Following on from the thread about the depressing forum....

Re: Following on from the thread about the depressing forum....

Alison Clare Hickman — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 23:26:04 GMT

Congratulations from me too Mark. Another Hedberg sproglet, the world is now complete! Aw, pictures?? When you have time, of course - erm, in 10 years or so? Bless ya.

Ali h

Re: Following on from the thread about the depressing forum....

Mark Hedberg — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 09:17:00 GMT

Thanks, Kay! :)

Re: Following on from the thread about the depressing forum....

Kay Colquhoun — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 16:15:53 GMT

[quote user="Mark Hedberg"]Hello, my name is Mark, and I...folk dance. (Worse than being an alcoholic, you just can't stop!) i have 2 daughters, one is 2 years, one is 5 days old...hence why i've been a bit quiet on the forum. ;) i run a cpd program at CAW, i do the occasonal locum shift, and lie to myself and pretend i'm a strict parent. :D

[/quote]

Congratulations on your new edition Mark - what lovely news.

Re: Following on from the thread about the depressing forum....

Sal the 1st — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 19:31:03 GMT

Bit late but most people know me or know of me anyway. Started in practice in '84 and qualified in '96 (I like to play the long game ) Part time right now which gives me time for my voluntary stuff. Outside of veterinary practice my background is counselling/therapy/ NLP. I dont always say what people want/expect me to say and I do call it as I see it but I aways try to be fair.

Interests include vintage transport - especially the winged variety at the minute, cats, tinkering with things mechanical, cats, DIY, cats, veterinary history, cats, clockmaking, painting cooking and most needlecrafts - oh and did I mention cats?

Cat owned by two at the moment

Re: Following on from the thread about the depressing forum....

Leigh Hinsley RVN NCert(BDev) MBVNA — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 18:36:41 GMT

Hello All!

I'm Leigh, I live in Birmingham and have worked in Practice since 2005 and qualified in 2009. Last year I gained a Nurses Certificate in Business Development (although I think the qualifications been pulled of the shelf due to lack of demand so not sure its worth much now!). I've been working full time for YourVets for almost a year and really enjoy it. In my spare time I'm the co-founder of the Heart of England Animals Asia Support Group after working for 3 months in China with asiatic black bears rescued from bear bile farms by the charity Animals Asia. I'm not ashamed to say I'm obsessed with the charity and their work and I love supporting them!

I'm very pro-animal welfare and try and educate the public as much as possible about responsible ownership and am trying to educate them about the current over breeding culture that we seem to have these days!

Lovely to meet you all! I did in as often as I can, I love learning new things on the forum from everyone and the support people give one another! x

Re: Following on from the thread about the depressing forum....

Bouteloua — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 18:22:55 GMT

Hello All,

My name is Deana and I'm new here. I'm from the United States so I don't post often. I live in Wyoming which is the least populated state in the country. I've been working as Veterinary Technician (Nurse) since 1991. I sat and passed the national exam in 2000 which is the first year that it was offered in the state. Now I am a Certified Veterinary Technician or CVT.

I work in a small animal/exotic two veterinarian practice. We also work on raptors and other wildlife in the area. When I first started we also saw horses and livestock. My personal interests are behavior, anesthesia/surgery, laboratory, and client education. I've had the opportunity to train several assistants, veteriny technician students and veterinary students.

I have three dogs which I compete in obedience and rally shows. I have two nice house cats that were former ferals. My hobbies include sewing, quilting, walking, and yarn spinning.

Thank you for having me and please excuse my bastardized spelling.

Deana

Re: Following on from the thread about the depressing forum....

Robocop — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 21:54:50 GMT

Hello,

My name is Amy Robinson. I have been on these forums for years, I make a few posts here and there but I'm generally more of a lurker. I qualified in 2004 and I have worked in various practices and hospitals. I have been working at a mixed hospital in Axminster since 2008 and I was promoted to head nurse in July 2012. I am also a clinical coach to one student and still occasionally locum in Bristol. I'm known for being a bit of a workoholic with my nurses and I did a fair bit last year. I completed my HeDipCVN, NCert(A&CC) and my DipAVN, and I have started my BSc (Hons) CVN at Myerscough college and a supervisory skills certificate with Inspyr. With some persuasion from my tutors and colleges, I have decided to stand for VN council this year. - Eek!

