Equine Veterinary Nursing

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Ezme

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Hi, well I have one more year left of uni and am starting to think about the biggie of what am I going to do with my life after my stalling technique (uni) is over!

I want to do something with horses but stable hand isn't really a long term career. (no offence) Plus i've worked in a driving stables for 8 years and have come to the conclusion that my back can't take it, although i know there is a fair amount of physical work involved in nursing. I did A2 chem, phys, maths, philosohy + ethics and will hopefully have a Ba(hons) in Philosophy and Politics by this time next year. I was thinking of being a equine vet nurse. I did go to my local vets and ask them but they wern't to much help to be honest as one was a small animal and other was just starting so I have a few questions:

Should I be a "normal" vet nurse then specialise in equine? I was thinking to be more general to start with would help with job opertunities but then again there is a completely seperate eqine vet nurse qualification.

Is it better to go to college or get a job at a practice then work through the quals? The college course I was looking at at dutchy releases you 2 days a week so i would have the practical experience and not be usless like some college grads.

What about other suggestions? I looked at nutrition, chiros/psysio etc but qual wants biology A2 which would take me 2 years to do. I did get a AA at Higher GCSE science tho which would get me onto vet nursing.

Next time i'm in ilfracombe i'm going to go to charter vet group who have a equine hospital but i want to find out as much as I can first (already tralled the RCVS and BEVN websites) and hopefully have some intelligent questions!

Thanks guys!
 
I did SA Vet nursing, all you need to to start training as a VN/EVN is 5 GSCE's grade C or above.

When I looked into swapping over to EVN, there are not a huge amount of practices that will take anyone with no experience in nursing. There are loads of people that want the job (generally) so they can pick the most suitable or though there are training practices (TP's) out there so it is possible.

From the nurses that were studying at uni and then doing placements at practices - they are generally useless (i'm really sorry to anybody who did it this way). Quite often they have the knowledge but no practical skills what so ever, practices usually faced with a Student who went through degree course v's worked and got quals 9 times out of ten will go for the one who learnt on the job.

If I can be of anymore help let me know
 
<font color="blue"> Hi Ezme,

I worked at the RVC Equine Referral Hosp as a Nurse 2yrs ago, before I had my first baby.

I started out as a Small Animal Nurse. I then started doing some locum work and was asked for by the RVC to go and work for them. There is a shortage of EVN, more so than the SAVN. The equine work has been the best type of work I have ever done and if I ever have to go back to work, I would love to go back to being an EVN... there is nothing else I would want to do!

Kate
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[ QUOTE ]
From the nurses that were studying at uni and then doing placements at practices - they are generally useless (i'm really sorry to anybody who did it this way). Quite often they have the knowledge but no practical skills what so ever, practices usually faced with a Student who went through degree course v's worked and got quals 9 times out of ten will go for the one who learnt on the job.

[/ QUOTE ]

<font color="blue"> I am sorry to say I agree 100%..... I do not want to upset anyone but it is so true. </font>
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
From the nurses that were studying at uni and then doing placements at practices - they are generally useless (i'm really sorry to anybody who did it this way). Quite often they have the knowledge but no practical skills what so ever, practices usually faced with a Student who went through degree course v's worked and got quals 9 times out of ten will go for the one who learnt on the job.

[/ QUOTE ]

<font color="blue"> I am sorry to say I agree 100%..... I do not want to upset anyone but it is so true. </font>

[/ QUOTE ]

I know its an awful thing to say, but from what I hear its not the only proffesion (sp)
 
Yay, this is much more positive than the people I spoke to at my local vet.

I thought seeing as I have a year to go anyway I could get in my local equine hospitals good books (they're a training practice too, how lucky am I!) and maybe do some volenteering let them get to know me etc. And hopefully i could get a jump start on when there is a spot avaliable. Oh and I got A*, 7 A's and 3C's at GCSE so i'll be fine.

I know what you mean about the college people. My friend chose her human nursing course specifically because of how much time shes on placement so she has the practical skills and the degree to back her up. (shes great, did my blood pressure the other day and I barely noticed! I know thats lo key but she knows so much already (told me how my epilespsy meds are going to kill me...) and i've seen her report cards!) My mum was complaining about people with no skills last night too.
 
Thats they way we use to find all the students, people who did work experience and stuff - def the way to go, but sometimes not the nicest jobs to do!

Good luck, great job but Sh*te money, hours and work load.
 
Right i'm off to Charter vet group then in the next week or two. Or i'll e-mail them first. I was thinking of taking a year/ 6 months off after uni so i can do work exp then, of not this summer.

I've heard about the money. I've been told that a top vet nurse in devon will earn no more than 16k. And thats for one with years of experience with umpteen nurses below her... I'll just have to marry a vet while I'm there!
 
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