VETERINARY NURSING in AIT

sarah1986

any 1 starting veterinary nursing in sep in AIT kinda nervous starting back as a mature student :eek::eek:

Irishchick

Im starting as a mature student too in vet nursing

Looking forward to it but a bit nervous aswell.

Have you gotten anything in the post yet about start dates. Ive read that nursing students start mon week. Are we counted as nursing students??

sarah1986

so at least i have another mature student!!!

as far as i know we get a info pack this week as cao offers are closed from monday

think we start on mon 6th and its over 2 days i think

Irishchick

So have you been working in a veterinary practise?

sarah1986

been working mainly in welfare for 2 yrs and did some work for a while in a vets and petshops

what bout u

Irishchick

Been doing work experience 2 nights a week at my local vets but thats it really.

Do you know much about the course??

cherryghost

Question. What date you set to come back?

Irishchick

Dont know 100% yet I still havent gotten anything in the post

sarah1986

i know a little like we do 10 weeks placement and we go to gurteen a farm for i think 10 days and there is lots of science based modules thats as much as i no really

cant believe start next week

Irishchick

Im just worried about the biology and chemistry sides of it as I didnt do either of those in school.

sarah1986

ya i kinda worried bout that part to as it not my favourite topic but i did biology in school and than when i did a animal care course

i am sure u b ok just study it hard

Irishchick

Yeah. Do you know are they a big part of the course??

sarah1986

as far as i know they do play a big part in the course cause when i did the interview back in april they where sayin that ther is a large amount of science within the course hopefully it will not b too hard

u recieved any info bout start dates yet i still nothing

Irishchick

No still nothing. If i dont get anything tomorrow Ill call them.

What was the interview like? I wasnt called for one.

sarah1986

interview was grand just asked why i wanted do the course, experience, and knowledge of the course bout all the science within the course thats really it

ya was thinking that myself bout ringin if not got any thing tomorrow

Irishchick

Still no post . Im going to email them now.

sarah1986

i no i really thought there would b something in the post this morning but no nothing and its wednesday already

sure let me no if they get back to you

Irishchick

Don Faller got back to me and said registration is on monday but the registration office emailed me and said it was tuesday so I dont know on that one.

He said we will be getting a pack from the college in the next day or two.

sarah1986

thanks!1

some 1 on this said reg is on the tues and lectures start on the thurs so dont no either is reg on the mon or tues

i sure wil hopefully find out tomorrow

Irishchick

I think nursing students reg on monday but I dont know if were included in that.

I wish I could just get the damn thing in the post and find out lol

angelxx

sarah1986 wrote: »

thanks!1

some 1 on this said reg is on the tues and lectures start on the thurs so dont no either is reg on the mon or tues

i sure wil hopefully find out tomorrow

On the registration forms I recieved, It states registration takes place Tuesday 7th from
11.30. I'm not on a nursing course but it doesn't mention any exceptions. It's probably worth calling them 09064-68000. I always find the women in reception very helpful.

Irishchick

just got it in the post. Our reg is tuesday at 2 pm

sarah1986

ya i got mine there too finally
so tuesday 2pm it is than:)

Irishchick

Any idea where we need to go in the building to reg ??

sarah1986

as far as i no we to the sportshall i think 2 reg i ink its in the main building but not sure for certain

Scarriff Lady

Hi I'm starting tues too as a mature student...same as you guys worried about the study..it's been awhile since I saw a biology book! If you find out where we actually go to reg can you post it here please. cheers and see you both tues :eek:

Irishchick

3 off us now!!

Do you 2 use facebook??

sarah1986

sure do use facebook!!

Irishchick

Ive sent you a private message with a link to mine

sarah1986

ya i added u ther

Scarriff Lady

Me too just not sure how to pm you!!!

Scarriff Lady

I am a tool!! Just PM you Sarah1986:D

x Purple Pawprints x

I've just finished this course and I loved it! Hope you're all enjoying it! You'll be getting ready for Gurteen soon... craic will be had haha!

Peanutbrowne

I know this thread is old but I'd love some info on Cao and getting in as mature student I want to apply for sep 14, but I would like to know what are they looking for?? My heart is really set on it.

