I think I would like to retrain as a veterinary nurse - can anyone talk to me about it.

[Microfibre]

I’m 45 and I used to be a software developer but I’m not keen to go back to that and I’ve been at home with the kids for a good few years. Last one is off to secondary in September so it’s time to get back on the horse. It seems to be a chicken and egg situation - you need a job to train and you can’t get the job without the training. I’ve looked into volunteering at local shelters but there doesn’t seem to be anything around. We don’t strictly need the money so I’m happy to volunteer anywhere small animal based in East Kent really - what’s the best way to start?

Please excuse the lack of question mark in the title!

Can you do a very nurse apprenticeship?

Vet even

I’ve looked into that, and I’d love it, but I haven’t got the prerequisite experience - I have a small menagerie here, but everting I’ve seen assumes it would be a school leaver with Saturday experience somewhere. I have been looking precisely 2 days though!

Its a degree job. Apprenticeship is a good idea. I know a young woman who has gone down the full time uni route - her year in industry wasn't paid, so that's something to be aware of. Medivet published a press release saying their nurses were going to be paid £35ish K pa, to encourage more nurses in and to help retain staff.

Blinkinbloodyhayfever

I’m not sure I’m looking in the right places yet - I’ve got a couple of degrees, so I’d have to fund the fees if I went down that route - not impossible but I’d be paying for my eldest at uni at the same time. All the training courses seem to want you to already have the job before you apply. Very happy to muck in and start at whatever the bottom is - I’m very used to cleaning up after my small zoo.

My friends daughter applied for receptionist/ admin roles in the local vets surgeries because what most of them are doing around here (and they actually told her this at interview) is weeding out the good ones and then putting them through on apprenticeships once they have proved their worth in the workplace. She obtained a receptionist role about 18 months ago, and then was on an apprenticeship about 6 months later. It suits both parties - they get a "flexible" receptionist with increasing skill levels; and the employee gets paid while training.

You'd likely start out as a kennel assistant, then the practice would support you to train after a year or so.
The BVNA website is a good place to start.
I'd suggest contacting practices asking for work experience - I did two weeks a few years ago when I was still considering vet med as a mature student. Expect to muck in, clean cages etc in exchange for getting to observe practice.
Then, once you've done that & are sure it's for you, I'd contact all the approved training practices (RCVS website has a list) to enquire about vacancies (many list on their websites now, but an email to the head nurse can often be productive too for vacancies or work experience).

AwkwardPaws27 Quveas

ooh, interesting. I’m more than happy cleaning out cages and doing admin. I’m increasingly bored at home and want the stimulation and purpose far more than I want money

Training positions are hard to come by and it's tough work working long hours and doing the college work and exams on top.good starting point as pp said is the rcvs website for list of training practices and write to head nurses of your local ones to see if anything.you can do a vca course I think now too as a starting point? Vetnurse.co.uk is also good website.you may need to start volunteering,RSPCA or street vet etc to get in experience?

I left my vet nurse job last year as i am in my 50s and the long hours, physical demands, impossible to please clients and poor pay got too much.
happy to answer questions thou. I didnt start training till i was in my 40s so i imagine it is easier for younger people!

tonyhawks23 that’s really helpful, thank you. Sounds like you know your stuff - are you one? Do you find it rewarding? I’m not scared of hard work or long hours, and while it’s not been for a while, I’ve had my fair share of exercises in sleep deprivation set by tutors 🙂

YouveCatToBeKittenMe I’m no spring chicken! Was it really unbearable?

Its a very physically demanding job,lifting huge dogs,being on feet all day etc.sone positions may be rewarding,some very demoralising,it's a huge amount of training to then be paid same as weatherspoons and be treated like rubbish,but really will depend on the practice,and you can locum to find nicer ones,it's quite intense.like pp said it is very long hours, physical,unhappy clients and low pay for sure,and that's once you are qualified.some companies are great like PDSA,who also do train and have vca positions helping the nurses so if you want a good work environment maybe try your closest PDSA hospital?you often do alot of unpaid hours as inevitably emergencies come in as you are closing at 7 and then you need to start again,having started work at 8.00 it is exhausting!

If your commutable distance to tiggywinkles hospital they do vet nurse training. They have paid roles and voluntary roles.

@Microfibre there is a lot of cleaning, cleaning up blood, faeces, urine, hair, and all the detritus from ops. Sometimes vets treat you like a glorified cleaner and it just feels undignified. Some practices are better than others. You can always specialise in an area you particularly like but you would have to work in a big practice or a animal hospital for that. I found that in the smaller practices you are expected to be doing so much, i couldnt do my best for the animal as there just wasnt the time or staff numbers, and the vets just keep adding more and more cases and I felt it was unfair to the client to be not looking after their animals in the way they thought we were.

It doesn't have to be a degree, there are vocational courses too that don't require you to have a job, just that you have some experience. Here they are generally found in agriculture colleges. At this time of year perhaps a riding stables looking at a busy summer holidays would be keen for your help even if it's just poo picking and sweeping