A good course?

Re: A good course?

Claire Cameron — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:30:43 GMT

Straight after my GCSEs I completed the ND in Animal Management and gained masses of experience. I really recommend it as a stepping stone and a precursor for knowledge prior to training to become a VN

Re: A good course?

Vicky RVN — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:15:05 GMT

I did the ND in Animal Care and loved it. I found it a really good course to get a basic knowledge on a variety of animals. And it def helped me to get my job. From my experience it's a well recognised course by vets. A lot of nurses i know have done it before becoming a nurse.

Re: A good course?

Lynn Perry — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:19:59 GMT

First tip, don't give up! Veterinary is ruthlessly competitive and you've really got to keep persevering. I've spent the best part of two years trying to find a trainee nurse position (as university isn't the optimal choice for me). With the changes coming to the VN qualification, you could consider looking for a practise that will be willing to take you on unpaid as the new requirements state that whilst you no longer HAVE to be a paid employee, you can be working in a practise as an unpaid placement (which may be more enticing to practises).

Make sure your CV is up to date and keep sending it out to practises around you. I usually make the rounds every few months as CVs *do* get filed away and forgotten about. It's not intentional, practises are just very very busy!

Get some sort of experience under your belt. Experience means everything! When sending out my CV I usually tack on a note along the lines of 'if you have no current positions available, I would be very interested in being considered for a short period of work experience as a means to experience day to day pratise life'. Alternatively, see what rescue centers are near you. Do any of them need volunteers? If you have an interest in the veterinary field, they usually love to have you on board. When you do get a placement (give it time, it does happen!) do whatever you can to show that you're comitted. I spent 5 days in a practise and did whatever I was asked without complaint. At the end of those 5 days, the vet 'in charge' told me that I was to be put on their trainee nurse waiting list. Make an impression, you never know what it'll bring you.

As for the animal management course, there's a very good chance that it possibly won't get you closer to nursing, but at the same time, there's the chance that it might. Look at it this way, would you rather spend the next year sitting at home hoping that someone offers you an interview for a position or would you rather be out there doing something in a similar field, keeping your mind occupied and being around people who might have some good contacts? Personally, I'd choose the latter. In fact it's what I'm doing right now.

Good luck and keep trying!

Re: A good course?

Katie B — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 23:32:15 GMT

If you can afford to try to get your placement voluntary and get a part time job, you will be able to do the ANA qualification. I have been looking for a full time paid position in a vets for a whole year and their has been nothing. So instead of waiting another year I decided that I would do it voluntary. The animal Diploma won't get you any nearer to becoming a vet nurse. Try volunteering at a vets one day a week or an rspca/blue cross shelter and ask to help with the animal care. Hope this helps.

Re: A good course?

Nick Shackleton — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 18:48:02 GMT

I did the 1st diploma at college and althou I had this qualification along with 4 GCSEs at C I still had to do the Pre-VN course (now ANA or VCA) qualification prior to enrolling as an SVN. Although, having said that my friend did the 1st Dip and got accepted to NVQ training. The modules are good. I did ny work experience at a vets and really enjoyed. If you can afford to go to college for two years I would advise going for the National Diploma as you'll be able to go straight on to nursing.

Good luck

Re: A good course?

Nicola Russell — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 18:41:04 GMT

I studied the BTEC ND in Animal Care and found it great, there were modules of animal health and animal nursing which I found helpful. I then went on to do a degree in animal science, care and management but still cannot find a position in a veterinary surgery as apparantly I do not have enough experience!

Re: A good course?

Tracy Windler RVN — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 13:30:21 GMT

I know alot of people who studied animal care qualifications, like BTec ND Animal Management / 1st Dip in Animal Care, in order to be studying something relevant while they looked for a training placement.

There are the advantages that they often allow you work experience days, or blocks, which you can use to see practice in.

I think most people place a lot of importance on presentation, confidence and good writing/grammar skills too.

Re: A good course?

NJ M — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 11:29:44 GMT

the national diploma in animal management?

Re: A good course?

Maisy — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 10:26:15 GMT

It would be a useful course so you can get some experience as you do need to do work experience with this. I don't think it can be used as a direct route to the VN course though whereas the National Diploma can be providing you get top grades in certain modules and I think you would learn more doing this course if you can.

Re: A good course?

NJ M — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 09:43:29 GMT

nope i dont

Re: A good course?

paula morgan — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 21:50:50 GMT

Have you got your ANA qualification x