Nursing course- now 3 years :(

Re: Nursing course- now 3 years :(

Jenny Cook RVN — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 19:09:14 GMT

Well was my first day back at college today after completing my NVQ level 2. Got my certificate today and my portoflio handed back! yey... Lots to take in today. Booklets and paperwork everywhere! By sounds of it, wont be fully qualified till possibly March 2012 onwards!!!! Grrr. (Bear in mind, If it was the NVQ still i could be of been qualified by roughly september 2011 if i passed L3 exams, etc!)

I think i have theory paper in July 2011... consisting of 135 questions and 135 mins to do it in (2 hours and 15 mins). College said they have enrolled us for a further 2 years, even though they only plan on an extra 6 months of the course which would start sept 2011.

Dont know much about the NPL yet, think they are still waiting for info and passwords etc.
Lectures start properly next thursday, although im NOT liking the idea of a session called functional skills... Similar to key skills apparantly, so it incorporates your practice work into college work, for example maths and calculations... the calculations would be directly related to working practice - drug doses and fluid rates, etc.
I find it kinda pointless myself cos according to the timetable we have it runs from 5pm-7pm!!! A long college day 9am-7pm and that doesnt include travelling time either way!

Anyways, will give more info on it as and when i know it, lol

Re: Nursing course- now 3 years :(

Kim — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 18:30:22 GMT

I have just started the new RCVS Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nurising (as the course is now known) I started two weeks ago and my college is pretty organised and seem to know what they doing. I also have my clinical coach, who has been on the training.

The first year is about assignments and exams, so lots of theory. No portofolio anymore, YEAH!!! then the second year is based on practicals.

You can complete the course in 2 years or 3 years. If you want to do it in 2 years, then must colleges have to do an extended day. I'm at college one day a week from 9.30am - 7.30am. Or you can opt for 3 years which is one day at college over the 3 years so e.g. 9.30am - 4.30am.

We are classed as guinea pigs and there well be a few teathing problems at first, but all will be fine. Its just the long day at college which will take a while to get used. I don't think the tutor is to happy about doing it, but she stays cheery and positive about it.

Re: Nursing course- now 3 years :(

NuttyNu — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 18:30:32 GMT

[quote user="jodie andrews"]

I've just done L2 and am at Bicton college. We have to take an extra half a year to qualify, still at one day a week. We have had no other information than that really.My assessor has no clue about the new online log thing,neither do I! We just have to trust it will all work out in the end?

[/quote]

I am in the same boat as you but i have exams in November and start (Hopefully!) my second year in Jan. But no-one seems to know anything at the moment. We are not being told what is available to us if we fail because "we wont fail" (well, thats what we're being told!) but i think it is partially because they have no idea! I am just going with the flow of knowing nothing... I have been told so many possibilities and then being told they are not going to happen, I feel completely confused.

We were told on our first day that it was no longer a 2 year course but 3 years. We were told the 3rd year would not take a full year though. The only thing i seem to like about it is that the practicals are at the end of the third year and not soon after your final exams!

Re: Nursing course- now 3 years :(

emma king — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:00:33 GMT

I start my new job in 2 weeks and start college in january. The least of my worries is harvard referencing. And anyway, after a while it just becomes natural to reference like that. It isn't hard.

*excited* :-)

Re: Nursing course- now 3 years :(

ginny — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 22:11:17 GMT

Like Nick said the Harvard system is a pretty standard method of referencing. I used it for my DipAVN as well.

I have to say, with absolute honesty, that if i can grasp this then anyone can!!!

Re: Nursing course- now 3 years :(

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:31:59 GMT

One thing I will find entertaining ... is that some, .........and all in my work will have no clue as to what harvard referencing is.... even though they are deemed to be assessors! or whatever they are called now! ah well let the games begin.. I am sure there will be so much questions asked, and as soon as they are answered,, the VN dept will have to earn their wage again and think of some other "way" of teaching veterinary nursing!

Re: Nursing course- now 3 years :(

SharonSP — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 23:10:57 GMT

[quote user="Stuart McQueen RVN MBVNA"]

[quote user="icklesal"]

[quote user="Stuart McQueen RVN MBVNA"]

they are technically called clinical assignments... like the assessors are clinical coaches... blah blah... lots of change that dont really seem to be that thought through!

[/quote]

I read on the rcvs quidelines that its basically an online log which basically doesnt include writing alot down. I will find out soon enough i guess....

