Student veterinary nurse

Re: Student veterinary nurse

NJ_VN — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 20:44:01 GMT

Yeah the degree placements aren't paid unless the practice want to pay you, my first year i wasn't paid anything. Most universities will guarantee you a placement for your first year or the gap year whichever way they do it. The idea of the placement is to learn, not really to earn. You're expected to live off the loans and grants available from the government and university.

Re: Student veterinary nurse

Charley83 — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 21:14:06 GMT

Round here I know of some practices who take on degree nurses and most are not paid. Most of the degree students I have spoke to have also had to find their own placement some travelling hundreds of miles to England and Wales.

Re: Student veterinary nurse

Selena Carnell — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 20:22:27 GMT

Not a lot of practices are taking on degree nurses, as they are only temporary and they have to be paid. I know quite afew practices are struggling financially at the moment, so are cutting back on a lot of things. Including training.

Re: Student veterinary nurse

Sal the 1st — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 20:48:01 GMT

[quote user="NJ_VN"]

Hi megan, have you considered doing the degree route? if you went on to do a-levels (biology is a massive bonus, but any will do) you could get onto the degree which would find a placement for you,and by the time you leave you will be a registered nurse so much easier to find work. just an idea

good luck!

[/quote]

not necessarily I am afraid - there are still places taking on degree students and not having the placements available, leaving their students the panic of then finding a placement - which to me is not fair.

Re: Student veterinary nurse

NJ_VN — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 19:50:56 GMT

good luck!

Re: Student veterinary nurse

jane Lewis — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 19:48:18 GMT

Hi Megan, have you considered a full time vet nursing diploma course? Where you go to college and they put you on placement at different vets in the area. I know Canterbury college are running this course in sept but not sure if the deadline for applications has passed. Might be worth checking out your local colleges and see if they offer this type of course. I would suggest seeing if you can get a practice to give you a week or twos work experience if you haven't done any before. Good luck, just be persistent it's tough to find a placement but if ur determined it will happen Jane x

Re: Student veterinary nurse

JaneRVN — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 18:27:23 GMT

Someone cleverer than me will come and post links to similar threads with advice for letters etc.

You may find one of the hurdles is your age - at under 18 you aren't allowed in radiography and so it is difficult for some practice to have you as an SVN on their rota. Don;t let this put you off! But it means don't take rejections personally!

Many people undertake the L2 VCA or another animal related course as they continue to try and get a placement.