Veterinary nurse in the army?

Re: Veterinary nurse in the army?

Shane — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:44:21 GMT

Yeah, as Caro has said, I was in the south african army. Thank goodness I was trained on the american vet tech system, so people know what my qualifications were compared to. But general feeling I have got is that people were glad that I had a lot of experience, and also, if you get promotions in the military, you get some management skills behind you, which people do like, especially if like me, you go into management.

Re: Veterinary nurse in the army?

Caro Laithwaite VN — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:21:53 GMT

Shane is in a slightly different position as he was in the South African army as opposed to the British one. ALthough it will have some bearing on jobs in the UK it does need to be taken into account.

Re: Veterinary nurse in the army?

zara — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 10:16:22 GMT

I looked into the vet nursing course in the military - but i was gonna join when i qualified, but then i met my other half who is in the army so i thought it would be a pain for us seing each other so i know work in the referral side of nursing.

I would most prob get in contact with -

1) the RCVS and ask what they think

2) the BVNA they may be able to help

3) speak to the army office or whatever they call it

I can imagin it is a very good job especially at the moment with the credit crunch and you would be doing something v.close to nursing.

Hope this helps, sorry if it doesn't

Re: Veterinary nurse in the army?

Fleabee99 — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 12:22:57 GMT

hi shane so am guessin your out of the army now? if so did u find it difficult to get into practice, how do practices react to a vet tech from the army also do u do similar jobs to VNs in the army?

thanks

Re: Veterinary nurse in the army?

Nick Shackleton — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 11:12:18 GMT

here's a bigger pic, no worries about pics, will upload them in a bit

Re: Veterinary nurse in the army?

Saskia Quinn — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 11:06:12 GMT

oh I see! No doubt my little 6 year old could have told me that as he is a big fan of Simpsons!!

Nick, that would be brill if you could upload them, thank you. The ones I have were not of a good enough quality.

You are a gem!

Re: Veterinary nurse in the army?

Nick Shackleton — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 11:01:33 GMT

Saskia its an X-ray of hommer simpson's brain or lack of. Oh by the Paula I have some photos of our ambu bag and defib if you want me to up load them on that thread about anaesthetic emergancies?

Re: Veterinary nurse in the army?

Saskia Quinn — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 10:56:21 GMT

Nick, I can't figure out what is on your avatar!

Re: Veterinary nurse in the army?

Nick Shackleton — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 10:46:42 GMT

here's a link to the army vet tech page

http://www.armyjobs.mod.uk/jobs/Pages/JobDetail.aspx?armyjobid=VET340%2f349&category=

from looking you get an nvq level 3 in animal care.

Re: Veterinary nurse in the army?

Haley Thomas — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 09:26:04 GMT

My Dad is in the army - I have asked him this question recently. He didnt go into much detail but basically said the army do have vet nurses but they are mainly based in London due to the queens horses being there etc. Sould go onto the army website

www.army.mod.uk

Re: Veterinary nurse in the army?

Shane — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 06:50:54 GMT

I was a Vet Tech in the South African military and had great fun. Also picked up so much more experience than the average nurse in small practice. Was ok for me only working with horses and dogs, I wanted to specialise in horses anyway, so I did advanced colic and lameness courses which were so interesting.

Re: Veterinary nurse in the army?

FionaA — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 19:54:23 GMT

Hi Sarah,

I work with a vet who was in the army for 11 years, he said that the army does not offer vn qualifications to its vet tech assistants. He said that this has been discussed many times but the army thought that they would train recruits and the nurses would then leave to work in practice. Guess the army didn't know how much nurses in practice get paid.

I also know a couple of people who have worked as vet techs in the army, who have gone into other areas of veterinary medicine and really enjoyed the army lifestyle.

Hope this helps!

Re: Veterinary nurse in the army?

Fleabee99 — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:21:53 GMT

ahh i see now yes i am on the look out but as far as i know the rats are not breeding at the mo so i do have some time to mul it over, like i said the army would definately be the last resort but saying that i would actually prefer to join the army than the degree route as like i said i literally cannot afford it i know there are loans and things to help but in the end id still be left with a 20.000 debt which i would get as i would have to move away to do the full degree as only foundation degrees are in my area, i did apply for harper adams and got a place but found after all the visits that it just wasnt for me at all with travelling (3hrs) and being away from pets, oh, family, so dont worry im not shunning the degree without reason and dont get me wrong i know of the portfolio and that its very heavy work wise but i would prefer this after weighing my options as if i was doing the degree i would be working/ studying as well as having to work part-time to compensate and fund myself so would be endangering my studies anyway, in the army i would be paid to study and same as NVQ, like i said earlier the degree route is just something i cannot afford and joining the army would be a big decision and will probably never happen as i will stay in my asda job for at least 2 years to try for that trainee position and even longer as i feel i am getting ever closer as in the start i wasnt even getting near interviews now im getting through the trial days and the final 2/3 in the places ive been to so i am willing to wait as i have waited 4 years after finishing school to even try for a place as employment instead of volunteering which i have been doing religiously every week so i am hoping for a break eventually

the army idea was just that an idea and i just wanted some opinions from those who knew people who had followed that route

Re: Veterinary nurse in the army?

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:02:22 GMT

Hi Sarah, I knew your rats had died, but also know you are on the lookout for a new one, so i was talking about that.

The degree route, although I did not qualify that way might be the stepping stone though, I know a lot who have started off doing the degree and then been offered a place in practice doing the nvq.

Also the thing is, even though the nvq is more hands on, we do have a lot of revision and writing/classroom work to do as well when on block release, and to get the portfolio done correctly and on time can be all consuming, and all this while working full time too.

Re: Veterinary nurse in the army?

Fleabee99 — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:38:43 GMT

after doing my alevels i really dont want to go to uni (silly as it sounds as thats what you do them for lol) but the idea of sitting behind a desk 5 days a week for another 4 years just isnt something i want to consider, plus with my parents earning quite highly i wouldnt be eligable for any funding whatsoever so really couldnt afford it, i would really prefer the work based route, im getting closer and have a few interviews in the pipeline, the army is just a last resort really, and ST am guessing you dont know but my rats died in jan and feb so at the mo im alone on that front but trust me i know it isnt something to go into lightly, both my brothers have been in and one hated it and the other loves it and is still in, before joining id do alot of research and talk to a few people who actually do the job before even considering it, i just wanted some close to home views from here if poss

Re: Veterinary nurse in the army?

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:15:51 GMT

Hi Sarah,

I worked with someone who was a vets assistant in the army,I dont know how long she was actually in, but she works in regular practice now, she is still not qualified as I dont think she has the necessary qualifications and the practice she works in is a branch so not a training practice.

It's a big step and a big decision to make, I know you are a bit disappointed with the job situation at the moment, but have you thought about going to uni and doing the degree?

Also, what about your rats?? would you not miss them too much?