Registered Staff Nurse Human! wanting to go into vet nursing

RE: Registered Staff Nurse Human! wanting to go into vet nursing

louise roder — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 20:53:06 GMT

I really hope it changes for you tho because what you have to learn is amazing! also it stated that vet nurses are now earning on average 20,000 per year and its starting to go up for all the uk slowely.

RE: Registered Staff Nurse Human! wanting to go into vet nursing

Cameron Norsworthy — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 20:17:34 GMT

I couldn't agree with you more! What I do appreciate about the veterinary nursing qualification is how many opportunities can become available, e.g. company product representative, lecturing, physiotherapy, practice management, etc. It's also great that you can specialize in a particular field of interest, e.t. radiography, ECC, anaesthesia, consulting, etc

Money is most definitely not the be-all and end-all, and is most certainly not an incentive to work within the veterinary industry (as we all know) :)
I am enjoying what I'm currently doing and I'm the sort of person who is continuously looking ahead to see what further opportunities, qualifications, etc may be available for me to progress with my career and /or improve my skills and efficiency as an employee.

Another great aspect of this job is the ability to communicate with fellow workers and veterinary professionals on forums such as this one where you can gain plenty of help, advice and opinions.

Thank you once again

RE: Registered Staff Nurse Human! wanting to go into vet nursing

Sal the 1st — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 08:18:20 GMT

I do /have known a number of practice managers that are not VNs - but you are right that most people get a practice managers position on the back of years of experience within practice whether that be as a result of VN qualification or not. I do know of two practices that took ex NHS managers on as practice managers - they both off loaded them at the earliest opportunity as their managing skills were not compatible with managing a vet practice.

RE: Registered Staff Nurse Human! wanting to go into vet nursing

Sammyannieantha — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 07:52:56 GMT

Hate to break it to you but practice managers are mostly RVNs that have dedicated years to a practice-its pretty unheard of for someone to get a practice managers job and walk into a practice straight off a job advert...i do wish you luck but promotions such as practice managemeht usually comes after much experience also ie head RVN.

Good luck though!

RE: Registered Staff Nurse Human! wanting to go into vet nursing

Cameron Norsworthy — Sat, 02 Apr 2016 00:27:13 GMT

[quote user="louise roder"]that sounds great what will you start on when you first qualify? I have heard they are trying to get a more of a protected titoe for vn[/quote]

A broad range would probably be between £12,500 - £14,000 p.a.

Correct, the RCVS is trying to raise awareness of the veterinary nursing profession so that only QUALIFIED veterinary nurses can call themselves that title. At the moment, experienced non-qualified 'nurses' can call themselves 'Veterinary Nurses' even though they haven't spent 2-3 years of their time studying to gain the formal qualification which actual RVN's have! Instead they should be referred to as ANA or Veterinary Nursing Assistants, etc

RE: Registered Staff Nurse Human! wanting to go into vet nursing

Cameron Norsworthy — Sat, 02 Apr 2016 00:13:47 GMT

[quote user="Sal the 1st"]

I gather from your post you don't intend to be nursing long?

Sorry really not wanting to be negative but so many people just use the vet nursing qualification to get them somewhere else, its like vet nursing in itself isn't seen as a worthy occupation these days?

Good luck to you in your future studies and I hope they bring you everything you want but dont believe everything people tell you

[/quote]

Veterinary Nursing is a worthy occupation and I have nothing but respect and admiration for the people who dedicate their time and life to the career. It is an unfortunate truth that the salary is not great, however there are many opportunities for qualified RVN's to progress onto various career advancement pathways which present new challenges and often much more competitive and appealing salaries, but these new job opportunities are dependent on the applicant having sound clinical knowledge and experience from previous years spent practicing veterinary nursing.

I have wanted to work with animals from a very young age. That was a certainty and volunteering my time every week for an entire year at my local vets inspired me to want to study veterinary science. It also just so happens that I have a particular interest in business management and accountancy which I have developed over the past couple of years after learning from my parents and grandparents how they have made millions of pounds from various careers which are not all necessary branded as being stereotypical 'well-paid jobs'.

Combining my dedication for animal care and welfare, my passion for the veterinary industry and my interests in business management is my inspiration to succeed in veterinary practice management.

I am more than prepared to dedicate the next 10-15 years of my time solely to the nursing profession so that I can gain the experience which any veterinary practice manager should have in order to perform their job well.

I value your opinion and feedback and am grateful to you for wishing me luck with my studies.
Kind regards

RE: Registered Staff Nurse Human! wanting to go into vet nursing

Cameron Norsworthy — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 23:45:15 GMT

Here are just a couple of quick examples of jobs around the £30k mark. By gaining further advanced qualifications, many more career advancement opportunities are then available e.g. lecturing, head nursing, clinical directing, company product representative, etc

I hope you find these interesting

https://www.networxrecruitment.com/Jobs/Advert/335006?FromSearch=True&js=115

http://thevet.co.uk/recruitment/job-description/67?utm_source=Indeed&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=Indeed

RE: Registered Staff Nurse Human! wanting to go into vet nursing

Sal the 1st — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 23:38:57 GMT

[quote user="Cameron Norsworthy"]

degree holders will initially earn slightly more than diploma holders

[/quote]

?? - not anywhere I have worked - unless its different for different areas of the country.

I gather from your post you don't intend to be nursing long?