Robocop was the name of our (husband and I) super cool rabbit and I don't have the heart to change it. We now have 4 very beautiful cats, with equally silly names.

It is lovely to hear from everyone.

Re: Following on from the thread about the depressing forum....

Caroline Coughlan — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 17:52:07 GMT

Lovely to hear from you ladies, keep 'em coming! X

Re: Following on from the thread about the depressing forum....

Phrin Vernon RVN — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 21:59:18 GMT

Hiya!

I rarely come on here these days. I have been in practice since 1999 I think, and have worked in all manner of practices from huge multi centre referral places to little one man bands. I'm a single mum to my wonderful 7yo Zach, and took the plunge last year and went self employed! I offer a pet care service, which means lots of dog walking and clipping nails But I am my own boss, I can fit it around school runs, and business is growing!

I think I'd like to go back to practice one day as my main passion has always been theatre and anasthesia - not sure if I could give up the independence of self employment though!

Re: Following on from the thread about the depressing forum....

Jill Macdonald — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 18:15:46 GMT

This is a very nice thread! It's really interesting hearing about people who you've seen on the forum for years, and suddenly realise you know nothing about!

I'm Jill, qualified way back in '99, am a green book gal! Worked in the wonderful North West for 12 years, then moved down a bit to the Wirral and worked at Liverpool Uni. Now I'm practically a southerner as live in Warwickshire to be with the fella (Simon). Have a gorgeous border (Otto/Spanks/Magic badger) and a beautiful stripey cat (Renti/Spencer) and have 'old pet neurotic syndrome' as they're 12 and 14 respectively - does anyone else have this?!

Have set up ONCORE to provide VNs with quality online learning, and also work as a locum - been at V4P practice for 6 months and love it there - such a lovely bunch of girls and boys to work with..

I'm a bit of a lurker too - I think this is a great site - there's always someone there to answer a question or give some support

Re: Following on from the thread about the depressing forum....

Emma Clark — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 22:14:51 GMT

Hi everyone!!

My names emma, been on these forums for ages, make a few posts now and then but generally more of a lurker!!! I've been qualified just over 5 years, i'm deputy head nurse in a small animal practice and a clinical coach with 2 students. My main interests are dentistry and exotics and i've completed the c&g in exotic nursing and the bvna nursing cert in dentistry. I live in portsmouth with my boyfriend Stu, American bulldog Shelby, guinea pigs Ted & Harry and degus Derek & Dave!!!! :)

Re: Following on from the thread about the depressing forum....

Caroline Coughlan — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 20:48:47 GMT

Thanks Alison, God loves a trier! ;-)

Re: Following on from the thread about the depressing forum....

Alison Clare Hickman — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 16:53:05 GMT

Good on ya! Keep in touch and my absolute best wishes for the future. RVN in, say four to five years tops??? Yay!

Re: Following on from the thread about the depressing forum....

Caroline Coughlan — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 15:58:37 GMT

Ali thank you so much, I really appreciate your response, and I know the "run away" reception you get as my current profession is a police officer! (I wasnt even going to mention it first time around.) Becoming a VN will mean a big drop in pay and there are people who most likely think I'm mad at "my age" so it's really nice to hear from someone else that has done it :-) I just couldn't bear the thoughts to staying in my current role until retirement age, and decided instead of spending all my time moaning about it, I could get out there and do something about it. I'm really glad I have found this forum :-)

Re: Following on from the thread about the depressing forum....

Alison Clare Hickman — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 15:41:14 GMT

Hi Caroline,

Just to say I started my 'new career' in Veterinary Nursing at the grand old age of 45 and 11 months, passed my finals in 2011 and having recently celebrated 50 years, ahem, of young age I would welcome you to the vet nursing profession as a mere youngster...!!

I was formerly in banking / finance (including the Inland Revenue...). It makes a pleasant change for people to say "Aaaah, how lovely" when they ask me what I do for a living rather than the responses I tended to receive for the mention of my former work incarnations of "Aaaarrgghhh, run away, run away" ...

Good luck. It's DEFINITELY worth it. I love my job.

