I want to become a Veterinary Nurse...

wilykit

Hi,

I currently work as a waitress but I really want to become a Veterinary Nurse, I am going to contact my local careers advice but I wondered if anyone could give me advice on here?

I can't afford to come out of work so I will need to study whilst working, any advice or tips would be appreciated

Anyone else been in this situation and managed to get their dream job??

xx

Dunroamin

You might find this useful.

http://www.bvna.org.uk/smartweb/careers/careers

wilykit

Thanks, I've looked on the site but I still don't know where to start if that makes sense?
x

dizzyrascal

It is an extremely popular career so you will need some luck and patience and you cannot do the training part time.
If you really want to do this there are two routes, full time college or working full time with Veterinary Practice and training on a day-release basis over 2 years. Not all practices are training practices and many people work as unqualified Veterinary nurses. You might get great experience going down this route but you will need to be qualified if you intend to make a career out of it.
You will need some GCSE's to get in to the college part and in practice, it is so popular, be aware that you might have to compete against people with A levels or even a degree.
The most popular route is getting taken on at a veterinary practice which offers the training. It might help if they already know you, either through work-shadowing or as a part of their support staff.
BTW it's hard work, long hours and not especially well paid but obviously the job can be personally very rewarding.
In the meantime you need to get some exposure to more animals and environments than your own pets. Help out at your local City Farm, volunteer at a pet rescue centre. There is obviously a dark side to working with animals. (pets get abandoned, badly treated or get fatally injured). Vets will need to see that you are aware of this and that you don't just think it is just a chance to play with fluffy animals.
You will need good customer service skills which will include working in very upsetting environments such as dealing with upset clients (and sometimes angry ones). And you will have to be prepared to be flexible and work evenings and weekends. It is an emergency service after all.

pawsies

Just to add onto the above point:

I would recommend getting experience at your local vet, just to see if you understand what is involved/whether you could cope.

Then politely enquire as to any vacancies that may be coming up (obviously if they are making redundancies then it wouldn't be a good time!).

If you could get them to pay your training costs that would put you in a better position. Most courses as well will require you to have work experience alongside your course and as stated, it is competitive.

TadleyBaggie

My daughter also wanted to be a veterinary nurse, so she started along the animal management degree route. Along the way she did work experience at a vet surgery, after that she decided that wan't what she wanted (seeing too many animals in distress having to be put down).

wilykit

It sounds like its going to be a lot of hard work, but I am prepared to do it. I know it isn't the best paid job but its something I have always wanted to do and that is more important to me than being in a better paid job that I probably won't enjoy.

I've got the GCSEs and I used to help out at my local animal shelter (still do when I get the chance when I'm not at work). I also work in my friend's pet shop once a week too.

Thanks for all you advice and I will contact a careers advice service today.

I looked into apprenticeships but there are none in my area at the moment.

wilykit

TadleyBaggie wrote: »

My daughter also wanted to be a veterinary nurse, so she started along the animal management degree route. Along the way she did work experience at a vet surgery, after that she decided that wan't what she wanted (seeing too many animals in distress having to be put down).

I understand that, and last year my cat was poisoned and had to be PTS and it was awful and devastating. I know it will be hard seeing animals like that, but there will also be cases that have a happy ending.

At the shelter I helped at a dog came in from another country and she had been severely burned and just being in the room with someone else made her wet herself and she was absolutely terrified. It was awful thinking just what these people had done to cause her to be that petrified. But after weeks of time and patience she got better. Its stories like that what make it worth while

x

loulou123

Ive wanted to do this for years, but never been in a position to pay for the full time training (as need to work to!) and apply every year for the places at my local vets for the training - where you work for them full time and do day release to college, which they pay for...think you only get a very low wage if you are lucky enough to be accepted onto this.

I've not even managed to get an interview, despite having GCSES, relevant A-Levels and i did my work experiance their - not trying to put you off this is just my experiance.

I would definately contact all your local vets to see if and when they take new trainees on and good luck

dizzyrascal

loulou123 wrote: »

Ive wanted to do this for years, but never been in a position to pay for the full time training (as need to work to!)

I've not even managed to get an interview, despite having GCSES, relevant A-Levels and i did my work experiance their - not trying to put you off this is just my experiance.

I would definately contact all your local vets to see if and when they take new trainees on and good luck

You should not pay for the training. Only a Veterinary practice can do this as you need to have a confirmed training place to gain access to the course. The only time you would pay is if you take the degree and study full time.

loulou123

dizzyrascal wrote: »

You should not pay for the training. Only a Veterinary practice can do this as you need to have a confirmed training place to gain access to the course. The only time you would pay is if you take the degree and study full time.

Yes sorry that's what I meant, as its so hard to get a training place at a vets, initially my intention was to study full time for the degree, but couldnt do this due to the costs.