Recommendations for Veterinary Nursing courses

Dapos · 03-09-2007 07:53PM #1

Hey, my sister is doing the leaving cert this year and she is thinking of doing veterinary nursing. Any advice on good courses? I saw a Bachelor of Science (veterinary Nursing) in Athlone IT. Think there is one in cork too. Any advice/ Recommendations would be great.

Dapos · 15-09-2007 09:13AM

anyone?

Ado86 · 20-09-2007 05:56PM

Hi,

Im currently studying veterinary medicine and I would know people who have completed the veterinary nursing courses both in UCD, and in Athlone IT. It totally depends on the person - if they want to leave home or not, the courses are practically identical from what I gather, the graduates receive the same qualification and would get the same job opportunities. The one thing I would say is that the veterinary nurses who go to UCD probably do have an advantage in that they do some of their rotations in the veterinary teaching hospital, where they would be exposed to working with the best facilities and teachers in the country.

Best of luck.

jacket/potato · 25-11-2007 02:44AM

im in second yr vet nursing in ait and ill tell ya best place ever to do it!! the points are cut off point 380 but because the class sizes are kept at 40(for a more individual hands on experience) she would need maybe 400..
we study both the lab side and the practical side of veterinary nursing and cover both small and large animal placement.. after easter we go on 10 weeks placement in a vet practice where we get to learn the more practical side of it and in the three years we cover small large and equine
Also once a year we organise a lecturer to come ion with exotics and we learn about spiders, snakes etc so we cover a huge range of ground in the college.
as vet nurses with only 110 all together this year in the 7000 strong college we have organised a vet nursing soociety so all the years can meet and we organize class parties and table quizzes.in my opinion ait is the best place to do it because u get such a rounded perspective of the career and u get to no wat siode u would like the most, pharm , practice, behaviour or a continuation onto veterinary medicine somewhere else.

best of luck regards,
jacket/potato
vetnurse yr2 AIT

tabouli · 25-11-2007 03:59PM

I *think* there's a new one in the DKIT starting in 2008, but I don't know much about it.

Dapos · 25-11-2007 10:45PM

Thanks for the replies. would the course in cork be the same qualification as dublin and athlone? Also is there an interview process and do you need some work experience or something?

jacket/potato · 26-11-2007 03:45PM

the course in cork is only an animal care course. you don't get the same level qualification. mind you, it wouldn't be a bad idea to use it as a stepping stone for the nursing courses!

Dr_Darkness · 04-12-2007 04:41AM

Sorry to hijack this thread but does anyone know if the Animal Care Diploma in Bray Institute of Further Education any good? My friend was thinking of studying this course and using it as a stepping stone to one of the University courses in Veterinary Nursing

dizzydudge · 03-03-2008 04:47PM

Hi Im doing the animal care course in St Johns College Cork, im nearly finished the first year, the second year is veterinary nursing in the second year. The course has just been reviewed by the veterinary council and is in the process of being approved as a recognised vet nursing course but nothing is definite yet. But in the near future, Athlone, Cork and Dublin courses will all be recognised vet nursing qualifications.
Im really enjoying the course there is quite a lot of theory to learn and its up to the student to organise work experience once a week and block weeks.

suraheg · 26-03-2008 11:53AM

Hey guys

I'm doing vet nursing in UCD and working in Navan while doing it. It's really great having hands on work experience everyday and then going to college 8 weeks a year. It's also really good doing rotations in the UCD hospital cause you get to see a lot more cause its a referral centre. I would really recommend doing it here. The vet nurse register has only accredited the course in ucd as producing proper vet nurses. Though I think athlone is in the process of being accredited. Doing it in UCD forces you to be a good vet nurse what with all the practical work as well as the lectures.

