Leaving Veterinary nursing

Re: Leaving Veterinary nursing

KirstyFord86 — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 07:49:13 GMT

[quote user="Katy"]

Well I left veterinary nursing a month ago. Money wasn't the main reason, but the conditions in the practice and a few other problems. Lol.

I have become a student pharmacy technician. It's 2 years training doing a BTEC and NVQ Level 3 at the same time. No exams either. 6 assessors in the department, and the support you get is fantastic.

You get pay increases after the 1st year of college and once you qualify, and the number of areas you can specialise in is impressive.

I am really glad I left, i'm no longer depressed or stressed, i'm working set hours and get overtime for weekend working. I have grown my nails for the first time in over a year and I love my job.

Ok I miss the animals, but have 5 of my own to look after, and I miss some of the clients, but that's about it!

[/quote]I've been trying unsuccesfully to start my vet nurse training and am now looking into other options. I've just applied for a job as student pharmacy technician actually! Closing date for the job was the 07/10 so just have my fingers crossed that I hear something back.

I've looked into the job and know bascially what it entails but was wondering if you could give me a bit of an inside view of what to expect?

Re: Leaving Veterinary nursing

Angiy Michael — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 04:05:48 GMT

Kate does talk more than me ...sometimes...honestly we are a sight to behold together...we should sell tickets

Anyway what I was going to say is if you are confident you have explored all your options go for it . I am starting Adult Nursing in March after giving it nearly 4 years of mulling over...not a snap decision and the relief I felt when I made the decision was palpable ... everyone has to find what is right for them..so what would suit on VN may or may not suit another

Re: Leaving Veterinary nursing

Laura Ringsell — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:47:59 GMT

sounds to me like it's job done too. You have certainly thought this through. Good Luck with everything and I hope you have a forum like this as it is oh so helpful. Do keep us all up to date - best of luck but i've already said that!

Re: Leaving Veterinary nursing

Maisy — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:50:26 GMT

Good on you Hissycat, sounds like you have thought everything through and have it all planned Its good to explore other options, nothing is ever set in stone and although its scary leaving a profession, it can also be really exciting knowing you are doing something different. I know of a few VNs who left the profession completely and still get animal interaction from their own pets and occasional locum stints and at least this option is always there for you.

Best of luck in your new career

Re: Leaving Veterinary nursing

hissycat — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:40:20 GMT

[quote user="Fluffy"]

[quote user="Button"]

As they say: it's better to regret the things you've done than to regret the things you didn't.

Wishing you lots of luck for your future

[/quote]

I second that but ask you to ask yourself a couple of things...

do you think that human nursing is going to give you the things you crave - £££ and carear progression
have you exploited everything vet nursing has to offer
are you craving learning - what about a diploma
do you crave something different - what about teaching
What about taking a leap into an unknown veterinary direction and create your own carear progression

I say these things as someone who came from a very different carear path and who has recently questioned where I am going. Personally I couldn't human nurse - I vomit at the sight and smell of human excretions and would be a nightmare but think you are very brave to consider this as an option. Please don't take offense at my questions as none is meant - just make the decision having asked yourself all of the right questions.

Good luck now and in the future...xx

[/quote]Thanks fluffy, I totally agree with exploring all the options before you make a big decision, but it is something that has been on my mind for some time now (maybe I always saw the VN as a stepping board to something else?) to answer the questions...

I won't actually be nursing but am doing a degree in physiology so I will be working with patients but not in a nursing scenario.. I know the pay is better but i laso really enjoy the client interaction side of VN work so I think this is something I will enjoy, and I already know I enjoy working in a clinical setting. I also think the opportunities for progression are there in the NHS, and I am prepared to work hard to get there!

As for other careers using the VN qualification - this is something I have thought about a lot, however only working with large cats in a zoo/wildlife park setting really appeals to me, and I think we all know the opportunities there are extremely limited. I wouldn't even want to be a head nurse as the thought of lots of office work fills me with dread! As does teaching.

I already work in a large hospital practice and have worked in a couple of smaller ones, so I don't think more variety/referral practice would keep me happy in my job. I was also looking in to doing the top up VN degree/diploma but both are expensive and (correct me if i'm wrong anyone) but you still cannot do that much more in practice with these qualifications.

I think I have convinced myself now

Please question away if there are things you think I havn't thought through properly though

Thanks to all who have replied, I wasn't expected such a response, I guess one thing you can always rely on in this profession is the support of your VN colleagues. I will miss that

Re: Leaving Veterinary nursing

Nick Shackleton — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 19:44:54 GMT

Spud 3 year degree with work placements in different areas, my sister is half way thru this after working in pensions. so she has done placement in wards, nursing homes, theatre etc.....

Re: Leaving Veterinary nursing

Anonymous — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 16:52:17 GMT

what do you have to do to train in the human sector?

Re: Leaving Veterinary nursing

Caro Laithwaite VN — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 15:24:51 GMT

rcvs think they are god so not interested in anything else and lets face it they do not give a damm about us vn anyway. Well apart from the money they hit us for there is nothing else but then l think l have said this on a pretty regular basis.

Re: Leaving Veterinary nursing

Nick Shackleton — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 14:16:14 GMT

good luck hissy! Plenty of oppurtunities in the human sector.

It's a shame there aren't many qualifications available for VNs. There are plenty of american qualifications available to vet techs. I kno some are available to UK VNs, but some require traveling to america, which is obviously costly. I do think that the RCVS and/or BVNA should take notice of what is available to American Vet Techs and develop simular qualifications over here

Re: Leaving Veterinary nursing

Anonymous — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 14:04:08 GMT

[quote user="Katy"]

Well I left veterinary nursing a month ago. Money wasn't the main reason, but the conditions in the practice and a few other problems. Lol.

