Desperately seeking advice!

Re: Desperately seeking advice!

Charley83 — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 18:09:27 GMT

understand this when I was 16 practically wrote to all the vets in the area and was lucky if i got a reply this was very disheartening as at the time you had to be employed in a practice if not you couldn't do it. I thought I cant wait around for years on a position so trained as a human nurse done my masters degee - now a DN prescriber of 10years. I have waited this long but decided human nursing was not what I wanted to do - wrote to vets explaining I was a 30year old nurse all of a sudden I got lots of replies some telling me they had no position but would keep me in mind and others which I have worked/ am working at to get as much experience as possible with small animals as i,m predominately farm animals experienced. Looking back I can see it froom a vet surgeons point of view - not wanting a young " immature" person in their practice but like human nursing how to you get the experience if no one will give you a hand. Not all the places i went were training places - mainly the mixed practices which i loved.

It's definately frustrating - waiting game apps iin to see if can get place on a full time course but wondering if i,ll be ablle to afford it with no job

Re: Desperately seeking advice!

oconnoanan — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 11:17:37 GMT

brilliant news for you! good advice on the scissors - always carry a stack of pens with you too - they are a valuable commodity in veterinary!! And pay a lot of attention to where things are in the place - you do a lot of running around fetching things for people. So if/when its quiet, busy yourself with cleaning out cupboards and restocking so you know where everything is, and can familiarize yourself with names, sizes of needles etc.

Seems to be getting much harder to obtain training placements, I applied to an ad the other day for a student job, only to be told that it was an unwaged placement and you had to be already registered with a college. I thought it was the other way around, that you had to find a job/placement at a training practice first and then you had to register as a student.

So more practices even if they DO take on students seem to be going for the unwaged approach. And the govt offering funding/grants to the 16-24 age bracket doesn't help anyone outside the age range either. Oh god, I'm so old, why didn't I pursue this career avenue 10 years ago??!!

Re: Desperately seeking advice!

Mark Hedberg — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 21:44:14 GMT

Good luck! If you've been asked for a trial period, they see something in you. Don't be scared; just get on with some nursing. :) When in doubt, grab a spray and clean something! (I had a cynical old boss once upon a time!)

Oh, and what college would you be attending? Ask your clinical coach if she has a land line handy to get in touch with the college.

Re: Desperately seeking advice!

JaneRVN — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 20:54:44 GMT

WELL DONE!!!!!!!!! That is such good news.

It never feels like there will be an end when looking for a TP. The advice given here is excellent - and what I advise also, but nice to be able to refer people here.

Keep calm Monday, it will all be new and fast paced. Ask questions when appropriate (not when a catheters being paced etc) and take a note pad and pen. If poss try and get a pair of scissors once there - anurse always needs a pen and scissors!

Wear comfy shoes, take a bottle of water and something nice for lunch. Try and note simple things like phone/fax/address so you are handy to answer the phone.

You'll have a great day! Let us know how you get on!

Re: Desperately seeking advice!

Laura — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 19:36:35 GMT

HI everyone,

Just thought I'd come on and update you all!

Things may have started moving in the right direction, I sent out another round of application letters and heard from a practice. I had a meeting with the full time nurse there last Monday and essentially they would like to offer me a placement on the basis of a trial period with them to see how I get on. They have been fab and are willing to fit in time in the practice around my full time job.

My first day with them is Monday. Any advice on how to make the best impression? I'm so nervous! Very worried I might do something wrong to jeopardise my chances. When I have been in practices before I have always been confident and offered to help in any way I can but this time its not just work experience, there is a placement riding on it! So any advice would be very much appreciated!

Also, the placement they have offered me is full time (with day release to college) but it is unpaid. My heart is in it 100% and I know that regardless of my situation I would never turn this opportunity down but there is a logical part of my brain that is quite worried about the financial side of things. I have already done a degree so student finance is difficult. Are there any avenues of financial support I could look into? I tried ringing the college student finance support line but I was on hold for a quarter of an hour and then gave up (cost me a fortune!). I have been looking at professional and education development loans from the bank and there is also a new loan coming into play in april that pays college/uni fees for age 24+ but if there is anything else I would love to hear about it!

I am so excited, relieved, thrilled, honoured to have this opportunity, fingers crossed it works out!

Laura

Re: Desperately seeking advice!

PHA86 — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 22:56:06 GMT

My careers advice was pretty awful too. After quitting my A Levels I showed an interest in Vet Nursing, but an adviser told me that going back into education was a bad idea. Subsequently I went on to work a string of boring jobs until a second epiphany years later.

Re: Desperately seeking advice!

