Vet Nursing

[Allerzeit]

My step grand-daughter - 19 years old - is wanting to become a vet nurse, but she has found that she needs to be working at a vet surgery before she can get into a vet nursing course...

Any advice on how she can go about this? I understand that it's a hard career to get into, and from what I've been told, she needs to be doing 15 hours of paid work per week. She is currently doing the rounds contacting surgeries, including offering to do volunteer work initially before any paid work if needed, but without luck so far.

Can anyone offer any advice on steps she should take to get her foot in the door? Or does anyone work for, or know of, a surgery in Melbourne who might be interested in taking on a trainee / receptionist / assistant / general drudge who is wanting to start studying as a vet nurse?

Thanks :rolleyes:

ETA: Hmmm, she's just told me that she needs to be working as a vet nurse before she can study to be a vet nurse, not just in any general capacity! How are you meant to get into a course to get a qualification if you have to be working in that job without said qualification? Do surgeries take on un-qualified vet nurses?

I know 20 years ago I was able to walk in the door and get a job as a vet nurse without experience or qualifications, but that was 20 years ago and in Adelaide.

Edited September 7, 2010 by Allerzeit

[4 Paws]

I thought you needed to complete Animals Studies Cert 11 and than do some extra modules which involved doing work experience a day a week at a vets.At least thats what I thought was invloved when I did animal studies about 4 years ago

[jrm88]

It is very hard to get into.

A small amount of clinics do take on trainees and that is how you get into the course.

In Melbourne, a new vet nurse course has started where you dont need to be employed as a veterinary nurse. It is a fulltime course for 1 yr.

It is at Vic Uni so not sure if she would be interested in applying for it as it would mean she would have to move to melb.

[wagsalot]

Similar to what 4Paws said, I would have a look and see if theres another course that could be done first, which doesn't need prior experience. Then upon completion of that, give access to the Vet Nurse course she wants to do.

[Allerzeit]

Thanks guys All advice will be forwarded onto her and is appreciated!

jrm88 - she is already living in Melbourne, so that wouldn't be an issue I will pass that info on :rolleyes:

[Rach...]

The course I am currently doing is a Cert III in Companion Animal Services and most of the people in it are going on to do vet nursing afterwards. Either by doing a course or getting traineeships.

I think it is the entry level into the animal industry.

[Monika]

Here's some more info about the course that jrm88 mentioned (from Kookaburra Vet Employment):

"Want to be a Vet Nurse but can’t get a Job...

Victoria University is offering a full time Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing in 2011 with no requirement to be already working in the veterinary industry. Training is provided in the on campus veterinary clinic at Werribee and through our structured work placement program.

We seek enthusiastic individuals with a demonstrated commitment to animal care and welfare and exceptional customer service skills.

For the application process please contact Jessica Bailey on (03) 9919 8139."

[Staff'n'Toller]

Please ask her to look up the current award rates too.

She needs to think seriously about whether she is happy being a low income earner for quite a while, and maybe in the longer term.

[karly101]

I suggest she applies to clinics here and posts a 'looking for' add as well...

http://www.kookaburravets.com/Australia/IndexOz.htm

What other experience does she have? Retail is looked upon quite favorably as veterinary nursing is very much about delivering good customer service. Getting some volunteer work at Animal Aid/RSPCA/ might help her.

And yes with above.. does she know what the pay is? It's very low.. and unfortunately the reason it is hard to get work as a trainee is that there is not much difference in pay rates between a qaulified and unqaulified nurse so its not so attractive to employers to employ a trainee.

[Sky_Mel]

Try RSPCA, I know you can do volunteer work as a Vet Nurse maybe she can get a foot in that way. Just an idea

[Bindii]

Yup would recommend Kookaburra Vets and put in a job-wanted ad. I got my first job through that site but got my current (totally love it, awesome) job from the very first resume I handed out at a clinic (before the kookaburra one) they kept it on file and 4 months after I handed it in they gave me a call for an interview. It was my local clinic and were much busier than my other one so offered far more experience and variety.

I suggest kookaburra vets, but also good old fashioned handing in resumes gets you far in this industry because generally most owners are at their clinics regularly (I mean in comparrison to large businesses that resumes only get lost at)

[Dame Aussie]

Please ask her to look up the current award rates too.

She needs to think seriously about whether she is happy being a low income earner for quite a while, and maybe in the longer term.

Agreed. At first I told myself it would be fine...it wasn't.

[GSD FAN]

You can do certificate IV in Vet Nursing through Applied Vocational Training in Perth. It can be done by correspondence and do your practical work in a vet clinic. it's very hard to study this way though and if she has no basic knowledge she may struggle. i recommend starting a more basic course to begin with.

I got my foot in thr door by being a dog groomer. I worked as a groomer for 6 months before I move on to become a trainee vet nurse. It is a very difficult job though and its not for everyone. I am now working for another clinic in a lower level position - kennel hand/vet nurse assistant because nursing wasnt for me. This could be another way to get into nursing by asking if they need someone to clean kennels etc. it may only be a few hours a day but it's a start.

I would recommend she do work experience in this field first to make sure its what she really wants. it's a lot of work to do only to decide its not for you.

[stormie]

If it's what really wants to do, then go for it. Hard work and a desire to make the job a career pays off in this industry. IMO, there are too many 'kittens and puppies!' nurses and not enough nurses who really put their all into the job. It still amazes me dealing with some nurses at other clinics who have very poor communication skills.

I started out with no experience or qualifications but just got a job because of my horse experience and general animal knowledge from owning pets. I'd always been a bit of an animal nerd

I worked really hard, studied our vets text books on all the common diseases and medications. It all payed off and I'm now in an awesome job with an awesome boss earning a pretty awesome salary.

I spent some time at our local specialist centre and seeing what their nurses did just blew me away. They virtually do everything! They're trained by the specialists so their knowledge is incredible. They'd be earning pretty good pay there too, I'd say!

So yep, if she's willing to try and make a career out of it then go for it! There's nothing better than developing great relationships with your clients and being able to talk 'animals' with them.

eta: Also, in terms of finding clinics to work at, obviously beggars can't be choosers, but I'd suggest looking for a nice little community clinic somewhere where clients are their main focus. Lots of these new chain vets are popping up all over the place where the attitude is often more about making money and staff have targets to meet. I know a few people who have found places like this really unpleasant places to work.

Edited September 7, 2010 by stormie

[Everythings Shiny]

Each state is different in what they require for Vet Nurses.

I was extremely blessed as I started studying and got in for TAFE work experience at my local vet. I was told as being my mum was a good client of theirs, and my grade was so extremely high, I would get a job with them, it was just a matter of time. One year into my course, I was offered the job I so desperately sought after. I applied for so many jobs and got knocked back as now a days they won't take a 'green' nurse if they can get an experienced nurse.

If she wants to be a vet nurse she needs to prepare herself, she needs to organise personal insurance if she wants to volunteer at a clinic as without it, they wont even give you a second glance. She may be better ofd starting by volunteering at the RSPCA - it will give her something to put on her resume when she goes and see's the different hospitals.

Hopefully it goes well for her