Job change...Vet nurse maybe?

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Rosehip

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Im looking at changing my job as Im feeling stuck in a rut and my brain is turning to mush! I have some qualifications but not great ones, does anyone know what I would need to train as a large animal (pref horses and sheep - Im terrified of cows!!) vet nurse, and how much it would cost me to train?
Ponderings and musings! Cheers in advance!
 
I've applied for a VN-ing course starting in Sept and the fee is £500 for the year. Think you need 4 or 5 GCSE's.

ETS .. Theres an Animal nurse assistant course or the RCVS level 3 Award in Veterinay nursing (i applied for this one) :D
 
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U will need to get employed in a vet practice which is also a 'training practice' which has met certain requirements to train vet nurses. U will be trained in house and also complete some time at college. You will have to complete a portfolio where your assessor in the vet practice will assist your written practical work. I did not pay for my training the vet practice does but you usually have to agree to stay with the practice for a certain amount of time following completing your training! You will have to complete written and practical exams. It was nearly 3 years since I've qualified and think it has already changed, if you have any other questions PM me if you want.
 
Thanks very much for all replies!
I have a few GCSE's with pretty poor grades, and did re-takes at college to get better grades, I have also got an NVQ Level 2 in Admin and have completed an accountancy course at night school, so not without qualifications, but not exactly brain of britain! :)

In all honesty Im not sure I would be able to do veterinary nursing, I dont know if Im clever enough and I dont know if anyone round here (Were out in the sticks a bit) would employ me, especially on an nvq type basis.
Im stuck in a horrible rut where Im too scared to leave my current job to re-train or take another job, but I cant afford to stay at my current job as I only do 16 hours and there is little chance of extra work..... its a tough situation and Im winge-ing!!
 
As chesnut mare says it has already changed. You no longer do a portfolio it is all practical assessments in your employed vet practice. You have to have a "training coach" within your practice that is a qualified VN or vet for longer than a year to sign off set practical tasks. Plus written and practical exams thoughout your training which now tasks 3 years.
The qualification changed from an NVQ to a Diploma end of last year, this is the first year of this new way of training so think alot of things are still very unclear as no-one has completed in this new format yet!
It is difficult to get into a training practice as a trainee nurse as these positions are very sought after, we have Animal nursing assistants (ANA's) that will move up to trainee nurse when a place becomes available in the practice i.e when one of the trainees qualifies!

Also most jobs are for small animal nurses.

Hope this helps and I haven't just rambled!!

Good luck if you decide to go for it!
 
spotless said:
As chesnut mare says it has already changed. You no longer do a portfolio it is all practical assessments in your employed vet practice. You have to have a "training coach" within your practice that is a qualified VN or vet for longer than a year to sign off set practical tasks. Plus written and practical exams thoughout your training which now tasks 3 years.
The qualification changed from an NVQ to a Diploma end of last year, this is the first year of this new way of training so think alot of things are still very unclear as no-one has completed in this new format yet!
It is difficult to get into a training practice as a trainee nurse as these positions are very sought after, we have Animal nursing assistants (ANA's) that will move up to trainee nurse when a place becomes available in the practice i.e when one of the trainees qualifies!

Also most jobs are for small animal nurses.

Hope this helps and I haven't just rambled!!

Good luck if you decide to go for it!
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Thanks very much! Ive just been told by a friend to grow a set and call my local equine practice - one of the partners was last years Vet of the Year....Im now going into head in sand, crawl under a rock phase!
Thanks everyone for all your advice :)
 
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