Moving from general practice to referral level - ADVICE NEEDED

RE: Moving from general practice to referral level - ADVICE NEEDED

svngem — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 14:56:25 GMT

I'm about to do exactly the same thing. Moving from a mixed hospital to a referral. I also recently gained my CertVNECC. I start 7th September...I wonder if it's the same practice?

RE: Moving from general practice to referral level - ADVICE NEEDED

Louise Northway VNCertECC NCert(Anaesth) RVN — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 08:11:34 GMT

Thanks ladies for your advice!

I'm super excited now, I start next Monday! :)

WOOHOO bring it on

RE: Moving from general practice to referral level - ADVICE NEEDED

Lily Dawson — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 17:00:11 GMT

I made this leap in the middle of my training and I absolutely love it! am so glad I did it.

My advice would be just do exactly the same. The nursing is the same everywhere just more intense with more patients to handle.

Good luck hope you enjoy your new job!

RE: Moving from general practice to referral level - ADVICE NEEDED

denise laughlin — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 14:21:12 GMT

The main advice is not to over think it! Referral practice is a totally different ball game and each hospital does things differently. The main thing that they all do the same is follow protocol meaning that there is no ambiguity over whats expected. Every task will have instructions clearly bullet pointed and everyone will follow them. The way one place manages a spinal case may be different from the next but they will make sure that you know which protocols apply where, they wont expect you to just figure it out.

Its incredibly challenging and interesting. You'll keep learning new stuff everyday and never get bored.

The down side is you'll struggle to go back to 1st opinion once you've been a referral nurse.

Enjoy!!!

RE: Moving from general practice to referral level - ADVICE NEEDED

Cloudy Weather — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 19:52:42 GMT

Referral its extremely rewardimg and you really feel like you can use your nursing skills to their full potential. I think its great you have so much experience in first opinion too, the consulting skills will be of great use as dont forget that referral work also often means lots of follow up nursing consults. I think the most challanging thing about referral is that many of the patients which come to you are usually in quite a bad way, especially whenconsidering medical cases over orthopaedic and so you need to be ready for the emotional challange as well as the ethical consideration of considering quality over quanity of life and be able to discuss this with owners and help them through tough decisions. But I loved working in referral, the amount of knowledge you will learn will be amazing and theskills you canaquire, develop and maintain is very rewarding. To be able to nurse a spinal surgery case, perform physio and giving much needed TLC andthen watch that animal take its first steps postoperatively is amazing :) Most practices have a system in place for qualifieds joining, regardless of how experienced you are , so dont worry about that. My practice had a little sign of book to make sure qualifieds joing the practice felt happy in all the skills they needed to perform. Don't forget that many of the nurses already that will have gone through the same transition so will be sympathetic, also don't forget that going from referral to first opinion can also be as daunting, I barley went on dispensery and consults in practice so I was fine going into thatre but my wormer knowledge was quite rusty. Every vets works as a team so don't forget you have always got support :) Goodluck I hope you love it :)

RE: Moving from general practice to referral level - ADVICE NEEDED

Rachael_24 — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 18:50:28 GMT

I did the same a few years back (although I'm now back in general practice).

It is very daunting to begin with but the hospital I worked at had a lengthy induction period to settle you in. Everyone told me that it would take 1 year to feel like I knew what I was doing and they weren't wrong!

Although the work was very intense I have no regrets. I learnt so any new skills and developed my knowledge massively during my time there and I've now been able to take that knowledge and implement it into general practice.

RE: Moving from general practice to referral level - ADVICE NEEDED

Inge Breatnach — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 16:45:13 GMT

Just done the same myself, it can be quite overwhelming initially but just take your time settling in and you'll be fine! The eCC course will definitely help! Also have a notebook to write down anything new or anything you're not used to, that way you can refer back to it! And ask questions in the first few weeks, you have special dispensations as a newbie to do this ;) hope it all goes well and enjoy it, you'll never want to go back to first opinion!