Other animal careers

Re: Other animal careers

Selena Carnell — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:19:19 GMT

Hey, trying not to sound too negative but being a vet isnt 9-5 many vets i know do so many hours, out of hours and even unpaid work. Vets have the highest suicide rate due to the stress and money worries. If its what you really want to do then go for it, a close friend of mine got 3 A's at A level and still did not get in to vet school, it is very competitive, and experience does help.. being a human nurse would put you ingood stead too.

Good luck in what you decide, but i think you would work just as hard as you are now being a vet.,

Re: Other animal careers

loopylou711 — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:09:55 GMT

I think the veterinary nursing degree is one of the hardest tihngs i ever agreed to do. I started doing mine at napier in edinburgh, it's four years long. The way its set out is a little confusing if not disorganised. In the space of two years I only recieved 6 months exprience! They were happy to find me term time placements however when it came to the summer placement you need to find your own. Most places are a little reluctant to take you on aswell. I ended up livng in newcastle for 3 months even though am from glasgow. I have a friend who took a year out because nobody helped to find her a summer placement.

Am not a fan of the degree route, I personally think theres a lack of support and funding. Working 37.5 hours aweek then working a part time 16 hour job at weekend is a big ask! There is no time to yourself.

But I guess it depends on the person and how much you want to be a VN. I have since left and I am hoping to find a training practice! I can always go back to uni but for now am taking a year out to find a place. so heres hoping!

good luck on making a decision :)

Re: Other animal careers

Doolally — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:06:27 GMT

If you're still interested in being a VN, and are happy going to uni then why not consider the foundation degree?

Tht's what I did after having trouble trying to find a SVN placement to do the NVQ route. The Foundation degree is 3 years (i did mine in 2.5 but i think they've extended it now). You have to do work placements but the uni help you find a place so its not as hard as finding the elusive SVN place. You get loads of help, support and experience.

And then after 3years you're qualified, with a foundation degree, so can always go on to top it up to a full degree, and the door for RVN jobs is opened for you...i've had no problem getting jobs since qualifying

Re: Other animal careers

Mac Feather — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:48:21 GMT

[quote user="humanenurse"]

I work for the NHS as a mental health nursing assistant. I work with forensic patients in a medium secure unit. So they have committed crimes b/c of their MH. Mostly work with murderers/patients from High secure.

The job is fine and the team are amazing, but being told your fat/ugly/stupid etc etc every day is hard to deal with, especially when they involve your family in their insults. Some insults are that derogatory/disgusting, I could not post them on here.

[/quote]

That must be such a demanding job in all aspects. I take my hat off to you.

Re: Other animal careers

humanenurse — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:22:23 GMT

Sorry I was going to say. Yeah! The NHS are always wanting temp nursing staff...infact working temporary means you get paid more, but somehow it's cheaper for the NHS.

You need to look for your local NHS Bank. Banking is the term used for temporary nursing staff. I prefer NA, but HCA is the same. Working weekends hours should guarantee you work, as they are very hard to cover in most trusts. Plus you get an unsocial hours pay on the weekend. Night shifts are big money too. Go to NHS Jobs, find your local NHS trust, then search for their bank contacts. You have to apply for the role like any job, but I got my job with no professional experience. If you have customer service experience, that's always good. They are basically looking for really jolly/friendly people with excellent people skills. PM me if you need some help :)

Thanks for the post Nick. I understand the amount of training VN's do as well. But I love animals, they are my passion, I would do anything for them. I volenteer at a cattery, and I know what you mean. We microchipped my cat the other week, and I've got a big gash on my arm from him spazzing out :S

Re: Other animal careers

Nick Shackleton — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:13:45 GMT

hey there

My mum worked as a mental health nurse. You know there are several 'home learning' or distance learning courses that you could do provided that your current employer is willing to sponser you whilst you train.

http://www3.open.ac.uk/courses/bin/p12.dll?Q01D68

Not trying to put you off vet nursing, but remember our hours ain't 9-5 and depending where you end up working you will have to train whilst you work and this may include OOH (out of hours) and weekends. And the odd 'mental' dog or cat. They may not verbal abuse you, but you might get attacked! I've been put in hosp by one patient!

Re: Other animal careers

Louise B — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:02:33 GMT

[quote user="humanenurse"]

Well I have thought about it, but tbh the hours are terrible. The NHS bursary is not much at all, meaning you have to work bank shifts whislt training, which means your doing 60+hrs a week, combined with the 37hrs placements you have to do, plus lectures etc. It's not training to be taken lightly. I do really well with most of the patients. I can't get my head around the personality disorders though. It is a very mentally challenging job. I just don't think I could do it forever. Plus where I work now you only get flexible hours if you have kids. I've just completed 9weekends on the run.

I think one of the major reasons why its so difficult is because our trust, and many others are so understaffed. The patients in our field pick up on this, and then we have to restrain, but we never have enough people to restrain and so staff are constantly getting injured.

I know it's an honourable job, but I just can't do it for the rest of my life.

