College for a trainee nurse

Re: College for a trainee nurse

Laura James — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 22:58:28 GMT

You can do the theory work and then the practical - if you do the degree route But if you do it in college then you do portfolio and theory at the same time because you can't do your rcvs exams until you've done a certain percent/all of the portfolio for that year

Re: College for a trainee nurse

albatross — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:25:51 GMT

this is similar to a question I asked on another thread - asking people how long they were working before they finally qualified.

When I started looking for a college place and a TP place (yes I know I got a college place first and it doesn't mean anything, but at the time I wasn't aware that you needed a TP place first and that the TP dictated which VNAC you went to for college work), I thought you would start college at the next college year - ie our local VNAC only takes in once a year but places like CAW take twice a year. I am now fully aware from posts to my thread and through speaking direct to many people, that you can wait 3 years or more in a TP while either completing GCSE's, ANA or even just waiting for funding to become available (usually waiting until someone completes the whole training procedure). So those that can get places, and who go straight through training will take 2 years plus the bit while they wait till next college intake. But for most people the two years becomes 3-5 in total before qualifying (I know someone personally who has been at the same TP for around 7 years and who hopes to take her final exams this summer!).
A very daunting prospect for the VN profession when today's SVN's in waiting (like myself who have already been trying for 3 years just to get into a TP), may not be qualified for another 5 years from actually gaining that TP place. I wonder how many QVN adverts there will be then, because you only need to look on this site to see the top heavy QVN v SVN v unqualified people adverts ?
RIG vets posts a thread that there isn't a lack of QVN's but with the number of adverts, the number of QVN's quitting, and the few SVN places available (and the length of time it will take to qualify in reality), may well lead to a dire shortage in the next couple of years.

I guess that we all have to wait in line, take the TP jobs when they turn up, then hang on through non college training, then finally the full SVN coursework until the final QVN result. But maybe there really ought to be an investigation into the whole procedure ?

Daft question - why can't people take the two year college course while waiting for practical experience ? You won't be a QVN but you gain theoretical knowledge which is vital and would also mean less theory training in practice, and would get the one day a week out of the way without actually costing a TP time and money, (especially if students at college were either government grant funded or paid for the course themselves like I had to through my HND) and juggling of rotas with a day off a week. Then maybe those who have completed college work (and perhaps written exams or assignments as an end point which gave you a certificate or similar) could have priority over TP training places afterwards (rather than those people who are the receptionists-neighbours-dog walkers-cousin's-exgirlfriend for example : being facetious but I do know of people who got places because their mum knew one of the vets for example!). I for one would love to do the written and learning bits while I wait for the TP practical placement (and with 3 years experience in two different practices anyway I do have quite a bit of practical training as well). Could it work this way as an option or does the college work tie in directly with the portfolio building?????

Re: College for a trainee nurse

Anonymous — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 20:03:57 GMT

[quote user="MrsH **"]

If you have a look at the RCVS and BVNA websites, they say it takes about two years to qualify ONCE you start training...

[/quote]

I think they mean two years of training once started at college/two years training at college (they aren't including the extra pre training you might gain whilst working in clinic)

Re: College for a trainee nurse

Anonymous — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:57:58 GMT

I think you might have misread my post a bit??? I know that I'm lucky to have got this position, I was just wondering if it was normal to wait for a year and a half before starting college.

If you have a look at the RCVS and BVNA websites, they say it takes about two years to qualify ONCE you start training...

Re: College for a trainee nurse

xhappysvn21x — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 10:39:45 GMT

12-18months with me but i have been workin a year befre tht too as i changed practice- good move but longer wait

Re: College for a trainee nurse

zookeeper — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:41:58 GMT

Is Medi-Vet funding your training or are you having to pay for it yourself? I only ask as if you are paying for it yourself could you not go to a different college?

A VN that locumed for us trained with Medi vet and she had to fund her training herself. She got drug companies to sponser her.

Sarah x

Re: College for a trainee nurse

Shane — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:16:54 GMT

Count yourself lucky that you have a job and a student position waiting for you, even if you have to wait so long. I know of nurses trying their best for years to find a training practice that will take them on to study, there is just not enough positions available.

you will have so much experience when you do start it, that it will be easier for you!