[/quote]

the assisgments are college lead... but build towards - what i understand as - an unofficial portfolio... students already do a communication one thats 1000 words, that'll increase to 3500 words... and then it's a bit hazy - sounds to me like that the student has to do about 4-8 assignments each 5000 words... they have to be written as proper reports... and "harvard referenced"... this is where i'll be a hopeless coach... i'm rubbish at that kinda stuff...give me a good ol fashioned case log any day!

I do understand the need to the change. and the online log seems really simple and straighforward to use. but i worry that people will do stuff because they are shown to do it and now have that knowledge and understand of WHY they are doing it!? if that makes sense....

[/quote]

Let me clarify the assignments before people start to panic!

Firstly, the assignments are set by the RCVS and not the training college so don't blame them for any of this! Day Release and Full time students will have to complete 5 assignments and transition students complete 4 assigments. (the communication assigment was already completed at NVQ2)
Each assignent is "academic writing" and therefore is presented, contain reflective comments and incorporate referencing using the Harvard system. (Check out www.neilstoolbox.com for a cheats way to do it!) 10 cases will need to be gathered throughout the training period to assist with writing of this assignments. 1 assignment is the communication essay and yes the word count has increased from 1000 words to 3,500 words, but to be honest, this should be easier to write as most students struggle to keep the word count low. Another assignment is based on four surgical peri-operative carecase logs and contains minor, abdominal and orthopaedic cases. Another is medical, including an infectious case, chronic illness and terminal illness and showing your nursing care (incorporating models of nursing). Another is an emergency & critical care assignment and finally the one I feel most will find the worst is a 3,500 word essay on legislation and regulation in the profession. This assignment is the only part of the diploma award that is aimed at level 4, wheras the rest of the award is level 3. The good news is that you won't be examined on these units as they are assessed via assignments. The pass mark for these assignments is 50%. You will only have to make detailed notes for yourself with regards to the cases you are involved in, ready to write the essays.
What is also extra are three embedded exams (set by individual colleges with RCVS guidelines) and these are taken at your training college over your training period (whatever that may be). All of these assigments and internal exams have to be completed and passed before entering for the OSCE exams.

Hope this helps!

Re: Nursing course- now 3 years :(

jodieandrews — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 19:54:10 GMT

Re: Nursing course- now 3 years :(

Jenny Cook RVN — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 16:12:06 GMT

[quote user="icklesal"]

Those that start this year are like guinea pigs, im not bothered as long as i get my qualification

[/quote]

so true and same here... doing the transitional course, i think it could well be f***ed right up with them wantingv to change or not knowing whats going on if we have any problems, etc... so i now have another year and a half left of training hopefully until im qualified. bring it on!! Im not looking forward to assignments though, im crap at written work like that.

Re: Nursing course- now 3 years :(

Nick Shackleton — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 15:08:23 GMT

[quote user="Kim Blowing RVN"]

[quote user="icklesal"]

What the heck is 'harvard referenced'?

[/quote]

It's a way of referencing within a written piece of work. I had to use it whilst doing my assignments for uni.

[/quote]

Had to do it for my Diploma too, shows that you got evidence to back up what you've said. and not just what you think is right.

Re: Nursing course- now 3 years :(

Sally Seddon — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 21:45:32 GMT

Ah right, i referenced everything for my ANA and for the stuff i did for my college course so it shouldnt be a problem.......i hope.

Those that start this year are like guinea pigs, im not bothered as long as i get my qualification

Re: Nursing course- now 3 years :(

lorraine wiggins — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 21:42:48 GMT

its just anyoying that they were payin for me but now they aint and expect someone on our wages can afford them.

i just wish they would make their minds up but tryin not to think about it coz ive got portfolio and exams to think about first!

Re: Nursing course- now 3 years :(

Stuart McQueen RVN MBVNA — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 21:38:56 GMT

it'll be like the portfolio - it was introduced one year - then changed, and then changed again, and they were finally getting somewhere with it... and decided it was time to scrap the whole idea...

I've tried to put one of my mates off starting this year because they'll change it again next year...

As for the fees going up - thats got something to do with scraping Lv2.. and making the whole thing a recognised Lv3 NVQ (or diploma)... so the RCVS don't get the Lv2 and Lv3 funding anymore...

