Neurology

Re: Neurology

Kim — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 22:42:09 GMT

I am currently doing my training at a referal practice in the West Midlands. I am orginally from Preston in Lancashire, so I could have been doing my training at Myerscough, We could have been doing the course together if I hadn't moved LOL. Is there by any chance a lovely girl called Emma on your course, she is in her first year also.

Anyways I have worked in this referral practice now for 2 years, we see lots of orthopedic, Neuro, Medicine, Soft Tissue, ophthalmic and 1st op cases. Its a great practice. We sometimes get nurses and vets who want to see practice and they choose which section they want to see. Neuro tends to have a lot of interest, they go away having learnt lots.

Currently haven't seen any surgery yet as the practice have decided we should learn all the general nursing stuff first and move on to this in the second year, but I do get to do all the post op care after them having spinal surgery. Seeing them making improvements day by day or even walking straight away is amazing.

I love it, great place to be doing my training, I learn so much

Re: Neurology

zara — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 14:44:11 GMT

hi i dont work in neuro but i worked in a first op practice for 6 years where i done my training as a VN, then my first job I applied for when i qualified was at a referral practice which I am still at.

We do opthalmology and as the same with neuro during the training as a vn you dont do much - i learned all mine through the vets and the head nurse ref conditions, drugs and how to use all the machines for the anaesthetics - scary world but it does work out.

good luck

Re: Neurology

Nick Shackleton — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 17:18:38 GMT

[quote user="Nick Shackleton"]

have you looked at the rehab cert run by CPD Solutions?

With not being in veterinary practice full time only seem to see the courses that are in my local area.

http://www.cpd-solutions.com/nurses/nurse-subjectarea.php

I don't think there is an actual qualification in neuro for nurses.

Maybe ask your vets to do some in house CPD. My old work colleagues used to do this regularly to help improve nurses knowledge and skills. Good luck with it

[/quote]

you might be interested in this the Association of Internal Medicine for Vet. Techs (American based) group have a cert for neuro nurses. American quals are become more accessible to english VNs. why not drop them a line

http://www.aimvt.com/application-information

Re: Neurology

Nick Shackleton — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 16:55:53 GMT

have you looked at the rehab cert run by CPD Solutions?

With not being in veterinary practice full time only seem to see the courses that are in my local area.

http://www.cpd-solutions.com/nurses/nurse-subjectarea.php

I don't think there is an actual qualification in neuro for nurses.

Maybe ask your vets to do some in house CPD. My old work colleagues used to do this regularly to help improve nurses knowledge and skills. Good luck with it

Re: Neurology

Karen Church — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 13:33:56 GMT

Hi Nick, i too have worked for the past 5 years in referral practice with orthopaedics and spinal specialists, and have been recently appionted the posistion of neurology nurse to work with 2 neurology diplomats. i wondered if you knew of any courses or even cpd that would be helpfull for me to expand my knowledge and maybe gain qualifications in this area.

many thanks Karen

Re: Neurology

Sophie — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:43:16 GMT

Last summer i had the worst headache, it came on so suddenly, my lip and right hand went numb, starting to tingle bla bla. Went the docs who sent me to the hosp as my heart was racing! I think they al thort i was on drugs to be honest. Admitted to a ward to stay in over night for close obs, MRI scan and a lumbar puncture! Turn out to be atypical migraine. I thought the lumbar puncture was fabo! It killed but it was so interesting.

Thought id share my tale

Re: Neurology

Nick Shackleton — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:36:21 GMT

[quote user="SmegSlayer"]

[quote user="Nick Shackleton"]

[quote user="SmegSlayer"]

Love doing neuro exams but spinal sx freaks me out

[/quote]

Amazing thou! I love looking at MRIs of spinal cords

[/quote]

i prefer brains...

[/quote]

Human MRIs quite interesting too!

Re: Neurology

SmegSlayer — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:35:22 GMT

[quote user="Nick Shackleton"]

[quote user="SmegSlayer"]

Love doing neuro exams but spinal sx freaks me out

[/quote]

Amazing thou! I love looking at MRIs of spinal cords

[/quote]

i prefer brains...

Re: Neurology

Sophie — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:33:18 GMT

It all sounds so fascinating!

Re: Neurology

Nick Shackleton — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:30:59 GMT

[quote user="SmegSlayer"]

Love doing neuro exams but spinal sx freaks me out

[/quote]

Amazing thou! I love looking at MRIs of spinal cords

Re: Neurology

SmegSlayer — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:29:44 GMT

Love doing neuro exams but spinal sx freaks me out

Re: Neurology

Nick Shackleton — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:24:14 GMT

[quote user="Sophie"]

We mainly refer neuro cases to Chester Gates and sometimes Uni of Lpool. I might just contact chester gates directly to see what they advise! I'll take on board any tips!

[/quote]

Am sure they'll help you out. Am sure if you ask Steph nicely she might tell you of any lectures coming on neurology (She is BVNA RCO) are there is one up your way too, her name escapes me thou

Re: Neurology

Sophie — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:16:23 GMT

We mainly refer neuro cases to Chester Gates and sometimes Uni of Lpool. I might just contact chester gates directly to see what they advise! I'll take on board any tips!

Re: Neurology

Nick Shackleton — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:09:39 GMT

To be honest most of my knowledge, practical skills I learnt over the last 7 years or so first working for a 1st op/referral centre, then moving to 100% referral centre. I did undertake the advanced diploma (jsut sat practicals and awaiting results ), there are plenty of course out there on neuro/ortho nursing. My old practice run free CPD evenings, they did one on 'Nursing The Spinal Patient'

Have you looked at BVNA or BSAVA Congress. think there are a few lectures on neuro nursing. Your not that far from my old practice, so prob refer to them (North West Surgeon). Maybe worth asking your boss to put in a good word if you wish to gain more experience in this area! It's an amazing practice and everyone is warm and friendly and willing to teach.

Most of the nurses bar a few of us had no prior referral experience before they joined the practice. Now they are amazing at their job (but maybe that's due to the help, support and in-house teaching they received

Re: Neurology

Sophie — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 18:50:32 GMT

Right now i work at a small animal 1st op practice, im in my last year, level 3 at Myerscough.

Obviously we learn the basics in college with regards to neuro and i know i would have to do further training but would that be before i apply or do they provide the training. I know experierence goes a long way, do u think many ref centres would be willing to take me on for say a few days or a week in the summer (during my hols) for work exp ?

Re: Neurology

Nick Shackleton — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 18:40:21 GMT

I spent the last 5.5 years in neuro/ortho referral practice, plus soft tissue, and internal medicine

Any questions fire them at me

Re: Neurology

Sophie — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 18:30:21 GMT

Oh really. I just wanna be behind the scenes all day every day ha. Reception duties, generating + processing orders does not excite me, its not me.

Re: Neurology

Steph Worsley — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 18:22:28 GMT

yup (although fortunate may not be the word i'd use lol) i work for the internal medicine department but we have a neuro team, i know they would love to have a service dependant nurse but i dont think funding is there at the mo :(

ask me anything and i'll try to answer