Ali h

Re: Following on from the thread about the depressing forum....

Caroline Coughlan — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 14:17:50 GMT

Hello, I have been enjoying reading the posts, and thought I should say hello. Charley I'm in a similar boat to you and planning a big career change too. I'm hoping to be able to go part time in my current job to finding voluntary work in a practice with the view of finding a trainee position. I'm currently completing the veterinary support assistant level 3 course by distance learning as a refresher. I've got lots of experience showing and breeding dogs and am volunteering in our local animal shelter. I've worked in a veterinary practice in the past and hope that now the time is right to complete the VN studies and eventually leave my job. I'm an old fart as I'm in my forties, but I figure its never to late to go for something if that is what you really want.

Re: Following on from the thread about the depressing forum....

Laura James — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 22:25:02 GMT

Hello! Congratulations to everyone who passed, commiserations to everyone who didn't - better luck next time! My name is Laura (obviously). I'm 25 and been in practice for nearly 4 years and qualified last May. I have two cats, one who I rescued and one that turned up in my garden and never left! I'm mostly a lurker on here but love learning off everyone else

Re: Following on from the thread about the depressing forum....

Carly Woodward — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 17:59:16 GMT

Hi! Congratulations for those passing and better luck next time if not - took me a couple of goes, don't despair. After passing, if you get the oppourtunity do go to the awards ceremony in London it was a really special day and my first trip to London - had a lovely sunny trip up the Thames too! I'm cj, 24 and have worked in practice in Cheshire for over 5 years, qualified for 1 year. Have 2 amazing terriers, love agility. Used to come on this forum a bit but not been on for ages so good to see this thread.

Re: Following on from the thread about the depressing forum....

Sally Seddon — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 17:15:24 GMT

Congratulations! That's great to hear! I bloomin failed :-( booooo xx

Re: Following on from the thread about the depressing forum....

Lauren Innes Bsc(hons) , RVN — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 14:34:44 GMT

icklesal I did it! I passed! did you??

Re: Following on from the thread about the depressing forum....

miss jack rat — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 10:51:45 GMT

Hi,

I'm Alice as you can see by my username and pictures i love jack russells, well all dogs really. I have 2 jrt, 1 parson jrt, 1 english bull terrier and a cavi. Hoping to expand again to one more dog :) we also have 5 guineas (all rescued) called mango, chutney, pie, peas and lady Penelope. 1 rex rabbit called CJ also a rescue and a foster cat called Sid.

I am hopefully starting my VN training this September and I am just finishing up my case logs for my distance ANA course. which i am finding hard but i need to soldier through!

I love doing agility with the 2 jack rats and flyball with the parson, I live in Sheffield with my other half and he luckily totally gets my animal madness and my never ending need to try to save everything! I know im very lucky.

thanks for the positive thread and it's nice to see so many chatting together :)

Re: Following on from the thread about the depressing forum....

GremlinNurse — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 18:58:54 GMT

I'm Emily, been in practice for 5 and half years, college 2 and a half and hopefully qualifying this summer Cannot wait for my badge and greens, will be super proud!

Live in Durham with my fantastic husband(wouldn't be a nurse if it wasn't for his encouragement!) and our 2 rescue cats(from work of course!).

I work at a small animal hospital with great clients and fab colleagues, I feel lucky to really enjoy my job as I know it's a rare thing.

I generally lurk on the forum but find it a great source of info on all things vet nursey really, very supportive too

Great reading everyone's positivo posts! Let's keep it up x

Re: Following on from the thread about the depressing forum....

Danielle M — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:04:59 GMT

[quote user="Ceri Boyd"]

I'll send you a wee message, there's a few practices in this area advertising just now

[/quote]

Thank you. Sorry for hijacking the thread.

Re: Following on from the thread about the depressing forum....

Ceri Boyd — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 23:14:35 GMT

I'll send you a wee message, there's a few practices in this area advertising just now

Re: Following on from the thread about the depressing forum....

Danielle M — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 23:07:03 GMT

[quote user="Ceri Boyd"]

There's a practice close to me looking for a trainee, in Strathaven in Lanarkshire. :)

[/quote]

I just did a quick search - is that Avondale? Thanks very much for the information!