Starting off

Re: Starting off

Ceri Boyd — Sat, 17 Aug 2013 10:33:41 GMT

Oh yeh that's a fab book! :)

Re: Starting off

Charley83 — Sat, 17 Aug 2013 10:04:58 GMT

[quote user="Steph Tanser"]

Also, forgot to mention, another book I can really recommend is 'Clinical Procedures in Veterinary Nursing'.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Clinical-Procedures-Veterinary-Nursing-2e/dp/0080452663/ref=pd_sim_sbs_b_1

Its a great book (and not to expensive!) for the practical side of work and not only show you what to do but explain why and give a rationale point after each action, which I find really helpful. Hope everything is going well so far

[/quote]

Thanks, I,ve had a look at this books when seeing practice and I found it really useful - the anaesthetic procedures chapter is practicularly written out in my rather large note which I have kept when I learn something new. As I was in watching ops and scrubbed in on the occasional one, the sections on changes in respiratory, heart rate, pulse, temp and colour of mucus membrane so I knew what could be causing it and what to do if it happened. Wrote down the info on the drugs too. Managed to get an old copy of the small animal formulary handy to know how the drugs work within the animal and possible side effects to look out for. I have amazon and Elsevier voucher so think I will buy it, I like as you say - it gives you the rationale for doing things.

Thanks for your help

Sorry about the typing the cursor and keyboard are going nuts! :)

Re: Starting off

Jill Macdonald — Fri, 16 Aug 2013 23:09:09 GMT

Can I suggest:

Handbook of Veterinary Communication Skills (http://eu.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-1405158174.html)

Re: Starting off

Steph Tanser — Fri, 16 Aug 2013 22:44:18 GMT

Also, forgot to mention, another book I can really recommend is 'Clinical Procedures in Veterinary Nursing'.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Clinical-Procedures-Veterinary-Nursing-2e/dp/0080452663/ref=pd_sim_sbs_b_1

Re: Starting off

Charley83 — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 21:47:06 GMT

I have been wanting to do this for ages but employment in a TP is like hens teeth! The college organise a placement - the mixed practice that I did most work experience in is not a training practice, apparently used to be but it was more hassle than it was worth they said. Wold have loved it there, got to help with a field anaesthesia of a horse and see x-rays being taken in the practice as well on watching sheep vasectomies where the nurse assisted. So much variety not just dogs and cats. I loved dentals so much satisfaction seeing the animals going out with nice pearly white.

Yeh I,ve been looking at anatomy and physiology think this will be my strong point as well as medical conditions from my background. I know what you mine about radiography - totally new subject - physics was my weakest science! I,ve watched some of the SVN practising for OSCES on radiography positioning and It was well over my head but the Orpet and Welsh chapter has to be the best with all the positions clearly illstrutated and landmark described so I think that will be a great help.

I can't wait to start - Was listening to the Royal Canin webinar on senior cat care consultations and learned a lot, another 2 weeks to go can't come quick enough for me.

Thanks for replying X

Re: Starting off

Ceri Boyd — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 18:07:06 GMT

Wow, you are a keen bean! Congrats on getting onto the course, you will love it :)

The start is mainly health and safety, basic animal handling/restraint, reception work and client care and lots of anatomy and physiology. You have a good set of books there, to be honest I mainly use my big purple bible (BSAVA textbook) and I love it. I would try to learn some terminology, get a head start on basic anatomy and have a read through the more basic chapters of the textbooks, things like reception management.

There are some parts of the course the majority of people find difficult (eg. radiography!!), the more prepared you are the easier it will be!

try not to get too bogged down though and stick to what you're doing at college. I personally found 2nd year a lot harder but MUCH more interesting....enjoy!!

Do you have a placement sorted or will college do this for you?

Ceri x

Re: Starting off

James Colver Cert. Ed, RVN — Mon, 12 Aug 2013 15:58:56 GMT

Yup, make yourself a big long list of prefixes and suffixes and learn their meanings. Make sure you are familiar with all landmarks and directional terminology, and normal values. Sounds like you are off to a good start! Why not find out which units you will be doing in your first year and then you can start swotting up :)

Re: Starting off

Steph Tanser — Mon, 12 Aug 2013 11:21:23 GMT

Well first of all congrats on getting onto the diploma course, I started in June but have been with the same clinic for a while so I know how hard a placement can be to find. It sounds like your off to a good start as you have got all your books and things together and I would say have a really good read though your anatomy cause this is what you will start with. Have a look at calls and tissues first as this is what you will start with and a lot of people find it confusing. It would also be helpful to get into terminology, if you have been in practice a while you have probable used a lot of it already but a good dictionary (like the Saunders) will be a big help. There is also a lot of health and safety at first as well so I would have a look in the different areas too. Hope this is helpful and good luck on your course, I'm sure you will love it!