Paulette — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 22:16:59 GMT

I've just read Mark's link and couldn't agree more on (all of it) but especially these points:

Tailor each covering letter to the individual practice

Take the time to find out the name of the Practice Manager/Head Nurse/Senior Partner and address it to the relevant person

Sign it if you are posting

Spell check!

Re: Desperately seeking advice!

Mark Hedberg — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 09:23:46 GMT

[quote user="Laura Morton"]

I really appreciate everyone's responses btw! If anyone who has been successful in securing a TP placement recently I would also love some advice on CV/interview/cover letters etc and how to make the best impression off them?

[/quote]

Hey Laura - http://www.vetnurse.co.uk/forums/p/17933/131842.aspx#131842 is a topic where I wrote something about CV's and cover letters.

Good luck!

Cheers,
Mark

Re: Desperately seeking advice!

Laura — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 22:22:33 GMT

Its UK open learning Mark, I'm finding it very interesting. I'm most definitely considering going down the VCA diploma route if I don't manage to get a TP placement (had another rejection phone call today, seems nobody is taking on new students in my area!). Do you happen to know how much the course actually costs?

If anyone has done this qualification how did you find it?

Kind regards

Laura

Re: Desperately seeking advice!

Mark Hedberg — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 18:16:50 GMT

Unrelated? The vet profession has huge problems in stress and mental health - have you though about using your talents to help vets and nurses who suffer from depression or have trouble coping?

Re: Desperately seeking advice!

oconnoanan — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 16:41:13 GMT

And on the Jaffa cake quandary - you pay VAT on chocolate covered biscuits but not on choc covered cakes, so this became a legal issue, and apparently (according to Stephen Fry on QI) cakes go hard when stale and biscuits go soft when stale - so McVities were able to demonstrate that it is in fact a cake!

Re: Desperately seeking advice!

oconnoanan — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 16:36:20 GMT

Careers advice??!! Complete lack of!! I think my school were counting it a success if we ended up not in jail or on unmarried mothers allowance. So to answer your question - completely unrelated degree in psychology before trying to purse vet nursing.

And incidentally, I'm one of the people from abroad hoping to train in UK if can get a position so I'm appreciating all the advice!!

Re: Desperately seeking advice!

Mark Hedberg — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 15:03:56 GMT

[quote user="Laura Morton"]

Question though, I am 24 now, I will be 25 in August so will I still be able to be an apprentice? Do you have to be 16-24 only when you start or must you fall in that age bracket the entire apprenticeship?

[/quote]

Glad if I can help! You need to be 24 when you start. Who are you doing your distance course with?

Kind regards,
Mark

Re: Desperately seeking advice!

Sal the 1st — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 10:03:26 GMT

Thank you for your reply Laura - you have confirmed something that came up in discussion with a mature work experience we had in where I work a few weeks ago - namely that the careers advice available through the careers service is lousy. My understanding of the apprenticeship scheme is that 25 is the cut off age for funding.

Re: Desperately seeking advice!

Laura — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 09:23:29 GMT

Thank you all so much for your replies.

In response to your questions, I live in Newcastle upon Tyne and my degree was Biomedical Sciences. And it wasn't after my degree I decided I wanted to become a VN, it was during (begining of my second year to be precise.)

When I chose my degree it was more based on the uni I wanted to go to than the actual degree. I knew I wanted to work with animals at some point but didn't honestly know what careers I could go into bar being a vet (we had a very poor career advisory service at school, I think I had one five minute meeting the entire time to run through where I wanted to go and the application process). Basically I just applied for all the general sciencey degrees with the idea that once I had decided what I wanted to do I could do another degree/qualification and that would be it. It was while I was at uni they changed all the funding and fees structure so that killed that notion!

Anyway, during my second year we did a microbiology module (my favourite modules were the micro ones, interesting stuff) and did a lecture series on zoonotic diseases which resparked my interest in working with animals and I started researching other potential careers other than veterinary science - came across VN'ing and that was it!

I am going to perservere for sure, I know exactly what I want to do and I won't stop until I get there! Mark, thank you for the information on the diploma. I am currently doing a distance learning qualification in animal care so I will look into moving onto a new one when I finish.

Its so nice to hear from you all!

Kind regards,

Laura

Re: Desperately seeking advice!

Jacquelyn Smith — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 08:09:04 GMT

The jaffa cake eating idea came from finding out that UWE has a jaffa cake eating society run by the students. Imagining the assignments... I can imagine an assignment on the make up of orange jelly and a debate over whether it is a cake or a biscuit! Rotfl

Re: Desperately seeking advice!

Mark Hedberg — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 21:35:54 GMT

Mmm...Jaffa Cake Eating.

