NVQ to diploma

Re: NVQ to diploma

NIckie — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 22:08:07 GMT

This new training scheme sounds like a joke! surely the RCVS should have investigated what proposals would be best to replace the NVQ when they knew they were wanting to 'shake up' the NVQ system. Students have more than enough to worry about without the added stress of how their practice will juggle letting them away to get the experience for equine/farm etc, and not having the same support system they get from the current portfolio and assesor set up!!

Also going into second year is scary enough without the added worry of changing standards halfway though their training and having to study longer for their qualification, especially if they have started with an ANA course. I thought the whole idea was to make this better/more workable for students and employers? How can this be when the student needs even more time off and then has the worry of wether they can still take holidays without upsetting their employer, and the employer has to pay for longer training, along with coping without their trainee for longer periods of time??!

Re: NVQ to diploma

Jenny Cook RVN — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 20:04:33 GMT

I got my portfolio back from college today after having it checked and sampled... They estimate i have 32% completed... I need 60% by march, so , im on track to getting that far...

As much as i dislike the portfolio, i think i would prefer to continue the NVQ route as it is. Sept is gonna be the 'guinea-pig' year for all the students, and im NOT looking forward to it lol

Re: NVQ to diploma

Caro Laithwaite VN — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 12:26:01 GMT

That was how the nvq system went in. The year before leading up to it we had so much misinformation and speculation. Not the colleges fault they were trying to make sense out of the garbage that rcvs were feeding them.

Then doing the first set of portfolios, the external verifyer kept changing and each one would say don't do that do this, even though the other one told you to do it this way not that way (reversal of new verifyer) absolute bloody nightmare.

I would say at least you won't have the portfolio to sort out as well just the course. Not to take it away but OMG what a screw up we had. The latest portfolio is l am told a lot shorter than the first one.

Re: NVQ to diploma

Nicola Smith — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 10:13:18 GMT

Spoke to our VNAC yesterday who confirmed the current level 2 will go onto new qualification next year. They aren't sure how it will work yet but are hoping to try to squeeze it all into 1 year but will be a lot to cover. Definitely no portfolio. OFSTED final thing wont be till April so everyone in limbo for a while longer yet.

The funding thing is stupid - our practice shys away from 16 year olds - we prefer more mature students as more likely to stick with it and more sensible (no offence any 16 year old!) so we will be put off training in future.I think it is really unfair on current level 2s as they haven't a clue what their next year of training will entail.

Why are these things not finalised before putting in place, eg why not say new training from 2012 intake etc, what is the big hurry. The first year will be a nightmare as noone will know what they are doing.

Re: NVQ to diploma

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 21:34:57 GMT

I think it is totally unfair for mature students, this new fangled way of doing..... and they seem to be pushing it to the younger ones( no offence to the wee ones) which in my mind just reeks of EXPLOITATION!!!! soory but thats how I feel.

Again no offence intended, but as I was a mature student, and have worked with a lot of youngsters... I have to say the older generation in my mind are more likely to stick with it than the younger ones... and even more so than a 16 yr old is.... because as far as I am aware they have reduced the age.. sorry but what 16 yr old knows what the hell they want....

Mind you the RCVS is just trodding the same bloody path they always do.... get the cheap labour in the door, we might have them a few years before they either get bored, pregnant, or married!!!

Re: NVQ to diploma

xXx Cat xXx — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 21:26:20 GMT

[quote user="Dreamcatcher"]

I have to say, the whole situation sucks.

Unfair as it is to make currently enrolled students do an extra year, I would imagine that this is perfectly legal because technically the current NVQ3 is a 'different' course from NVQ2, rather than one big level 3 qualification. So I'm mostly expecting them to tell us just to 'lump it', because technically they haven't changed us in the middle of a qualification, but rather 'between' qualifications. (Which as we all know is utter cr*p because, really, what can you do with an NVQ2 in Veterinary nursing? Nothing that you couldn't already do before we had even started the course!). I don't really know where we stand on this, I'm pretty sure there's nothing we can do about it, except hold a grudge against the RCVS forever, which they seem to be quite good at getting people to do.

Anyhow, the small glimmer of hope I've had is that it *might* be possible to finish the course within the year, as it is currently. This could possibly be done by covering some of the course content with extra assignments, which would mean working extra hard next year. Far from ideal though.

