Re: Confused about the changes :S

xxserahxx — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:05:34 GMT

Ive been a qualified ANA for 4 months now.. and i hope to go onto VN ASAP.. but is v confused lol.. we have 3 branches and currently im at the non TP.. fingers crossed i can eiva start 1st year here and go college twice week.. or move to diff branch and train there :)!!

Wish RCVS wud hurry!!!.. :( xx

Re: Confused about the changes :S

typolisa — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:07:37 GMT

I just got a call from Medivet asking lots of questions :D Hopefully I will get an interview - so excited - fingers crossed for me please :)

Re: Confused about the changes :S

Sian Brew — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:27:54 GMT

Thankyou for all the info Albatross. I am already level 2 as I trained in New Zealand and have to complete the level 3 (2nd year only). I just found out I will be starting in January now so panic over!

I know how you feel Lisa, It took me a long time to find a training practice (2 years!) So hopefully the new course will make it more accessible. Good luck.

Re: Confused about the changes :S

typolisa — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:46:30 GMT

Confusing isn't it! I was just in the process of applying to TPs and now I've been receiving letters saying they're not taking on until all this is sorted and there will be a new way to apply. I just want to get on and start my training but I feel like I'm in limbo until next summer at least when it should all be decided.

Re: Confused about the changes :S

albatross — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:16:19 GMT

the changes are not yet official, they are still deliberating on the comments sent to them by many practice staff.

However it looks likely that if you are already at college and doing the level 2, you will be allowed to complete it (within I think 3 years), as the original way of training.

Slightly confused about what you are currently doing, so sorry if this isn't correct:
if you are employed as a trainee (for last 3 months) but not actually at college nor doing your portfolio, there will be no September 2010 college intake under the old rules.
However if you're already doing level 2, you would continue September 2010 as Level 3 (assuming you pass level 2 of course-lol).
If you're planning on going to start level 2 on the January college start dates - then I don't know (but I think the colleges may scrap this before it starts in order to concentrate on the new method for September), however some colleges may allow the January intake year one to start but it limits students in cases of failure as you have less time to complete the training.

The main problem with the September start is if the current practice having expected you to be at college one day a week, will now allow you 2-3 days a week, and also the 5 week training at practices which will include farm animals and equine. The current proposal makes it easier to train in terms of getting a place (theoretically as it will depend on how many college places are available and what they use as criteria for "bums on seats") as you will only have to do 5 weeks in a TP, but means far more college work, and although not a portfolio you will have to do lots of theoretical stuff (getting closer to the degree method of training-ie more study, less hands on, well in the first year!). The second year will then revert to the similar style as currently, but not sure on how much of that will need to be the enforced large animal and equine, and ti can be done in associated TP's which don't quite have the required equipment of a TP but want to train people. This will be a one year contract and the practice should then cast you out when qualified to the pool of available QVN's for any practice to give a job to. The new proposals didn't suggest what would happen if you failed the 2nd year and came to the end of a 1 year contract (you could find yourself out of a job and unable to complete training especially if the TP has to terminate the contract officially).

I'd ask your head nurse how they see it, and what they can provide if the new rules go ahead (provisionally) - I have asked this question recently to several TP's and most didn't know about proposed changes, and all baulked at the thought of finding replacement staff if they had to send their trainee to college 2-3 days a week instead of 1, and all put training officially on hold and just said they'd train in house for a year then start under the new rules.
A lot of TP's are in limbo at present and it's not helping them or prospective new students until the draft changes are set in stone.