Author Archives: Amber Tennant

RCVS council agrees changes to CPD requirements for veterinary nurses

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeon’s (RCVS) Council members have agreed changes to the College’s policies on Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

The changes, approved by both the RCVS Council and RCVS VN Council, are:

  • To change the CPD requirement – as stated in the Codes of Professional Conduct – to 35 hours per calendar year for veterinary surgeons and 15 hours in the same period for veterinary nurses, from the start of 2020. This replaces the previous requirement of 105 hours and 45 hours of CPD over a rolling three-year period for veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses respectively.
  • Making the use of the new CPD platform (currently in development) for recording learning and development mandatory from 2022.
  • Giving veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses who, upon renewing their registration, have confirmed their compliance with the requirement, the opportunity to download a certificate demonstrating this.
  • The introduction of an administration fee that will be charged to any veterinary surgeons or veterinary nurses who continually (defined as two or more years in a row) fail to confirm their compliance with the requirement and/or fail to respond to requests from the College for their CPD records.
  • Changing the words of the Codes of Professional Conduct to include the fact that CPD should be ‘regular’ and ‘relevant’.
  • The continuation of the CPD Referral Group, which meets to consider what further steps should be taken in cases of veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses who continually fail to comply with CPD requirements and/or respond to requests.

Read more on the RCVS website

Level 2 Diploma in Animal Care Online Learning Advertisement

Start your journey towards a new career in animal care this Adult Learners Week!

If you’re longing for a job you love and have always wanted to work with animals, it’s never too late to learn the skills you need for a career change…and what better time to start than Adult Learners Week?!

Awarded by City & Guilds, our online learning Level 2 Diploma in Animal Care is the perfect way to gain an internationally recognised qualification from without attending college. All course materials are supplied via our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), meaning you can study animal care from anywhere and alongside existing commitments. What’s more – we also offer a pay monthly option, making learning more accessible than ever!

The one year programme consists of online tuition and practical work experience, covering the health, welfare and care of a variety of small animal species. Completion of the qualification should give you the confidence to pursue a career in the animal care industry…

Start your journey towards a new career today!

Loneliness Awareness Week: 5 ways to feel more connected to others

It’s Loneliness Awareness Week!

When it comes to our health, other people matter. Research indicates prolonged loneliness and isolation can increase the risk of premature death by around 30%.*

Contrary to popular belief, it is not just older people who struggle with loneliness.* Loneliness has many faces and most of us will experience it at some point in our life. If you’re feeling lonely, read on to find out how you can help yourself feel more connected to those around you:

Volunteer

Volunteering is a great way to make a difference in your local community. Not only this, but it can help create a bigger sense of purpose and can put you in touch with other volunteers who share the same mission and values. For example, you could consider becoming a befriender. Many people who struggle with loneliness or isolation may find it difficult to change their situation on their own due to mobility, illness or transport issues – so offering up your time to get to know someone on a long term basis can help you both feel less lonely. Visit the “Do-It” website to look for volunteering opportunities near you

Join a social group

Whatever your hobby or interest may be, have a look on the MeetUp website to see if there is a local group you can join. If there isn’t, why not try something new? Joining a group can help you build social confidence and meet others with similar interests.

Use technology to connect with others

We often hear that it’s harder to connect with people face-to-face in an age of social media, and it’s true that it’s easy to get into a habit of only ever texting, messaging or emailing people – but technology has also provided new ways to stay in touch with others and make new friends too. Making the effort to call or use video chat apps such as Skype and FaceTime is a great way of staying in touch with friends and family, particularly if you live far apart. What’s more – there are lots of online communities for all types of hobbies and interests that you can use to interact with like-minded people from all over the world.

Reach out to people you already know

We don’t all have close family members and friends to fall back on when we’re feeling lonely – but most of us know someone. Whether that be an old friend you’ve lost touch with, a colleague or even an acquaintance you may want to get to know better – it only takes a bit of courage to reach out to them with a short text or email to see how they are.

Go back to school

Taking a night, weekend or even online class can put you in touch with a new group of people who are interested in learning the same skill.

Remember, be open to forming new connections with people from all walks of life. You never know who you might hit it off with if you have enough in common!

 

animal care traineeship advertisement

There’s still time to apply for our animal care traineeship!

If you’re aged 16-24, unemployed and looking for experience working with animals, there’s still time to apply for our animal care traineeship programme starting this July!

The 12 week programme will run from our centre in Tingley (near Leeds), and will give you the opportunity to…

  • Work in a kennels/cattery, dog grooming parlour and reception area in a busy animal care environment.
  • Develop employability skills including CV writing and interview techniques
  • Receive support with job applications and Maths/English skills
  • Receive tuition to help you work towards a Level 1 Award in Work-based Animal Care

To apply for a place on the CAW Traineeship Programme, you must be unemployed with little or no work experience and meet the following criteria:

  • Aged 16-24 on 31 August 2018
  • All applicants must have lived in the UK for the last 3 years and be ordinarily resident in the UK

The course begins on Tuesday 23 July, with interviews taking place on Monday 1 July. For more details about the programme and how to apply visit our website.

 

The BVNA Council election 2019 is now open!

The BVNA Council election 2019 is now open!

The election will ask members to decide who will represent them on their Council.

The field of nine candidates represent a wide range of interests, ideas and priorities. Members can view the profiles of each candidate on the BVNA website, which covers more about the person, what is important to them, and what they would like to do if elected on to Council.