Pebbles82

Hey, I applied as a mature student and just completed this year! Best decision of my life! My biggest tip would be to go to your local adult education center who have career guidance Councillor who will help you with forms for applying and grant information. I applied through the CAO and got called for an interview for both Dundalk and Athlone. completely different interviews. Dkit grilled me where as Ait were just asking was I aware of what i was letting myself in for...emotionally and financially. I got one day a week work experience at a local vet and they gave me a letter of reference for my application, this went in my favour. Apply for both the grant and back to education allowance from the social welfare.
Best of luck

Peanutbrowne

Pebbles82 wrote: »

Hey, I applied as a mature student and just completed this year! Best decision of my life! My biggest tip would be to go to your local adult education center who have career guidance Councillor who will help you with forms for applying and grant information. I applied through the CAO and got called for an interview for both Dundalk and Athlone. completely different interviews. Dkit grilled me where as Ait were just asking was I aware of what i was letting myself in for...emotionally and financially. I got one day a week work experience at a local vet and they gave me a letter of reference for my application, this went in my favour. Apply for both the grant and back to education allowance from the social welfare.
Best of luck

Awwww great info thank you so much, yes I was planning on applying for back to education allowance. I have a son age 16 months so by next September he is old enough for me to go back to school, I'm just desperate for info and AIT website is not very exciting. How many hours a week is the course roughly?? Also I do volunteer at a animal sanctuary a few Eve's a week would that be ok for experience ?? Or should I look for an eve in a vets ?? Thank you so much for yr reply I'm just dyn to know as much as I can about the coarse if that makes sence. Tank you so much in advance

thegreatgonzo

You are right about the website not being exciting:-)
I think the course is about 24 hours a week at the most, am I right Pebbles? You tend to have a couple of days with just 2-3 hours, then you get a couple of days where it's 9-6 with one hour off somewhere in the day. We get split into smaller groups for the practical sessions so that is usually what's going on in the days when you are only in for a couple of hours.
In first and second year there is a lot of general science subjects to cover which can be daunting at first but overall I found our lecturers were helpful and approachable about the subjects. Like Pebbles I just finished 3rd year as a mature student and it was the best decision I made too:-)

Pebbles82

Hi Gonzo!!! ya that's right, they always try to get ya finished early on a fri. the timeyale is up for sep lectures atm so if you got to

http://http://timetable.ait.ie/reporting/individual;student+set;id;%23SPLUSE9D652%0D%0A?t=student+set+individual&days=1-5&weeks=&periods=3-20&template=student+set+individual

Not sure if that will work but try the ait website and current students timetables/life and physical science and then the vet nur 1 and it will give you an idea of the timetables. ALso you have 2 weeks in feb in Gurteen agricultural college near birr. thy provide acommadation n food. but you've to pay €250 that is not covered by the grant (but you get a book allowance from BTEA so I just used this to cover that cost. and you have to organise 10-14 weeks placement at a vets of your choice.
It will be worth it and you do get good support, and everyone is in the same boat so you will support each other and it helps to get you through. Science is a big part f it but just listen to the tips the lecturers give you and cover this for exams.

ShaShaBear

Just to note that the book allowance in BTEA has been abolished, so no-one will be getting that anymore.

You will need to do a full 10 weeks of work experience in a practise over every Summer (I believe each year is different - small animals, farm animals and exotics). When I did the course (admittedly a few years ago) I had to give full time effort to the work - I was there Monday to Friday, from 9 until 6. I could volunteer for night calls, but it wasn't required. I got a large book with exercises in it and they all had to be completed during the work.

The Biology and Chemistry aspects of the course are by-and-large based on the Leaving Certificate equivalent. If you have done either or both for the LC, you should have more than the basics. If not, get a Leaving Cert book for each of these (quite cheap on Ebay) as they will be far more simplified than the books they will recommend for the course.

Gurteen is fantastic fun. Someone mentioned 10 days, but when I did it, we were only there for 4 1/2 days (Monday to Friday), so if you have a child you might want to be prepared for that, as you absolutely cannot miss it. You'll get to work with their horses, possibly assist in lambing and calving and will be fed like a Queen while you are there.
Word of warning, stock up on chocolate before you go. It's a dead zone for sweets

Peanutbrowne

ShaShaBear wrote: »

Just to note that the book allowance in BTEA has been abolished, so no-one will be getting that anymore.