Good luck to you in your future studies and I hope they bring you everything you want but dont believe everything people tell you

RE: Registered Staff Nurse Human! wanting to go into vet nursing

louise roder — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 21:09:55 GMT

I would agree with you there about the health and happy job before money! i am the same would prefer a job i love

RE: Registered Staff Nurse Human! wanting to go into vet nursing

Charley83 — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 13:39:22 GMT

Going to tell you as it is, having been there and now got the T-shirt I was a staff then district nurse for now 16 years - did it straight from school. I have now completed my course - only final osces and will be an RVN. I suggest writing to vets and stables to get as much work experience as you can and to see if the job is really for you and it provides references which you can take to interview at colleges and university. It is not all cuddling puppies and kittens. I did it over a year on my annual leave.

As I already had degrees I opted for the diploma route, I was going to opt for it anyway as the 5 vets in did work experience said they would "recruit a diploma nurse over a degree nurse as they were better practically, that they want good nursing skills, not a nurse who could write an essay". To do this you must be employed in a practice, however, some college will take you on full time as long as you have access to a training practice where you would go on placement, this is usually unpaid.

your nursing knowledge will stand you in good steed as a lot of it is the same or similiar to human nursing such as medical conditions, obviously there are some variations in anatomy.

The one thing i have struggled with is the big drop in pay, however, I havee always wanted to work in the veterinary profession. Unlike the NHS vet businesses do not receive government funding so are private. Pay can be poor for what we do and I think we deserve more. I have went for absolutely dreading going to work whilst in the ward to loving my job and even staying later just comforting patients and assisting if required. Money isn't everything, i,m not a firm believer in this saying, i'd rather enjoy work, need to economise than feel ill on the brink of a nervous breakdown. Newly qualified where I am in Scotland ranges from £17,000-£21,000 so i'm told.

RE: Registered Staff Nurse Human! wanting to go into vet nursing

PSA-David — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 13:30:58 GMT

our correct. its not o what qualifications at first you have its all how many years qualified

RE: Registered Staff Nurse Human! wanting to go into vet nursing

Sammyannieantha — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 13:24:28 GMT

Sorry im a locum rvn and im.on no where near 30 grand!in my experience it doesnt matter if diploma/degree you will get the same. Degree holders dont necessarily get paid more. Practices are more likely to pay more if cpd is done and benefits the practice ie advanced diploma nurse in referral centres..

RE: Registered Staff Nurse Human! wanting to go into vet nursing

Sidonia — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 12:39:02 GMT

Yes agree! I've been qualified 12 yrs (in practice for about 16 yrs), and am only just over £20k!!!!!

RE: Registered Staff Nurse Human! wanting to go into vet nursing

PHA86 — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 00:09:30 GMT

Hmm, I'd be a bit sceptical about a 30k+ wage. Not saying impossible and I would love you to prove me wrong!

RE: Registered Staff Nurse Human! wanting to go into vet nursing

louise roder — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 23:32:16 GMT

that sounds great what will you start on when you first qualify? I have heard they are trying to get a more of a protected titoe for vn

RE: Registered Staff Nurse Human! wanting to go into vet nursing

Cameron Norsworthy — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 21:47:21 GMT

Hi louise, I'm currently a year into the level 3 diploma in veterinary nursing and having already been in practice for two years previous to starting my qualification, I can honestly say that diploma students gain more 'clinical experience in reality' compared to degree students who learn all of the theory from the textbooks but spend very little time in actual practice. I attend college one day a week and have a total of 5 entire block weeks at college spread out over the time period of the course (2 1/2 years), resulting in me spending the remaining 4-5 days a week working in my practice.
In regards to your query regarding salary, degree holders will initially earn slightly more than diploma holders, however there are further advanced qualifications which can study for once qualified ( which are on my agenda) and these can result in an increased salary often north of £30,000 p.a.
I am personally studying veterinary nursing to gain clinical experience before studying veterinary business management, and so have looked into numerous further qualifications to study for once qualified as an RVN, and so am aware that although the initial starting salary is not the most appealing, you can increase this significantly through gaining further qualifications later on if you wish.

Hope this helps

RE: Registered Staff Nurse Human! wanting to go into vet nursing

louise roder — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 21:17:58 GMT

same as human nursing then : )

RE: Registered Staff Nurse Human! wanting to go into vet nursing

Caro Laithwaite VN — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 21:10:22 GMT

I am a locum vn so my wage is different to others. bvna have a wage survey l am guessing in on their site thugh that may help. Don't forget most employed vn have to do weekends and some do night call out/cover.

RE: Registered Staff Nurse Human! wanting to go into vet nursing

louise roder — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 12:43:42 GMT

Can I ask why you want a change?

RE: Registered Staff Nurse Human! wanting to go into vet nursing

louise roder — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 12:42:59 GMT

Hi there I would recommend going on the Nhsp bank for care assistants and that would get you experience on the hospital wards they like to hear that type of thing : ) and I joined St. John ambulance too x

RE: Registered Staff Nurse Human! wanting to go into vet nursing

nightowl — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 07:18:42 GMT

Hello,

I have been a VN for 26yrs. And would like to go into Human nursing anything you could recommend and how I go about doing this.

RE: Registered Staff Nurse Human! wanting to go into vet nursing

louise roder — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 23:37:09 GMT

yes i was shocked at just how much VN earn! totally unfair really. How much do you guys earn on average?

RE: Registered Staff Nurse Human! wanting to go into vet nursing

Caro Laithwaite VN — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 21:57:23 GMT

Getting a position will be hard always is thats why some folks go degree. It will be a huge drop in salary. Personally l prefer the l will call it proper way doing day or block release l know a lot of us feel it turns out a more rounded nurse ...(now for howls of outrage) however you asked and thats my answer. Cross over wise probably in a lot of ways not easier as human is human and lots of ruls and regs in place. vn is any species by their rules we just try out think them!