[/quote]

How easy is it to get weekend work in mental health hospitals as a unexperienced, wouldbe HCA? Do they take volunteers looking for experience?

Re: Other animal careers

humanenurse — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:45:17 GMT

I know it's an honourable job, but I just can't do it for the rest of my life.

Re: Other animal careers

Vicky RVN — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:30:24 GMT

Wow sounds like an interesting job! Not something i think i could handle though, so good on you for doing it.

Re: Other animal careers

Louise B — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:42:37 GMT

[quote user="humanenurse"]

[/quote]

What an amzing job! If I had my time again I would have trained in mental health. I think it is a fascinating area. I did look for a part time job as a HCA (mental health) in Edinburgh (weekends) but decided that I didn't have the time and the right opportunities never came up. I cannot believe you want to leave for vet nursing. Why not train as a psych nurse and move to a less 'threatening' environment?

Re: Other animal careers

humanenurse — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:24:09 GMT

Re: Other animal careers

Louise B — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:13:05 GMT

[quote user="humanenurse"]

The trouble is most of my qualifications are vocational, which means my current job I do great in, I'm just not a massive fan of abusive people S:

[/quote]

What's your current job (if you don't mind me asking)?

Re: Other animal careers

humanenurse — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:49:17 GMT

lol, sorry. I'm just getting a load of grief about choosing a career from my family. I agree I need to choose. Just not sure what to do. I've been given a conditional offer for a Biology foundation for a year, but looking into whether thats enough. I think I would need to do A levels in science for a vet degree, so I would have to resit my gcse's to get on A levels.

I did consider a vet nursing course, but I don't think doing a course at Uni would secure me a job anymore than training from a TP/NVQ way.

The trouble is most of my qualifications are vocational, which means my current job I do great in, I'm just not a massive fan of abusive people S:

Re: Other animal careers

Caro Laithwaite VN — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:51:33 GMT

Contact nottingham uni. their vet course isnt silly money and may be worth looking at. 25 bloody hell you spoke like you were 60

Re: Other animal careers

rrrrrmeow — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:32:18 GMT

Hey,

check out www.navp.org.uk you do not have to be qualified as a human physio before doing veterinary physiotherapy. You do, however, need a relevant science/animal degree as it is an MSc course.

Also, as for vet science, they are introducing an introduction to vet science course at Glasgow Uni for all those that don't have the relevant entry requirements. It is supposedly going ahead next year.

PM me if you want more details, good luck!

Re: Other animal careers

humanenurse — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:05:27 GMT

Yeah I am still really thinking of doing vet training. I'm just a bit worried about whether I'm smart enough. I love biology and chemistry is fine, but my physics has never been good b/c of my maths, Although I've recently done some maths training and I loved it!

Re: Other animal careers

jo. h. arter — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:02:09 GMT

25! you're still a young spricken!

You have plenty of time to retrain as a vet - if it is what you have always wanted to do. A vet friend of mine is now retraining as a Doctor at age 45.

I know financial struggles come into it, but if it is your life long dream, and your partner is supportive of you then surely 5-7 years of money being tight would be worth it?

Re: Other animal careers

Sal the 1st — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:33:37 GMT

they do take civvies for dog handling

Re: Other animal careers

humanenurse — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:04:34 GMT

I don't think I could hack the RAF training tbh. I think if you want to be avet and have the opportunity then great! It would mean me being poor for years and could be a drain on my relationship with my partner. In my case I'd also have to take two years of science before the degree.

I've always wanted to be a vet, but the career's counsillor in high school said ''Your too stupid, why don't you be a doctor?'' That's always stuck with me. The head of science said I would have to work hard, b/c my maths was poor but he had no problem putting me in for double science, but the cow said no and so I couldn't do it. Leading to years of degression and pointless jobs I hate. :(

Re: Other animal careers

Sal the 1st — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 08:29:12 GMT

I have a friend who is a senior dog handler and trainer in the RAF - ever considered this ?

Re: Other animal careers

Karen S — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 07:39:54 GMT

I am 33 and i am STILL considering going to Uni to be a vet. Am i mad? Never had the opportunity until this point in my life, but i still think im mad just thinking this way.

Re: Other animal careers

Vicky RVN — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 21:59:15 GMT

[quote user="humanenurse"]they are facing out the dog handler role[/quote]

Why are they doing this? That's mad! Who is going to do the dog work in that case?

Re: Other animal careers

humanenurse — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:42:46 GMT

I was going to join the police to become a dog handler, but I've been informed by a friend in the force, and another bobby that they are facing out the dog handler role :(

Never thought of search & rescue living in the city.....might be a good job to do for when I emigrate though :) Will have to look at roles in the UK, thanks for the ideas :)

Re: Other animal careers

Vicky RVN — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 19:10:05 GMT

How about search and rescue dogs? Or sniffer dogs?

Re: Other animal careers

humanenurse — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 19:00:52 GMT

Yeah, I would love to work with Guide dogs, I'll check out hearing dogs. I did want to apply to be an rspca inspector, but there intake for this year's been cancelled :(