I'm still really angry about this, but at the same time we have to consider ourselves a bit lucky in a way because I fear there may be lots of mature students who may now not be able to get into Vet Nursing because of all of this, so I guess we just have to plough on through and be grateful that we do at least have the chance to qualify. It's still bang out of order though.

xxx

[/quote]

Well said Dreamcatcher I feel the same way. im a mature student who already feels discriminated against by the Goverment who do not give me funding. I am lucky that my dad pays my course fees as I coulnt afford to and my college would let me pay in installments.

Its not just the RCVS it is the Goverment aswell I am lead to belive as they don't want to fund NVQ's any more.

I realise this doesn't help the situation and as you say I to am angry about it but they wont change their minds so im looking at it like this we will be the first Diploma Nurses through the system and our hard work will count towards becoming a qualified nurse and with the support of our college's, VNAC's and out TP's we will make great nurses.

xXx

Re: NVQ to diploma

Dreamcatcher — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 21:12:26 GMT

I have to say, the whole situation sucks.

xxx

Re: NVQ to diploma

Fiona Leathers — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 20:03:59 GMT

I thought anyone on the NVQ route had 3 years to finish doing it?

Re: NVQ to diploma

Jenny Cook RVN — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:24:00 GMT

[quote user="NickyVN"]

It seems so unfair that those that are doing NVQ 2 will have to swop to new scheme - they should be allowed to continue as they ae till they qualify

[/quote]

I totally agree!!

Re: NVQ to diploma

Nicola Smith — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 09:37:00 GMT

It seems so unfair that those that are doing NVQ 2 will have to swop to new scheme - they should be allowed to continue as they ae till they qualify

All this hassle puts me off taking more trainees in future, the goalposts keep being moved!!

Re: NVQ to diploma

loobylou — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 21:58:25 GMT

Had a meeting at our local course provider today re rcvs's intentions.
Seems clear as mud

It seems they have decided what they want and are going to plough ahead with it reagrdless of feedback from those that matter.
Im waiting for the notes to be emailed so I can make some sense of it but it seems that unless you are 16-18 funding will be a huge issue. It is one big level 3 qualification so instead of getting funding for level 2 and level 3, the colleges will now just get one level 3 allocation of funding. This could potentially have to last for 3 years.
It seems the framework has been changed to incorporate the governments wish to keep kids in 'school' until aged 18.
Although mature students can still do the course, it will take a year longer and practices will have to stump up in full for training costs.

[quote user="Jenny Cook"]

[quote user="zookeeper"]

Students that started there NVQ 2 in Sept, they are doing there 2nd year under the new training! I was told this at college on Monday.

[/quote]

Oh that sucks... i started my NVQ2 in sept 2009... If thats true and goes ahead, i will not be happy being messed around... and my practice certainly wouldnt like to 'lose' a nurse to go and do practical training elsewhere... besides i dont want to work with horses or exotics, etc etc...

[/quote]

Those who are due to start the NVQ level 3 this september will have to go onto the new framework. The rcvs still dont know how they are going to 'merge' the qualification and it could potentially take longer than 1 year.
Those who have already started the NVQ level 3 or are waiting to take resits have until 2013 to pass the old style exams.

I have to say instead of encouraging more TP's and more starting training, I am expecting an even greater shortage as practices are actually put off training.
I personally am thinking its going to be more hassle than its worth.

Re: NVQ to diploma

Jenny Cook RVN — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 21:14:49 GMT

[quote user="zookeeper"]

Students that started there NVQ 2 in Sept, they are doing there 2nd year under the new training! I was told this at college on Monday.

[/quote]

Re: NVQ to diploma

zookeeper — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 19:24:21 GMT

NVQ 2 students who pass and started in January, will def not be doing NVQ 3. Students who started there 2nd yr (NVQ3 Sept/Jan will carry on with it the NVQ way.

Students that started there NVQ 2 in Sept, they are doing there 2nd year under the new training! I was told this at college on Monday.

Sarah

Re: NVQ to diploma

MrsP — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:19:39 GMT

I happened to be talking to an iv at my students' college on Monday and she mentioned in passing me 'not having to assess my student for much longer' (ie only this year) and she's NVQ 2. I was under the impression that she could finish her VN training under the NVQ system but something tells me this has now changed.

Re: NVQ to diploma

Anonymous — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:11:19 GMT

[quote user="xXx Cat xXx"]

Thank you it's nice to know Im not the only one.