You will need to do a full 10 weeks of work experience in a practise over every Summer (I believe each year is different - small animals, farm animals and exotics). When I did the course (admittedly a few years ago) I had to give full time effort to the work - I was there Monday to Friday, from 9 until 6. I could volunteer for night calls, but it wasn't required. I got a large book with exercises in it and they all had to be completed during the work.

The Biology and Chemistry aspects of the course are by-and-large based on the Leaving Certificate equivalent. If you have done either or both for the LC, you should have more than the basics. If not, get a Leaving Cert book for each of these (quite cheap on Ebay) as they will be far more simplified than the books they will recommend for the course.

Gurteen is fantastic fun. Someone mentioned 10 days, but when I did it, we were only there for 4 1/2 days (Monday to Friday), so if you have a child you might want to be prepared for that, as you absolutely cannot miss it. You'll get to work with their horses, possibly assist in lambing and calving and will be fed like a Queen while you are there.
Word of warning, stock up on chocolate before you go. It's a dead zone for sweets

Omg thank you all for the replys I'm delighted every time I see somebody new answering. I done bio higher level for LC but failed :-( but I defo will be getting a LC book and getting some study in. My most important question is about entry, as I said I volenteer at a animal sanctuary which has everything from horses goats parrots emus donkies and exotic reptiles also so is that enough to get an interview or should I be doing more? I really really really want to get in. Thank you all so much Im very thankful :-) also so jelous of you all ha ha ha :-)

ShaShaBear

Peanutbro wrote: »

Omg thank you all for the replys I'm delighted every time I see somebody new answering. I done bio higher level for LC but failed :-( but I defo will be getting a LC book and getting some study in. My most important question is about entry, as I said I volenteer at a animal sanctuary which has everything from horses goats parrots emus donkies and exotic reptiles also so is that enough to get an interview or should I be doing more? I really really really want to get in. Thank you all so much Im very thankful :-) also so jelous of you all ha ha ha :-)

I got in through CAO so I'm not sure about an interview based application. You sound like you are doing plenty and I imagine you would be approved provisionally pending available space on the course after CAO applicants have been allocated. Lectures in biology will be much easier to follow in a college setting than the pressure and stress of the leaving cert and you will get projects, essays and class tests to count towards your grade at the end of the year plenty of opportunities to assess your situation and talk to the lecturer if you need to

I'm in my last year in DkIT as a mature student, I can honestly say it went much smoother than my attempt in AIT as a willful 18 year old!

Peanutbrowne

ShaShaBear wrote: »

I got in through CAO so I'm not sure about an interview based application. You sound like you are doing plenty and I imagine you would be approved provisionally pending available space on the course after CAO applicants have been allocated. Lectures in biology will be much easier to follow in a college setting than the pressure and stress of the leaving cert and you will get projects, essays and class tests to count towards your grade at the end of the year plenty of opportunities to assess your situation and talk to the lecturer if you need to

I'm in my last year in DkIT as a mature student, I can honestly say it went much smoother than my attempt in AIT as a willful 18 year old!

Awww thank you for the info. I was a lil worried after failing it in the leaving cert. are the employment stats good for vet nurses ?? What is the pay like?? It doesn't really matter as I'm just wanting to do it for the love of animals. ;-) lucky you your nearly done :-)

ShaShaBear

Peanutbrowne wrote: »

Awww thank you for the info. I was a lil worried after failing it in the leaving cert. are the employment stats good for vet nurses ?? What is the pay like?? It doesn't really matter as I'm just wanting to do it for the love of animals. ;-) lucky you your nearly done :-)

I'm not sure what the pay or work opportunity is like, as I started another course (the one I am finishing now) to try and get into labwork and animal genetics. I imagine it depends on your local area and ability to travel!