Really enjoying it!

suraheg · 26-03-2008 11:55AM

If ur friend is planning on doing vet nursing in UCD theres no stepping stone into it. Unless shes a mature student. If shes not she'll have to get all the required leaving cert results.:D

Dr_Darkness wrote: »

Sorry to hijack this thread but does anyone know if the Animal Care Diploma in Bray Institute of Further Education any good? My friend was thinking of studying this course and using it as a stepping stone to one of the University courses in Veterinary Nursing

pseudo_23 · 27-03-2008 09:02AM

hi guys, i'm gonna weigh in here and pick your brains. I really want to study veterinary nursing in 2008 as a mature student at UCD. (as far as i can tell AIT don't accept mature applications). I see one of you works at a Navan practice, i currently live in navan so any advice on how to improve my chances of gaining a place in 08 would be much appreciated, such as how to apply for a job at a practice, ways of improving your chance of getting that job, etc?. Thank you!, your experience would help me out alot.

suraheg · 27-03-2008 11:40AM

Hey,

I work in a practice in Navan, but of I know of there isn't much practices looking for trainee vet nurses. You could try Foleys off flower hill but I think that vet doesn't like taking on trainees as he;'s stuck when they go to college. Theres a couple more I think. But your best bet is to look in the IVJ (irish veterinary journal) cause they always have job opportunities in the back. Not sure where you could get one tho. Could try researching it online?

You would be better off as a mature student going to UCD. It's a lot easier getting in there as a mature student with experience rather than a leaving cert student with none. I think when they look at applicants they make sure ur already in a practice. So you would be best going to find a job in a practice first and then applying. Vets look for people with reception skills and some experience with animals (depending on where you go of course). So maybe try volunteering with the dogs trust, drogheda pound? meath pound. somewhere you get some hands on experience. And drop your CV into all the vets you know of cause its the only way to get a job in a practice.

Sorry if this isn't any help.
If you have anymore questions ask away

pseudo_23 · 27-03-2008 03:35PM

that was uber helpful, at this stage any advice is helpful as i don't know anybody in the veterinary field. Also one more question, UCD state you have to be emplyed for 20 hours per week at a vet practice, but do you have to be employed as a trainee nurse or could i find a position as an administrator or something at a vet?. Thanks!

suraheg · 27-03-2008 10:17PM

Hey,

Yeah u have to be employed as a trainee vet nurse, 20 hours a week is very little most vets want u to be there full time. If ur sending ur cv's into vets send a cover letter too just saying ur applying for vet nursing in ucd. You need to download the list of ucd accredited practices too, cause if ur working in one that isnt accredited they wont take u in.

pseudo_23 · 28-03-2008 08:42AM

thats great, thank you so much. I've downloaded the info pack and i see here that if your vet isn't on the list, they can apply to be put on the list prior to you beginning the course. So fingers crossed now, i'm gonna apply to all vets in Navan/surrounding area. You may see my cv yourself!.

Thanks again.

pseudo_23 · 28-03-2008 07:11PM

two more things while i think of them.....

what kind of salary should i expect for say, 40 hours a week as a trainee (i imagine salary is poor but i don't mind)

and how likely am i to get a place as a mature student at UCD, is it a very competetive course?.....(i know there were 33 places last year total, 13 of which were allocated for mature students, but what is the number of people who applied last yr, anyone know?.....

Thanks!

derek27 · 28-03-2008 07:20PM

pseudo_23 wrote: »

...(as far as i can tell AIT don't accept mature applications). I see one of you ...

I'm Staff at AIT, and I'm sure that jacket/potato will know who I am because of my nickname on here. AIT do of course accept mature applicants on all of it's courses, regardless of the faculty intended. Indeed, they actually reserve a fixed number of places on all courses and encourage mature applications.

The Vet nursing course at AIT in my opinion offers a large component of hands-on laboratory experience, has a requirement for practical experience, and the staff at the college are almost always available to help individual students with any difficulties they are having with their studies, owing in part to the fact that the classes have a fixed capacity, as someone previously mentioned.