I have become a student pharmacy technician. It's 2 years training doing a BTEC and NVQ Level 3 at the same time. No exams either. 6 assessors in the department, and the support you get is fantastic.

You get pay increases after the 1st year of college and once you qualify, and the number of areas you can specialise in is impressive.

I am really glad I left, i'm no longer depressed or stressed, i'm working set hours and get overtime for weekend working. I have grown my nails for the first time in over a year and I love my job.

Ok I miss the animals, but have 5 of my own to look after, and I miss some of the clients, but that's about it!

[/quote]

I have to say I'm really please to hear this Katy!!! :)

Re: Leaving Veterinary nursing

Katy — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 13:58:14 GMT

Well I left veterinary nursing a month ago. Money wasn't the main reason, but the conditions in the practice and a few other problems. Lol.

I have become a student pharmacy technician. It's 2 years training doing a BTEC and NVQ Level 3 at the same time. No exams either. 6 assessors in the department, and the support you get is fantastic.

You get pay increases after the 1st year of college and once you qualify, and the number of areas you can specialise in is impressive.

I am really glad I left, i'm no longer depressed or stressed, i'm working set hours and get overtime for weekend working. I have grown my nails for the first time in over a year and I love my job.

Ok I miss the animals, but have 5 of my own to look after, and I miss some of the clients, but that's about it!

Re: Leaving Veterinary nursing

Caro Laithwaite VN — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 12:56:16 GMT

Aingeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee by the way we have to arrange the meal

Re: Leaving Veterinary nursing

Caro Laithwaite VN — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 12:54:47 GMT

Kate genius level comes from da gob l swear l have yet to see her breath when she talk how does she do it? she tries to say you are worse than her but that is to be next to impossible.

Re: Leaving Veterinary nursing

Kate Claxton DipAVN(Med)VN — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 11:52:15 GMT

Genius IQ, pffffffffffffffft, not likely. Yes I've been in the NHS as a therapy radiographer for just over a year now, and am loving my new job. Still doing locum stuff for VetsNow tho! I didn't leave because I had got fed up of being a VN, I left because doing my DAVN whetted my appetite for study and my interest in radiography. There are things I miss, but overall it was the right choice for me.

Re: Leaving Veterinary nursing

Maisy — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 11:03:43 GMT

Best of luck Hissycat in your new career I must admit I had briefly toyed with the idea of leaving veterinary nursing before I left my last job as I felt I'd come to a bit of a standstill. Instead I decided to leave and locum for a while, start the diploma course and see where I end up then. In reality I don't think I would leave nursing as this is something I have always wanted to do and I do love my job but I think it helps to move on when you don't feel like you are progressing as you should. Even then, vet nursing doesn't stop in practice, there are other options such as working for charities, repping, teaching...

I hope all goes well, and you will always have your VN qualification to fall back on if you decide on a change.

Re: Leaving Veterinary nursing

Saskia Quinn — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 09:55:06 GMT

Hissycat, I hope you think about it very carefully before you finally decide, though my guess is you have already done that.

There are other career options for VN's, depending on how much you would miss the animal contac, rep for a veterinary company, pet insurance, laboratory work, zoo etc. Though I am sure vacancies like those may not come along very often.

There has been VN's who have started their own practice, not such a crazy idea when you actually sit and think about it.

Re: Leaving Veterinary nursing

Minnow — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 09:53:40 GMT

Hissycat, How disappointing that being a VN still doesn't quite live up to expectations. Have you been in the same practice since you qualified?

Is it just money that really makes your decision? There is no doubt that human nursing wins on this one.

Variety of job? Not sure much will beat VN work here.

Progression? The trouble with progression in the VN world is it inevitably means a lot more admin, a lot less animal contact and a lot less variety. I bet that's true in the human world too but the financial benefits will be more marked.

Can you do some work experience in your chosen field first? I always want to test the produce before I buy!

Power to your elbow though. Making career moves takes courage and effort. I think you are making the right one because a government backed salary and career structure will always be better than the veterinary world. There are some referral practices out there that are comparable though if you are still undecided.

Re: Leaving Veterinary nursing

Laura Ringsell — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 08:21:04 GMT

[quote user="Button"]

As they say: it's better to regret the things you've done than to regret the things you didn't.

Wishing you lots of luck for your future

[/quote]

I second that but ask you to ask yourself a couple of things...

do you think that human nursing is going to give you the things you crave - £££ and carear progression
have you exploited everything vet nursing has to offer
are you craving learning - what about a diploma
do you crave something different - what about teaching
What about taking a leap into an unknown veterinary direction and create your own carear progression

Good luck now and in the future...xx

Re: Leaving Veterinary nursing

les punton — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 22:39:38 GMT

know how you feel, often thought about a change, however im a bit of a chicken!

couldnt do people though, my bf has operation every now and then and im pants with people blood!

Best of luck though, its very exciting x

Re: Leaving Veterinary nursing

Caro Laithwaite VN — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 22:16:51 GMT

Kate who pops up here as a sane voice has made the change l am sure she will be able to give you any help or reassurance you need. Even though she has the advantage over us poor souls of l am told being almost out of orbit on the genius iq level. Am also warned though that she can out talk Ainge (queen of toast) but l am afraid l have to dispute that until proven.

Re: Leaving Veterinary nursing

Anonymous — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 21:43:52 GMT

Well I think that if it's what you want to do then it is the right thing. Give it a go. You will always have your qualification and can always go back to it if you want. As they say: it's better to regret the things you've done than to regret the things you didn't.

Wishing you lots of luck for your future