Re: College for a trainee nurse

Naomi Jackson RVN — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:36:04 GMT

I had to wait over a year before starting my ANA so in that time I did an animal care course which was just portfolio work but it kept my mind busy and was quite ineresting

Re: College for a trainee nurse

paula morgan — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:13:34 GMT

I start college in August, doing my ANA first, in the meantime i am organising with my placement vets to go in voluntarily. I think your lucky your working in the practice first, I cant wait!!!

Re: College for a trainee nurse

Anonymous — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:09:01 GMT

Thanks everyone for your help. I am a notoriously impatient human being!!!! I'll look into doing some courses on the side.

Re: College for a trainee nurse

Anonymous — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:07:59 GMT

The veterinary group is medivet and they have their own college in Watford :)

Re: College for a trainee nurse

Vicky RVN — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:52:03 GMT

I too agree that working for a good while before starting college is a good thing, like people have said it gives you more experience so you are ready for your official college training.

Re: College for a trainee nurse

Claire Cameron — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 21:38:00 GMT

I worked for just over a year in practice before I started my SVN training, think its pretty standard, as most practices fork a fortune out on a students training incase they dont like it as its a lot of money! x

Re: College for a trainee nurse

Anonymous — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 21:13:05 GMT

I was expecting not to start school until next september but I think i've been really lucky and found a position that would be putting me in school this september. But this is for an ANA not an SVN course. I won't be able to do my SVN until after I get my ANA. N, maybe it's because they have their own school? Also you've only been there for two months so not even the full probation period of three months. Maybe they are seeing if you are really commited? I donno but either way, personally for me I'm glad I've gotten a chance to do the ANA before the SVN because it will get me ready for the SVN! Maybe you could purchase some books, the ANA textbook is really good to start with and then move onto the Nursing Handbook. I also keep a pocket dictionary and some terminology flashcards to study and test myself at work. Have you thought about speaking to your assessor about your feelings on all the cleaning? Maybe they aren't aware that you are feeling this way and might be able to involve you a little more if you speak to them about it?

Re: College for a trainee nurse

Anonymous — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 20:46:29 GMT

This sounds normal to me. I've just started in a clinic. In September I will start the ANA course and then go on to be a SVN. The reason being because the clinic recommends this as mentioned above.

As I've not really worked in a clinic before I am extremely grateful to be offered all of this training. Hopefully I'll have a much better understanding and more confidence for when I do start my VN training in September next year. And hopefully have a better chance of succeeding.

I too haven't heard of an in-house college..?

Re: College for a trainee nurse

Steph Worsley — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 20:21:17 GMT

I worked for 12 months before I started college as well, I found it helped greatly to do that as I had some background knowledge and helped me settle to basic routines before getting my head round technical stuff! Incidently it was almost 4 years from the day I started in practice to the day I officially qualified! (just cos of hassles at practices and having to nag to get portfolio stuff sorted - much better now you need to sort portfolio before sitting exams I think)

Re: College for a trainee nurse

Emma Jarratt — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 20:02:14 GMT

Our students often work for 12-18 months before starting 'official' training, to be honest I think it's a lot easier. By the time they are doing portfolio work, they are already working at a higher level so assessments are easy as it really is part of their everyday duties and we're assessing skills that they are very competent at, compared to assessing brand new students who don't yet have the skills and are learning as they're going along, which is much more difficult for all concerned. By the end of it you'll be a much more experienced (and therefore hopefully competent) nurse than if you'd rushed it.

If you're chomping at the bit in the meantime, you could always use the intervening year to do some correspondance course alongside your in-house training, for example the veterinary terminology one or pet healthcare advisor (Hills) etc, or even ANA, although it'd be likely you'd be self funding. Or you could just get some good textbooks and read!

Re: College for a trainee nurse

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:57:29 GMT

Hi Mrs H, its not unheard of to work for a bit before commencing training, it actually gives you a better grounding and understanding when you do actually go on to attend college.

I worked for about 8/9 months as a trainee VN before I started college.

As to your next problem, it's a possibility that because you are not attending college as yet, you are seen as an extra, and extras get shoved from pillar to post, as to where they are needed, but I am sure that once you start college this will stop and your proper training will begin.

Incidentally what college does your company have?/ just that I have never heard of this before.