Is anyone else worried / scared they will never get the chance ????

Re: Is anyone else worried / scared they will never get the chance ????

Erica Huggins — Tue, 29 May 2012 22:41:06 GMT

There are 5 positions to start as a Patient Care Assistant with Medivet, basically you get called this untill you start your VN training when the next college intake is / you pass your probation. http://www.medivet.co.uk/employment/Nurses/PatientCareAssistants

Even if these roles are not in your area still send in your CV's with over 88 practices there are always positions coming up and a good opp to et your foot in the VN world door :-).

As everyone else has said- send your CV to all the local training practices too - Good luck.

Re: Is anyone else worried / scared they will never get the chance ????

victoria newton — Tue, 29 May 2012 21:50:08 GMT

I cant do that though coz i cant get into a practice yet :( x

Re: Is anyone else worried / scared they will never get the chance ????

Mark Hedberg — Tue, 29 May 2012 15:24:19 GMT

[quote user="Mark Hedberg"]

Very True!

http://www.caw.ac.uk/courses/vn/vcadl2.aspx The Level 2 VCA is a distance learning course for people working in veterinary practices. The VCA course with GCSE's grade C or better fill the academic requirements for the Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing. So you don't necessarily need the degree first thing - though some Diploma graduates do go on to do a "top up" course to then receive a BSc (Hons) in Nursing.

You'll never know if you don't ask the question, so start knocking on doors and posting those letters! Shake a leg! :) (Funding means there are free VCA places at CAW until the end of July - see if that helps you get a foot in the door!)

[/quote]

Hi, I just wanted to clarify the above - I've checked with the admin team and I need to issue the following correction:

Course fees for the L2 VCA course are fully funded until 31 July, but after May 31 you do have to pay the awarding body fees. What that means is you do pay around £150 for the course after May 31; then after 31 July, full fees apply. I apologize for the error.

Kind regards,
Mark

Re: Is anyone else worried / scared they will never get the chance ????

jodieandrews — Mon, 28 May 2012 20:12:28 GMT

Hey, I always wanted to be a vet nurse at school and then got stuck in a job because of bills and responsibilites. Then, my circumstances totally changed, so I thought lets try again. I wrote letters and CVs and sent them out to all the local training practices. Little did I know that one was recruiting and asked me for an interview. I then did a days trial and really put myself out to see as much as poss that day-I then got offered the training position! Four years on and I'm about to take my final practicals(i only had gcse's so decided to do the ANA course before the vet nurse diploma). I'm 32 this year, so age is no barrier - in fact i think practices like the older candidate as they are hopefully more mature and able to cope! I had to take a big pay drop, but my practice pay for all my training so it works out fair in the end.

Good luck with your dream, keep trying and I'm sure it will happen - it did for me:) x x

Re: Is anyone else worried / scared they will never get the chance ????

Lauren Innes Bsc(hons) , RVN — Mon, 28 May 2012 18:38:29 GMT

I was the same as many of the people who have posted previously. I decided that I could not be tied to a desk 24/7 and after a massive up heaval and relocation I strated to volunteer at a local practice in the evenings and at weekends. I cleaned kennels and walked out patients and did anything that needed doing really. Sadly, I was made redundant from my sucky desk job, so I mentioned to one of the directors t the vets that I would be available more often if they needed me, and they offered me a job as a kennel assistant. They then gave me my first placement, and I cannot explain to you in words how gratefull I am to them. I am still training now, but in a paid position in a different practice.

I struggled with money, as although I had been paid as a kennel assistant my wages stopped as soon as I became a student. So I did evenings and weekends on reception, and worked in bars. It was tough, but so totally worth it.

I was so lucky but I think offering help in a practice can be a way to get a foot in the door and to get known. Hopefully they'll love you and see your potential and give you the chance you need.

Re: Is anyone else worried / scared they will never get the chance ????

louise170388 — Mon, 28 May 2012 16:56:38 GMT

I also got my first job by sending out loooadsa CVs/letters. I ended up applying and getting into Myerscough to do a degree but on the last minute a practice offered me a job (quite a way away from my home but I took it as it was a great opportunity). 8months later I was contacted by a closer practice who had kept my CV on file so it is well worth sending them out.

Good Luck! x

Re: Is anyone else worried / scared they will never get the chance ????

Mark Hedberg — Mon, 28 May 2012 16:13:01 GMT

Very True!

Re: Is anyone else worried / scared they will never get the chance ????

Sophie Bedford RVN CertVNECC — Mon, 28 May 2012 15:04:40 GMT

Hi Victoria,

I am so sorry to hear about your dad!

I would certainly say that if this is what you want to do then you're right, life is definitely too short to not look into it. When I did my career change to be a veterinary nurse I was 27 and like you thought, is it going to happen, will I find a job etc...

If you look on the RCVS website there is a section on there to download the list of training practices in your area http://awardingbody.rcvs.org.uk/employers/approved-training-practices/ I would print out the list for your region and highlight all the ones that are within a distance you are prepared to travel. Then you know which ones to target. You can also see which college's they are linked to so might be able to find out from the college which ones are likely to be taking in new students etc.

My advice would be to try this and then re-evaluate. There are always options for work experience whilst you're waiting to hear back from practices etc and this may give you a good idea of whether it is something you still want to do and also show those practices that you are hard working and dedicated, if they are training practices themselves they may then go on to offer you a placement.

There are lots of things that you can do so don't give up if this is really what you want to do. You could always work towards the ANA qualification through distance learning to give yourself some good background knowledge!

I was so pleased to make the move and have never looked back! Best of luck!!! xx

Re: Is anyone else worried / scared they will never get the chance ????

Louisa Cocks — Mon, 28 May 2012 14:48:41 GMT

It is hard to get into nursing but not impossible. Send off your letters and C.V's and apply for any jobs that you can, you have nothing to loose by doing this. Most practices keep letters/C.V's on file and this is how I got my first job. Good luck with it xx