I am a mature student so I pay my own fees ect and there is no way I can afford to go to college 2 days a week as I also need to be able to work. I also feel all the hard work I will have put in to my portfolio this year will be for nothing.

I have emailed my college principle explaining my panic and stress about this so look forward to her reply.

Also I hope we dont have to go to another practice to do equine or large animal as I have absolutly no inclination to work with in these sectors of the profession (no offense intended to nurses that do)

xXx

[/quote]

I'm in a similar boat. After becoming ill and stepping out of the ANA job i had i can no longer expect to start my SVN course in a practice and now will have to wait til i can afford to pay for uni. being american i don't qualify for the grants. So i'm going to stay in the medical sector and do some human carer work locally and save up. I'm also keeping my hand in the jar working with horses teaching riding lessons to the disabled and helping out at the RDA. It won't be small animal but it's better than working in Tescos or doing what i went to school for originally which is as a music therapy councilor and equine science minor. I've got all the science courses!! but need all the nursing stuff lol I waited this long since my mum went ill, thought i might catch a break when she went to rest. But oh well, I'm trying to keep focused and not let it get me down.

Re: NVQ to diploma

Caro Laithwaite VN — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:27:12 GMT

claire millington on the "vetnurse survey " thread is communications officer for rcvs.. so you should be able to grab her go via her name in pvt or post on the survey thread with a link to here either way.. just a vague thought.

Re: NVQ to diploma

Nick Shackleton — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:15:24 GMT

[quote user="NickyVN"]

I have an NVQ2 student and I thought she could just carry on to do NVQ 3 as normal. Not heard anything from the VNAC about whats happening yet. Very confused. This is not good - we need something finalised so we all know where we stand!!

[/quote]

If they already enrolled thought they could continue until they qualified????

Re: NVQ to diploma

Nicola Smith — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:42:09 GMT

Re: NVQ to diploma

xXx Cat xXx — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:52:39 GMT

Thanks for the info DreamCatcher.

Not sure im gonna like more praticle based exams though. Oh well we will just have to watch this space and see what happens.

xXx

Re: NVQ to diploma

loobylou — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:43:34 GMT

I have a meeting with our local vnac tomorrow so hpoing to find out some useful information.
Will update if I can make sense of it

Re: NVQ to diploma

Dreamcatcher — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:14:47 GMT

I rang the RCVS earlier today, as was getting frustrated with the lack of information about this on the website.

Apparently the rumours are true: NVQ2 students will have 'til 2012 to pass NVQ2, but once they have passed that will then be transferred onto the new course to complete the new level 3 qualification. (Current NVQ3 students have 'til 2013 to qualify) We won't have to study any modules that we've already learnt, but there is the possibility that the course could take longer than the current 2 years. I asked the lady about this, she didn't seem sure herself and told me it would be upto my VNAC to decide how they are going to structure all of this. I asked if there would be our final exams in the summer like the current system (because surely that's more of an RCVS area rather than something that's down to our college?) but I didn't get a straight answer to be honest. She tried to sound positive "No portfolio!" but then told me the exams would be more practical based. Lucky us.

I rang my college and they seem about as delighted over all of this as I am.... they don't have much information themselves at the moment, but hopefully they'll sort something a bit more reasonable out! I am going to be mightily piddled-off if I am forced to spend a third year at college! I just want to be qualified already :(

xxx

Re: NVQ to diploma

Jenny Cook RVN — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:53:29 GMT

I have read somewhere (cant remember now) that if students are already enrolled on the NVQ then they are allowed to complete it and have until 2012/13 to complete it and qualify.

I am currently studying the Apprenticeship NVQ2 at sparsholt college, and i would not be happy if the course changed halfway through. I feel it would completly mess things up for current students.

[quote user="sal the 1st"]

if anybody from the RCVS comes on here or anybody from the BVNA perhaps they would be able to provide a bit more information on this

[/quote]

Agree with Sal, any other advice would be helpful.

Re: NVQ to diploma

Sal the 1st — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 10:00:20 GMT

if anybody from the RCVS comes on here or anybody from the BVNA perhaps they would be able to provide a bit more information on this

Re: NVQ to diploma

Dreamcatcher — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:45:09 GMT

No pressure then! Lol

Re: NVQ to diploma

xXx Cat xXx — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:26:01 GMT

we cant fail I guess its not an option

xXx