Newly qualified

Re: Newly qualified and the spark has gone!

Louise Northway VNCertECC NCert(Anaesth) RVN — Wed, 21 May 2014 16:41:18 GMT

I've been in practice now for 10 years and qualified for 5 of them. I lost my mojo or enthusiasm (when I had been the 'keeno' in the practice)... And I realised it was because I didn't have a goal...!

When you are training you are learning and aiming for something, some nurses are happy to plod along learning a little as they go but for me I needed to continue learning LOTS so i've started the vets now ECC course which i'm loving. I've also just been promoted to head nurse, so that's another big challenge.

I think you should think about what you are interested in most and specialise, or move to another practice!

Good luck!

Re: Newly qualified and the spark has gone!

azlana — Wed, 21 May 2014 12:18:13 GMT

First of all let me say WELL DONE!!!!!! for passing. you over the hardest part now you get to enjoy the job for all it can be!

i know when I qualifyed I went through a similar thing, I had to leave my TP as no job for me so decided to take a couple of months off to rest my brain and fopund that after a month out of work i was bored stiff and missed the industry. I decided to give Refferal practice a go and Loved it. Turned out i was not cut out for night shift thought, I gained loads of new skills and it gave me and idea of what I wanted to do. See if your current practice will allow you perhaps a couple of weeks to try some ECC with maybe Vets Now or offer to do a few locum shifts for them I did that also and really enjoyed the challenge. perhaps even a few days in a refferal centre to get a taste, Most referal practices if you cal are happy to give RVN's some work experience.

I really really hope you find you sparkle again! As everyone else says find your neiche and grab onto it. stick your finger in a few pies and see if you like the taste before you eat a slice

Katie x

Re: Newly qualified and the spark has gone!

kkkathykk — Wed, 21 May 2014 08:52:15 GMT

I think Alison is right and it's probably a natural reaction to all the hard work you've done. A couple of years after I qualified though, I did start to feel restless and I decided to do the DipAVN. It was a very good move for me. I enjoyed it and it opened some doors too.

We're all different, but maybe you do need some new focus, and as Alison said, you may be able to get that within veterinary nursing.

Re: Newly qualified and the spark has gone!

Alison Clare Hickman — Tue, 20 May 2014 13:44:00 GMT

Hiya,

I think the question you should be asking yourself is what was it that motivated you to become a veterinary nurse in the first place and rediscover that 'Mojo'! Believe me, the grass is not always greener on the other side...temptingly different though it seems...

Have you considered specialising in something? Whatever your 'thing' is be that wildlife, exotics, wound care, nutrition, E&CC, equine, anaesthetics, hospital nursing (as examples)...an interest will re-light that fire. If you think a change of scene is going to help, then before you jump ship, why not ask your practice if they will allow you to go to another practice for on-job experience. A friend of mine is doing just this in her chosen 'specialist subject' and is relishing her new-found enthusiasm. Her existing practice also reap the benefits of her increased knowledge too...win-win!!

It could just be a simple case of post-exam adrenaline sink (my own description!). I had it - wasn't nice. You have been on 'go-go-go-go-go-go' for so long that when you stop your body and mind just droop and leave you in a murky soup of 'feeling blue and sitting in poo, boo hoo' ... But I came through it by finding an interest and refocusing my efforts. I am as happy as a ferret up a trouser leg now!

Good luck. Let us know how you get on.

Ali h