thegreatgonzo

They tend to make changes to the course every couple of years to keep up to VCI standards. We spend 2 weeks in Gurteen (weekend not included). There is a practical assessment at the end of the 2 weeks but it is nothing to lose sleep over. In summer after exams you do an 8 week placement in either small, large or equine animals. There is no exotic component to the course any more apart from a once off visiting lecturer or what the vet nursing society organises. In 3rd year though, our final exams were at Christmas and we had 10 weeks of work placement followed by practical exams. Also while on placement you have a portfolio to create over 3 years which involves writing 35 or 36 case studies, a reflective journal and a couple of essays and getting your skills list signed off. Depending on where you are working you could be on call for days on end or working very long shifts so getting your written work done on time is a right pain. But not impossible:-)
In first year the science subjects are similar to the LC but in 2nd year the Biochemistry and Microbiology have made a lot of students cry. They have made changes to it for next year's first years to make it more specific to veterinary though so that's good news for you:-)
The pay is crap though especially when you start out but you are also going to have a science degree when you finish so a lot of graduates have ended up working in different types of animal related careers so I wouldn't worry too much about that at this stage.

ShaShaBear

thegreatgonzo wrote: »

They tend to make changes to the course every couple of years to keep up to VCI standards. We spend 2 weeks in Gurteen (weekend not included). There is a practical assessment at the end of the 2 weeks but it is nothing to lose sleep over. In summer after exams you do an 8 week placement in either small, large or equine animals. There is no exotic component to the course any more apart from a once off visiting lecturer or what the vet nursing society organises. In 3rd year though, our final exams were at Christmas and we had 10 weeks of work placement followed by practical exams. Also while on placement you have a portfolio to create over 3 years which involves writing 35 or 36 case studies, a reflective journal and a couple of essays and getting your skills list signed off. Depending on where you are working you could be on call for days on end or working very long shifts so getting your written work done on time is a right pain. But not impossible:-)
In first year the science subjects are similar to the LC but in 2nd year the Biochemistry and Microbiology have made a lot of students cry. They have made changes to it for next year's first years to make it more specific to veterinary though so that's good news for you:-)
The pay is crap though especially when you start out but you are also going to have a science degree when you finish so a lot of graduates have ended up working in different types of animal related careers so I wouldn't worry too much about that at this stage.

I see they have made a lot of positive progress since I was there. I felt the work experience was too long, and Gurteen wasn't long enough!

I've just done microbiology and biochemistry in applied biosciences so I might have some good resources if anyone needed a fresh perspective!

thegreatgonzo

Ha Shasha those resources would have been handy for me last year:-) Golden rice and estrogen receptors were my particular favourites in Applied biochemistry ;-)
I'd say the course has improved a lot alright. They had a VCI inspection or assessment or whatever last October and we were told AIT came top out of all the veterinary nursing providers.
Gurteen has got a snack machine now which is very handy!! The pool is still rank though:-)

ShaShaBear

thegreatgonzo wrote: »

Ha Shasha those resources would have been handy for me last year:-) Golden rice and estrogen receptors were my particular favourites in Applied biochemistry ;-)
I'd say the course has improved a lot alright. They had a VCI inspection or assessment or whatever last October and we were told AIT came top out of all the veterinary nursing providers.
Gurteen has got a snack machine now which is very handy!! The pool is still rank though:-)

They had a snack machine when we were there too, but it costed a colossal amount and we ended up doing trades for change with the people who took their own cars down instead of the bus

Peanutbrowne

Thank you all for such great info. Have you heard of anybody getting into veteniary in UCD after doing this course? Budapest wud be off the cards for me as I have a son. Thank you again :-)

stop animal cruelty

is it too late to apply for this course? ld love to work with animals but scared vet nursing might be hard not academic at all...what other careers opportunities can you get out of this course? really wanna have a career working with animals

Peanutbrowne

stop animal cruelty wrote: »

is it too late to apply for this course? ld love to work with animals but scared vet nursing might be hard not academic at all...what other careers opportunities can you get out of this course? really wanna have a career working with animals

September 2014 will be the next year to start, you'll prob have to apply through CAO or directly to college I'm hoping to start nxt year as well so excited fingers crossed I get in now :-) I'd say I'm the same with academics ha ha but I defo be worth it in the long run :-)

stop animal cruelty

Peanutbrowne wrote: »

September 2014 will be the next year to start, you'll prob have to apply through CAO or directly to college I'm hoping to start nxt year as well so excited fingers crossed I get in now :-) I'd say I'm the same with academics ha ha but I defo be worth it in the long run :-)

is there not a course starting this year? have you already applied for next year?