Gaining employment as a Veterinary Nurse Trainee as an older lady

RE: Gaining employment as a Veterinary Nurse Trainee as an older lady

Sophie Millar — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 12:02:27 GMT

Great well leave it with me and I'll see if any of my clients are looking :)

RE: Gaining employment as a Veterinary Nurse Trainee as an older lady

Harriet Reeves — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 12:01:01 GMT

Hi Sophie,

I am based in West Berkshire but willing to commute to a point. Based near Pangbourne, between Reading and Newbury.

Thanks

RE: Gaining employment as a Veterinary Nurse Trainee as an older lady

Sophie Millar — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 11:55:05 GMT

Where are you based? I often get asked for Student nurses especially when practices are expanding / becoming a training practice

RE: Gaining employment as a Veterinary Nurse Trainee as an older lady

Harriet Reeves — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 09:54:06 GMT

Thanks for your advice, I will keep plugging away!

RE: Gaining employment as a Veterinary Nurse Trainee as an older lady

Heather Bacon — Sun, 19 Jul 2015 20:03:55 GMT

I think quite a lot of practices prefer slightly older students. I started my training at 25 years old and am 'hopefully' due to qualify soon. My employer has said that they employed me because I was older, had a degree so they knew that I could cope with the various assessments, and that I knew what I wanted.

Have you got any experience of working in a veterinary practice? Are you able to get the odd day here and there volunteering?

Student positions are incredibly hard to come by, so I would also look to just get a foot in the door, maybe see if there are any receptionist jobs or care assistant jobs. I think a lot of practices look to train on hopeful members of staff rather than employ an outside person as a trainee vet nurse straight away. I started out as a care assistant and did this for 1 year until my employers enrolled me on the course.

Be aware that you may have to pay for your training. Some employers will pay all of it, some of it, or none. If your future employer wants you to fund the course then you may have to look into a loan if you do not have any savings to fall back on.

What area are you in as some people on here may be able to help?

RE: Gaining employment as a Veterinary Nurse Trainee as an older lady

Emmacampbell — Sun, 19 Jul 2015 20:00:14 GMT

absolutely age is an advantage, I was 32 when started my training. I also have a previous degree in another subject and took a long time to secure my change of career. I started by working as veterinary receptionist and then enrolling in a part time animal care course along side the reception position. It's not easy but well worth it.

RE: Gaining employment as a Veterinary Nurse Trainee as an older lady

SVN Kent — Sun, 19 Jul 2015 19:12:15 GMT

Hi, it's good you have background knowledge in conservation but some practices look for past experience within practice.

try finding a training practice, may need to be a volunteer at first then enrol onto a ANA or VCA course, you will learn the basics and that may be more desirable to the employer thus securing a SVN position and completing your diploma.

RE: Gaining employment as a Veterinary Nurse Trainee as an older lady

twiams — Sun, 19 Jul 2015 18:09:08 GMT

Gaining a position is difficult and theres no way around it, it's part of what sorts out who's really up for the job!

If anything i'd say your age is in your advantage as most practices i ever applied for favoured a slightly older student. A student i worked with was 24, and i knew some to be over 30 so don't feel like that is against you!

My best advice is to email/write a letter to every practice that is a training practice in your area you're willing to travel, enquiring as to any positions. You can find these with the RCVS practice finder using an advance search.

Other than that work experience is key, even if you can only spare a few days here and there just getting a foot in the door of a practice is a great place to start. I struggled to find a position after 9 months working in a non-training practice as a volunteer, all the other practices already had volunteers working for them in the line for their next student positions so it's all about who you know and gaining some friendship with a practice.

I wouldn't worry about being over qualified either, as many nurses i know already had previous degree's or qualifications and found vet nursing as a change of scenery!

Just don't give up hope, and good luck!