Some advice please

Re: Some advice please

dinkyd — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 15:35:24 GMT

there are colleges that offer the vn nvq as a full time student - you do not require to be employed by a tp as you go on placement to practice,vet school and do your theory at college - edinburghs telford college is one of teh colleges which offer this.This is another option however the student is not paid for their time out at practice/vet school as they are full time student as opposed to block release students who are employed by a tp.This is how i trained as it is so difficult to get a training position in a practice.good luck

Re: Some advice please

HazG — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 10:33:18 GMT

Thanks for all your replys my daughter has read them,but it is very difficult to to find a TP place as there do not seem to be about! sign of the times maybe!

She has applied to do her degree as she didn't want to wait around for a long time waiting or a TP place,but if one comes up them great.

Re: Some advice please

Maria Mahon — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 16:35:56 GMT

I'm probably biased but I (strongly) feel that the best route into VN training is via a TP (Training Practice). From following other threads on here, I know that are quite few & far between but it pays to persevere!

Why do I think a TP is better? Simply because you get to physically apply all of the theory day in and day out. Once you start college things will fall into place and you can bring back and forth your knowlege. Also, our practice took on a nurse (is now qualified) who had got her qualification via university and the difference between 'us' (TP SVNs) and her was quite (and still is at times) vast. Simply because she had had much less opportunities to put all her theory into practise, so it was very difficult for her at first. Although I realise that each case is different, that is just my experience.

Anyway hope I've made some sort of sense, haven't gone into it too much because I don't want to overcomplicate my basic point.

Re: Some advice please

Claire Cameron — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 17:56:50 GMT

Hiya

I've worked in several practices and it really depends what type of practice you work in and staff levels as to what shifts and patterns you work.

I used to work shifts varying between 7am-3pm, 8am-4pm, 9am-5pm, 10am-6pm or nights 7pm to 9am (not fun lol) and some on call shifts finishing between 9-11pm depending on situation

I now work either 8-4 or 11.30-7 and no on call - yipee!

I work 1:4 weekends (8-4pm sat & sun) no on call but used to work on call at my old job and some weekends i had to check the phone was workin as i didnt get a single call, others I did 48hours non stop (no exageration, just emergency after emergency!)

Re: Some advice please

HazG — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:03:30 GMT

So you think it would be better to do the pratice based rather than degree?

Also whats the hours and shifts like in a pratice?

Re: Some advice please

zara — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:48:48 GMT

DEF : try if your daughter can find a TP to do the NVQ, my old boss would only take nurses on with the NVQ due to practical experience then you can learn the theory as you work.

someone may know the theory by may not be good at the practical side.

nothing against degree nurses

Re: Some advice please

HazG — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 12:55:31 GMT

Thankyou.

We are in the Midlands area.

Re: Some advice please

Claire Cameron — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 12:45:21 GMT

Hiya

I did the NVQ route, which involces getting a place in a TP (training practice) who are willing to put you through your training, from other posts on here I believe its a bit difficult to find a TP at the minute but by all means send as many CVs and letters as you can! a list of TPs can be found on the RCVS website www.rcvs.org.uk

You then can either go to college day release (one day a week) or block release (two weeks every quarter) I did block release @ Myerscough College and LOVED it, I met some of my best friends there and found that being away from work, home etc for two weeks left me time on my own to study and get my head around all the lectures, whilst your not at college you are in a training practice, learning and working which in my opinion is the best option as you have the practical experience and knowledge plus the theoretical experience of college.

You can also study veterinary nursing as a degree where you do not need a placement in a TP to study (i believe you do a placement but some of the degree nurses will be able to give you more info on this)

I am not saying NVQ nurses are better than degree but in my experience I have found that they have more practical knowledge BUT as time goes on we're all the same with experience.

Good luck to your daughter I really hope she manages to get into vet nursing,

Out of interest what area are you in?

Hope that big ramble was of some help x