The colleges mature student environment is also very inviting and engaging, and I would recommend it to anyone considering it. I started out here at 25, got my degree, and am since working on my PhD here while doing some part-time teaching.

suraheg · 28-03-2008 08:23PM

yeah well i get 7euro an hour which is REALLY bad but some people get less. depends on where u get a job. The plus side of going to ucd is that most of the year ur working as a nurse, you get so much hands on experience! its great!

i think 400 people applied last year altogether not sure though..!

pseudo_23 · 29-03-2008 09:06AM

really? - is €7 euros even legal?.....

suraheg · 30-03-2008 04:45PM

yeah i think u only legally have to get 6.50 an hour cause ur technically doing an apprectiship

pseudo_23 · 30-03-2008 07:04PM

thanks alot uve been so helpful. I've posted 8 CVs today so we'll see how it all goes.

Dr_Darkness · 06-04-2008 05:59PM

Hi Suraheg,

Thanks for your response, my friend is 28 years old, so yeah she would be a mature student.

She has no experience in working with animals, apart for her deep love for them and caring for tons of pets that she owns.

My friend was going to apply to do a PLC course and then see how she likes it before applying for trainee nurse position within a practice.
I guess if she had some sort of animal care qualification behind her, it might help her to get into a trainee nurse position because she has no qualifications in the animal care field whatsoever.

What do you think?

I am really enjoying this thread, as it has a lot of information which I can pass unto her.

Thanks for your feedback.

suraheg · 06-04-2008 07:12PM

Dr_Darkness wrote: »

Hi Suraheg,

Thanks for your response, my friend is 28 years old, so yeah she would be a mature student.

She has no experience in working with animals, apart for her deep love for them and caring for tons of pets that she owns.

My friend was going to apply to do a PLC course and then see how she likes it before applying for trainee nurse position within a practice.
I guess if she had some sort of animal care qualification behind her, it might help her to get into a trainee nurse position because she has no qualifications in the animal care field whatsoever.

What do you think?

I am really enjoying this thread, as it has a lot of information which I can pass unto her.

Thanks for your feedback.

Hey

You're friend should definitly apply for a plc course, though theres no definite way of going from a plc into nursing. From what i've heard though people who are applying as mature students need to show that they're willing to study etc. seeing as theyve been out of school a while. Most PLCs arent much good but id say to stick it out cause it would look better on an application and in most plc's you have to do work experience one day a week in a practice. i did a plc for a couple of months and didnt like it so i left and kept working in the practice anyway and thats where i work still so good can come out of doing a plc.

hope this helps in some way!
Sarah

Dr_Darkness · 07-04-2008 04:24AM

Your response certainly helped a lot Sarah. Thanks so much!

I will definately pass on your advice and comments to my friend.

anniehoo · 07-04-2008 11:17PM

Hi guys...i work in the vet college...not as a nurse but can give anyone names and ph numbers of the tutors in there who are all lovely and would be more than willing to talk to you. The college is great for CPD (continuing professional development) courses. Ive also heard talk of it becoming a recognised degree soon. I dont know anything about other institutions but can help with UCD if interested! Great career choice...tough though but v rewarding!:)

pseudo_23 · 13-04-2008 09:41PM

i myself have no 'actual' experience with animals, but i do have a certificate in life sciences. I do have 3 golden retrievers so i have experience with animals like your friend. I've sent out 25 CV's at this stage and i only got 1 reply (to say they had no vacancies, CV put on file etc) so it is a tough gig.

I'm gonna keep trying. Any tips from anyone about where i might be failing on my apllications?.

suraheg · 18-04-2008 01:37PM

i would go around different vets in persons and ask to speak to the practice manager. most people would rather see a person in person..

pseudo_23 · 20-04-2008 03:39PM

i interviewed on Friday surah and i feel it went well, i should hear back tomorrow or tuesday so fingers crossed!.

suraheg · 20-04-2008 04:20PM

no way! thats great, hope u get it! apply for VN straight away if u get it

did u have the interview in navan???

pseudo_23 · 20-04-2008 05:17PM

hi suraheg, i interviewed in Ratoath. Very nice people and seems like a real teaching clinic. So hopefully!. Thanks for your help!, you guys probably got my cv at some stage this month too!. Which clinic you at?.

Recommendations for Veterinary Nursing courses

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