VNA/Trainee Nurse position seeking!!

Re: VNA/Trainee Nurse position seeking!!

meep_ kitten — Wed, 09 May 2012 00:04:03 GMT

Thanks a million Rose, yes I'm hitting refresh on that page about 10 times a day!! That vacancy sounds promising, it seems like a lovely practice. I'm sure they'll be flooded with applicants, but sure I'll put my name in the pot. And am willing to relocate, so Manchester seems as good a place as any! Defo worth it for the opportunity. Fingers crossed something will come up.

Re: VNA/Trainee Nurse position seeking!!

Roseann21 — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:38:39 GMT

Have you seen the ad that's just popped up in the jobs section? It's advertised as a Veterinary Nursing Assistant but it's for a trainee to start at college in September 2013 - worth a look maybe

Re: VNA/Trainee Nurse position seeking!!

ginny — Tue, 08 May 2012 12:11:07 GMT

[quote user="Charmaloo88"]1. Check your CV and covering letter. I had a whole load of applicants who used poor grammar (e.g. not using capital letter at start of new sentence!) poor English and spelling mistakes galore. I lost count of the amount of applications I discarded based purely on the fact they couldn't be bothered to look up the correct spelling of the word 'veterinary'...
2. Consider your location. I know how tough TPs are to find but a lot of them do not have accommodation and consider you will most probably be starting on minimum wage. Some areas are VERY expensive to live in compared to others!
3. Previous experience helps a lot! Helps if you can include references from these!
4. Also mention GCSE grades as you will need at the very least 5 A-C grades including English, Maths and Science before you can be considered for the nursing course. I would also say make sure you have certificates handy and make photocopies - you will need these for application to college.
5. Think of another way to write 'it has always been my dream to work with animals'. Everyone writes that. Try and stand out from the crowd! Thinking back to when I was applying to TPs I wrote more about my interest in the nuts and bolts of veterinary science opposed to cuddling kittens. [/quote]

I agree - its so important to get this bit right. Also don't mention that you want to start your college course in September. Let the practice choose when they think you are ready.

Good luck!!

Re: VNA/Trainee Nurse position seeking!!

Victoria Nielsen RVN — Tue, 08 May 2012 09:33:17 GMT

^ I work for Medivet and the comment regarding more one to one time with a clinical coach, I'm a little upset with. I am head nurse in a branch practice within Medivet and I am passionate regarding education and veterinary nursing training. I have two students in practice, one of whom I've just completed her NPL with. Also I had a degree student in placement with me and she has also just completed her NPL with me.

Just because we are a corporate company, doesn't mean we don't apply as much one to one time clinical coaching as private practices do. I trained in a private hospital and the time I got with my assessor is as much as I do now with my students. Don't tar us all with the same brush! :-)

Re: VNA/Trainee Nurse position seeking!!

Charmaloo88 — Mon, 07 May 2012 21:42:42 GMT

As a nurse who has just carried out several interviews for student nurses (unfortunately position has been filled at our place!) I can give you quite a few pointers that certainly turned me off when it comes to applicants!

1. Check your CV and covering letter. I had a whole load of applicants who used poor grammar (e.g. not using capital letter at start of new sentence!) poor English and spelling mistakes galore. I lost count of the amount of applications I discarded based purely on the fact they couldn't be bothered to look up the correct spelling of the word 'veterinary'...
2. Consider your location. I know how tough TPs are to find but a lot of them do not have accommodation and consider you will most probably be starting on minimum wage. Some areas are VERY expensive to live in compared to others!
3. Previous experience helps a lot! Helps if you can include references from these!
4. Also mention GCSE grades as you will need at the very least 5 A-C grades including English, Maths and Science before you can be considered for the nursing course. I would also say make sure you have certificates handy and make photocopies - you will need these for application to college.
5. Think of another way to write 'it has always been my dream to work with animals'. Everyone writes that. Try and stand out from the crowd! Thinking back to when I was applying to TPs I wrote more about my interest in the nuts and bolts of veterinary science opposed to cuddling kittens.

Previous post mentioned branch practices...I had a few applications from Goddards employees and during interview they all mentioned how they had been a kennel hand in the practice for a long time (one had been there 3+ years!) and she had not been allowed to progress to student nurse level. I honestly think you're better looking at small private practices, you will know where you stand, no competition with other students and more one on one time with a clinical coach.

Also from personal experience - just stick with it. I posted 60 CVs out, about 30 didn't even both to reply whilst the rest did not have positions. I was lucky to get 2 interviews and offered 1 job. That was about 5/6 years ago and it's getting even more competitive every year!

Hope this helps from a interviewers point of view. GOOD LUCK!!

Re: VNA/Trainee Nurse position seeking!!

Mark Walsh — Mon, 07 May 2012 13:19:34 GMT

I'd recommend e-mailing or sending your CV to one of the big corporate chain veterinary groups such as Medivet and goddards. Medivet have their own training college for nurses too. These big chains are around the London area and I believe that they would be a good starting point.

Another option would be too get some experience volunteering at a charity rescue centre, that is how I first got into nursing though I understand it can be difficult for a lot of people to give up their free time.