Looking for a trainee vet nurse post in South East,

Re: Looking for a trainee vet nurse post in South East,

Emma84 — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 18:08:11 GMT

I'm 27 (nearly 28) & started training last year, I got my job by sending letters and cv's to all the practices within an hour of my home, one of the pratcices informed me that their current student was in the last stages before qualifying so I asked if I could spend one day a week there volunteering, that way they could get to know me. I was hoping that would give me an advantage when the post became vacant and it did :-) I had done a couple of weeks work experience at another vets as well and like you had gained other animal experience volunteering aboard as well as at home. I don't think age is an issue at all in fact sometimes its a bonus as you already have life and work experience. My advice is don't give up, its not easy finding a position but if your determined you WILL get there. x

Re: Looking for a trainee vet nurse post in South East,

Mark Hedberg — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 14:48:20 GMT

[quote user="Katie Mansfield"]I got the D/D but chose RVC - no offence Mark Some places might not ask for FE qualifications at all from mature students, but personally I think you'd stand a better chance of getting in if you've got them.

K x

[/quote]

None taken

Re: Looking for a trainee vet nurse post in South East,

Katie Mansfield — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 09:48:41 GMT

Just as a guide - RVC wanted me to get Merit/Merit in the Dip Animal Management; Middx /CAW wanted 280 UCAS points - Distinction / distinction. (If you've done "A" levels I think they were asking most ppl for Cs for the BSc, lower for the FDSc). I got the D/D but chose RVC - no offence Mark Some places might not ask for FE qualifications at all from mature students, but personally I think you'd stand a better chance of getting in if you've got them.

They also both wanted at least 2 weeks work exp in vet practice (with refs), but I've done considerably more than that (6yrs!!!).

Different unis / colleges have different criteria - have a look on UCAS website under Veterinary Nursing. It'll give you a list of which places offer it and then you can see their websites for the criteria.

K x

Re: Looking for a trainee vet nurse post in South East,

Mark Hedberg — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 14:51:25 GMT

http://www.caw.ac.uk/courses/vn/vndf.aspx is a foundation degree, 3 years. Other colleges might vary a bit but it shouldn't be significantly higher than this.

(Disclosure: Yes, it's the degree CAW offers - other degrees are of course available from other course providers. :) Ring around, always good to have more choice!)

Cheers,

Mark

Re: Looking for a trainee vet nurse post in South East,

Anonymous — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 14:46:19 GMT

[quote user="Katie Mansfield"]

As you're older I'd suggest the degree route. You go to uni and they sort out the placement. Simple. You'd get student finance to pay for tuition fees and a loan for living expenses. At 41 I'm the oldest in my class, there's a girl of 35 and then the others are all 18 - early 20s. It's great - they keep me young

Honestly though, I decided on this route rather than applying all over for trainee positions cos

a) there aren't any, and if there are they're all in v high demand and it's cheaper to employ a 17 yrs old school-leaver

b) it'll be easier to get a job once I'm qualified, esp with a degree

c) working and doing assignments / revision / the exams is really, really tough - I did Part 1 of the original training when I was 23 and it was hard then - I've got kids now so it would be even harder. This way I've just finished my placement block and I've now got 3 wks til my exams for revision and finishing off of assignments.

I don't live in at uni, but the other older girl does cos she's single. That hasn't been a problem for me and I've made loads of friends, who all treat me like their equal, even though I'm older than some of their parents. Everybody has made us feel so welcome, don't let age put you off!!! At 20- something you're still really young!!

K x

[/quote]

hi just a quick question. im looking to my student nursing. What is the cirteria to do the degree??

Re: Looking for a trainee vet nurse post in South East,

Rhiannon Weight — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 11:51:28 GMT

Thanks Katie, Unfortunately I already have a degree as I'm a qualified teacher so I wouldn't get funding for the degree! Would be nice though!

Re: Looking for a trainee vet nurse post in South East,

Katie Mansfield — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 16:55:43 GMT

Honestly though, I decided on this route rather than applying all over for trainee positions cos

a) there aren't any, and if there are they're all in v high demand and it's cheaper to employ a 17 yrs old school-leaver

b) it'll be easier to get a job once I'm qualified, esp with a degree

K x

Re: Looking for a trainee vet nurse post in South East,

Mark Hedberg — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 14:48:52 GMT

Yes, unfortunately. I think to some extent it's a matter of training practices simply catching up to demand, but I don't actually work in the placements part of CAW so I'm afraid I don't know more than that.

Re: Looking for a trainee vet nurse post in South East,

Rhiannon Weight — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 11:49:51 GMT

Thanks Mark. I guess it's just a case of keep writing and applying then!?

Re: Looking for a trainee vet nurse post in South East,

Mark Hedberg — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 11:36:44 GMT

Hi, Rhiannon! It's not so much your age as it is the fact you have to be at an approved training practice. While the number of vet nurses in training has increased by a large percent, the number of training practices has not increased as much, so it is getting harder to find placements. It can be done, but it's not as easy and quick as years before.