Apologies for the delay in replying, I've just dragged my carcass through the door after an exhausting and thoroughly enjoyable BVNA Congress.

I do have a suggestion - have you considered the VCA (Veterinary Care Assistant) Diploma?

http://caw.ac.uk/courses/vn/vcadl2.aspx

It's a pre-veterinary nursing course. You can be employed or a volunteer in veterinary practice, and most importantly, they do NOT have to be an approved training practice.

The VCA is a distance learning course with practical aspects taught in a veterinary practice. It usually takes about a year to complete, but if you're doing this part time, it may take longer. No college attendance is required; all teaching is done via a VLE (virtual learning environment, a secure learning server. It's not complicated - if you can send emails or post on this forum, you can use the VLE!)

It's also available as a Apprenticeship as well if you'd prefer not to volunteer. (The money's minimum wage if you're over 18, as I recall.)

Incidentally, the government is willing to pay practices £1500 to take on an apprentice if they haven't had an apprentice in the last 12 months. The apprentice needs to be between 16-24 years of age, so you should fit that bill nicely. (Hey, anything that helps apprentices get places!)

http://blog.caw.ac.uk/index.php/caw-news/take-on-a-new-apprentice-and-get-paid-1500/ for details about the apprenticeship offer.

Funding does depend on your individual circumstances. If you already have a degree, that's usually a problem from a funding point of view, but it's always worth asking. Ring up our admin department at 0844 372 9410 - occasionally (rarely) the funding agency comes up with special offers. It's unusual for this to happen but happens sometimes so always worth at least asking.

Good luck!

Kind regards,
Mark

Re: Desperately seeking advice!

Paulette — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 17:52:34 GMT

I wish I had done a BSc in Jaffa Cake Eating - imagine the assignments you would have to do for that!!!

Re: Desperately seeking advice!

Victoria Nielsen RVN — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 14:50:19 GMT

[quote user="Sal the 1st"]

There have been a lot of posts from people abroad fairly recently wanting to come to UK to work as vet nurses and there are lots already living here wanting to train - so there should be no shortage of veterinary nurses and yet we are told that this is the case

[/quote]

It's a mystery...

Re: Desperately seeking advice!

Sal the 1st — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 12:51:58 GMT

honest question so please dont take it the wrong way - and its for anybody who has already got an unrelated degree under their belt.

How long was it after completing your degree before you decided that the degree you had taken wasnt something that you wanted to pursue in your working life? or was it that the job opportunities were not there for the degree you had already taken?

Its not a trick question or anything like that - I am just curious because I have read quite a few times on here over the years of very qualified people wanting to change into vet nursing (and thats not intimating that vet nurses are thick either before I get jumped on for that comment).

Re: Desperately seeking advice!

Jacquelyn Smith — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 10:50:07 GMT

Hi there. I have no real advice I am afraid bar perseverencem I tried for 8 years to unsuccessfully get a place in a tp. And I was looking nationwide. I can also relate to the work experience issue, it is very difficult to convince a practice to have someone on an ongoing basis. I have now given up on finding a TP and am working on an access diploma to then maybe get onto a degree, sorry that this isn't possible for youm I don't know how you come accross in interviews as I have never interviewed you, and this may sound counter productive but I have found, being interviewed by a vet don't come accross as too intelligent (I was told be one interviewer that he thought I would find vn'ing boring and leave, this isn't the case but he would not be convinced) I say this as you already have a degree so you're obviously rather smart(assuming its not a BSc in jaffa cake eating). I wish you all the luck it the world. Try to remove the emotion from applying for positions too, the constant rejection can be heart breaking. Jax

Re: Desperately seeking advice!

Paulette — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 22:22:31 GMT

Hello :)

Wow you are obv passionate about getting into practice so that will def put you in gd stead! Sounds like you are doing everything I would suggest! Only thing may be worth looking into (and I may be wrong so please don't take it as word!) but I did think there are some colleges that with the new Level 3 Diploma in Vet Nursing (used to be an NVQ) did the first year full time at college if you hadn't already secured a training placement. Not totally sure on this but I have a feeling. I'm sure you already know but have a look at these websites

www.bvna.org.uk

www.rcvs.org.uk will give you some more advice and have a look at the jobs section on here and www.vetsonline.co.uk so you can check out the jobs section in the VN Times. Always worth asking people who are advertising for a 2nd year trainee if they will consider a mature first year?

Out of interest what is your degree in and whereabouts in the country are you? Mark Hedberg would be gd person to contact on here (lecturer at college of animal welfare) - friendly and always full of knowledge! he'll be at congress but give him a shout next week for some advice.

Sorry if this doesn't help much but wanted to show a bit of support and to tell you keep going!!! :D