Re: Nursing course- now 3 years :(

Kim Buckley — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 21:38:24 GMT

[quote user="icklesal"]

What the heck is 'harvard referenced'?

[/quote]

It's a way of referencing within a written piece of work. I had to use it whilst doing my assignments for uni.

Re: Nursing course- now 3 years :(

lorraine wiggins — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 21:32:56 GMT

im the same as u but a few months behind im taking my exams in nov. im hopin they go well but we will see.

i was havin my course paid for but now they wont as the fees have gone up soooo much ive had to go to the bank of mum and dad to help me out! but i ave no idea wot is goin on and i think its unfair that they dont seem to have a clue either but still want us to change, why cant we finish the portfolio then they can start this new course a fresh in sept??

i was told it would be one day a week but 1 yr and a extra term? i hate all this not knowing as it adds extra stress on! i was told it wasnt gona be as much work as the portfolio but now im thinkin it will be more. even tho its a load of time wasting cases the 2nd portfolio looks well more interesting than the 1st yr!

i feel the same the finishing line just keeps gettin further away and more expensive, without me mum and dads help id never be able to afford to live and pay my morgage!

wot college do u go 2? if i find out any more ill let u no but now im worried that i might get this letter saying its gona be 3 yrs now!! just no fair!

Re: Nursing course- now 3 years :(

Sal the 1st — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 21:27:21 GMT

[quote user="Stuart McQueen RVN MBVNA"]

lots of change that dont really seem to be that thought through!

[/quote]

nothing new there then!

Re: Nursing course- now 3 years :(

Sally Seddon — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 21:23:23 GMT

Oh no.......im crud at that sort of thing! I knew there would be assignments (altho i did forget until you said) but didnt realise the scale of them. What the heck is 'harvard referenced'?

I can see what your saying, im the sort of person who needs to know why im doing something!

Re: Nursing course- now 3 years :(

Stuart McQueen RVN MBVNA — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 21:19:30 GMT

[quote user="icklesal"]

[quote user="Stuart McQueen RVN MBVNA"]

they are technically called clinical assignments... like the assessors are clinical coaches... blah blah... lots of change that dont really seem to be that thought through!

[/quote]

I read on the rcvs quidelines that its basically an online log which basically doesnt include writing alot down. I will find out soon enough i guess....

[/quote]

Re: Nursing course- now 3 years :(

Sally Seddon — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 21:14:08 GMT

clearly i like to use the word.......basically hehe

Re: Nursing course- now 3 years :(

Sally Seddon — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 21:13:17 GMT

[quote user="Stuart McQueen RVN MBVNA"]

they are technically called clinical assignments... like the assessors are clinical coaches... blah blah... lots of change that dont really seem to be that thought through!

[/quote]

I read on the rcvs quidelines that its basically an online log which basically doesnt include writing alot down. I will find out soon enough i guess....

Re: Nursing course- now 3 years :(

Mrs Dot Dot — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 21:13:00 GMT

We are just taking on a student and before coming to work with us, she had signed up wih our VNAC to do the course over 2 years... 1st yr 2 days at college and 3 days a wk at a vet practice on placement and 2nd yr 1 day at college and 4 days at a vet practice on placement, where as now she is doing the course over 3 yrs... 1 day at college and 4 days working.... we can't afford to have a student at college 2 days a wk .... don't know if this is any help. Our VNAC is CAW, Huntingdon

Re: Nursing course- now 3 years :(

FINNIGAN — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 21:09:05 GMT

i think it depends on which college u attend, our newbie was enrolled at one college and that was for 2 years, now due to financing she is moving to another college this will now be a 3 year course!!

Re: Nursing course- now 3 years :(

Stuart McQueen RVN MBVNA — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 21:08:53 GMT

they are technically called clinical assignments... like the assessors are clinical coaches... blah blah... lots of change that dont really seem to be that thought through!

Re: Nursing course- now 3 years :(

Lynn Perry — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 21:08:01 GMT

I think the 2 year vs. 3 year might be a new change that is dependent on the practise that is employing you. I say that because the practise I'm waiting to hear from about an interview said the training would take 3 years, whilst another I know of said their training takes only 2.

Re: Nursing course- now 3 years :(

Sally Seddon — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 21:04:12 GMT

5000 case logs? i didnt think they were doin case logs anymore, im confused (which doesnt take much!)

It must be annoying for you but keep goin you will get there