things like travel costs, books, etc. As far as I'm aware most colleges have a bursary or hardship fund system, and as you're a low income family I'm sure you'd qualify. Ask them when you call later.

K x

Re: travel to placement

sheridan cheshire — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 07:27:49 GMT

Hi thanks for the advice. I am worried about transport costs as my mum is on a low income and and as the course is full time I am not getting any pay so will have to rely on my mum I will get £20 a week extended EMA but that wont cover the transport. Also I'm sure my study will suffer as I will be out of the house from 6.30am until 7.30pm. As college have arranged this placement i will ring them later and explain. Wish me luck.

Re: travel to placement

Phrin Vernon RVN — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 23:06:43 GMT

My first job was miles away from my parents house, and I had to leave home at 6.45 am for a 1.5hrs commute - it was often longer to get home, as the early morning train was an express, whereas the pm one stopped at every stop. I often slept on the train though

I can't remember the details, but I * think * I was on an apprenticeship back then, and so got a fair bit of my travel costs paid for - I think it came from the gov, via college, then via pay packet. Good job really as I was only earning £50 a week, which was less than my train costs!

It' was rubbish, but as others have said, try to grin and bear it, apply for any financial help available, and the time will fly by.

Good luck

Re: travel to placement

Susan Jackson — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 22:00:36 GMT

I had the same, it was two different buses and I had to wait 30mins between. Then when I did more shift work it was a bus and a 10min sprint accross town to make the train and a 30min walk or jog at the other end. Not so fun when carring books or portfolio...... ....... I was quite fit then.

I don't think it's unreasonable, placements are short and 2 yearssounds like a long time but I swear it will fly by.

Re: travel to placement

Steph Worsley — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 21:53:55 GMT

I have to say.....be lucky you have managed to get a placement there are lots of other people out there who would give their back teeth to be able to train. Sorry if that sounds harsh but its the truth. Have the college arranged the placement for you? If they have try asking if you could possibly try and source a placement yourself closer to home.

Prior to me starting in practice I did a national diploma in animal science and had to leave my parents house at 6.30 every morning to get to college for 9 so I do know what a nightmare it is especially relying on public transport. 2 afternoons a week I was volunteering at a local practice and would then have to get several buses home at 6pm as well 99% of the time I would be out of the house for over 12 hours, and this was on top of all my college work and working weekends to pay my way

I think the question does boil down to.....how much do you want this career? do you want it enough to either:-

a) put up with the travelling for the duration of the placement?
b) try and find lodgings for 2/3 nights a week close to the practice? (speak to the practice one of the staff may have a spare room they dont mind you staying in while you are there4)
c) find a more suitable placement closer to home for you

Re: travel to placement

Louise B — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 21:41:42 GMT

I think it is too far to commute daily! However, placements are few and far between. If I was desperate to train I would probably try to find part time lodgings near to the practice. I have done 4 hours/day commuting and your quality of life, physical health and standard of work all suffer if you have to do this commute regularly (IMO - others will disagree). Plus, it is likely to make you more of a clock-watching jobsworth if you know that at the end of the day you have to face a 2 hour (maybe more in rush hour?) drive home and less likely to stay behind to help where needed and see interesting cases. If you stay just down the road you can pop back to help with that caesar, torsion, blood tranfusion, luxated eyeball, etc that all invariably come in out of hours or just as you are leaving. You may be able to find lodgings in a family home for a couple of nights/week (I rent a room out on an occasional basis to someone and charge them £12/night so it can be done).

Re: travel to placement

jacqueline elsom — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 18:38:22 GMT

Hi,

I was in the same position 5 days a week for 2 years while training on a degree programme, unfortunately i just had to grin and bare it as placements are so hard to come by.

Have you worked out how much this is going to cost you? mine cost me over £50 a week in petrol. You need to weigh up if the practice is worth it and if it is possible i would try and get somewhere closer to home, but ive got to be honest, its extremely difficult to get placements and if you want to be a vet nurse its something you may have to put up with.

I don't mind the drive any more and didn't even notice the distance by the end of it. I really enjoyed my time working there and I'm really glad that i suffered through the travelling to obtain my qualification.

Jackie