Polls close at noon on Friday 12 July. Each member can vote for up to three candidates. For more information on the election and timetable please visit the BVNA website.

Click here to vote in the BVNA Council Election 2019

veterinary nurse training advertisement

Start training as a veterinary nurse this September!

Veterinary nurses care for our pets and make a real difference to the lives of animals every single day – and you could be the next to join them!

Applications for our Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing programmes starting this September are open now…

Throughout the course you will develop the key skills and knowledge needed to thrive as a veterinary nurse, as well as gain significant industry experience in a veterinary practice, either as a paid employee or a non-employed student on work placement. Courses are available on a day release basis at our Huntingdon, Potters Bar and Leeds centres, or on a block release basis at our Edinburgh centre.

Find out more about the course and apply to start training as a veterinary nurse this September!

Is veterinary nursing for you?

Veterinary nursing is the perfect job if you’re looking for a challenging and rewarding career working with animals. Every day will offer variety and you could be involved in anything from helping a veterinary surgeon in theatre to advising an owner on pet welfare. Find out more about the role of the veterinary nurse 

Where can a VN qualification take you?

Veterinary nursing is a varied, rewarding career path that has a wide range of professional opportunities. If you’re considering training as a veterinary nurse in the future – find out more about the career opportunities available to a veterinary nurse!

 

 

Veterinary nursing career information

Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month: Is Veterinary Nursing the career for you?

If you’re interested in kick-starting a career as a veterinary nurse, read on to find out more about the role and how you can get qualified…

The role

Veterinary nurses use their technical knowledge and hands on expertise to care for our pets with skill and empathy; it’s the perfect job for those looking for a varied, challenging and rewarding career where you will make a difference to the lives of animals every single day.

In any given day you will find yourself involved in a variety of different tasks, from helping a veterinary surgeon in theatre to advising an owner on the most appropriate method of flea control for their pet. Your regular work may include:

  • Preparing animals for surgery and performing minor surgical procedures
  • Monitoring anaesthetised animals
  • Nursing sick animals and administering medication
  • Taking x-rays and carrying out diagnostic tests
  • Advising owners on the health and welfare of their pets
  • Taking bookings, payments and completing necessary paperwork
  • Running nurse clinics, such as diet, worming and grooming consultations

Is the role for you?

Good veterinary nurses are passionate about and dedicated to caring for animals. Often veterinary nurses end up taking their work home with them – sometimes quite literally in the form of kittens that need hand rearing or abandoned or stray animals!

You must enjoy working as part of a close knit team but also have the confidence to work with little supervision and be able to cope with the emotional and physical demands of the job. Inevitably, there will always be kennels and cages to clean, and floors to mop, so you also need to be prepared for hard and dirty work sometimes.

Want to start training as a veterinary nurse?

If you’re looking to kick-start a career as a veterinary nurse, we deliver veterinary nurse training from centres all over the UK, with intakes starting throughout the year.

You can apply to start training as a veterinary nurse today! More information about the course can be found on our website.

Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month (VNAM) was originally started by BVNA in 2005 as National VN Day and has since progressed into National VN Week, followed by a whole month campaign since 2012 to spread the word about the importance of the role of the veterinary nurse in practice and the provision of responsible pet care to the general public. To find out more visit the BVNA website.

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School of Veterinary Studies

dog and cat - animal care traineeship featured image

New animal care traineeship starting this July!

If you’re aged 16-24, unemployed and looking for experience working with animals, an animal care traineeship could be just what you need to kick-start your career…

Our new animal care traineeship programme is starting this July!

The 12 week programme will run from our centre in Tingley (near Leeds), and will give you the opportunity to…

  • Work in a kennels/cattery, dog grooming parlour and reception area in a busy animal care environment.
  • Develop employability skills including CV writing, interview techniques
  • Receive support with job applications and Maths/English skills
  • Receive tuition to help you work towards a Level 1 Award in Work-based Animal Care

To apply for a place on the CAW Traineeship Programme, you must be unemployed with little or no work experience and meet the following criteria:

  • Aged 16-24 on 31 August 2018
  • All applicants must have lived in the UK for the last 3 years and be ordinarily resident in the UK

The course begins on Tuesday 23 July, with interviews taking place on Monday 1 July. For more details about the programme and how to apply visit our website.

Career Progression for Veterinary Nurses

Where can an RVN qualification take you?

Where can an RVN qualification take you?

Veterinary nursing is a varied and rewarding career path which opens up a wide variety of professional opportunities. Whether you’ve just qualified as a veterinary nurse, have been working in the industry for some time and looking for a career change, or considering training as a veterinary nurse in the future – read on to find out more about veterinary nursing career opportunities…

General practice

Jobs in veterinary practice on completion of formal training are excellent. Many veterinary nurses choose to remain in first opinion veterinary practice, however there are also options to move into referral practice or into a large veterinary hospital and specialise in a particular area, such as surgical nursing. You could also become a locum veterinary nurse.

Nurses must continue to study and log professional development hours to maintain their registration throughout their careers. This means there is plenty of opportunity to pursue professional interests, study additional qualifications such as the Level 5 Advanced Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (Practice Nurse), or undertake specialist training in a range of topics, particularly the care of exotic pets, feline medicine, anaesthesia and dentistry.

Education

Many RVNs use their qualifications to pass on skills and expertise to the next generation of nurses in education roles. Teaching positions can vary widely, but veterinary nurses who choose to take up a role in education might be writing and developing course content, presenting lectures, workshops and practical teaching sessions, providing student support and guidance, assessing and moderating students, or undertaking research and representing educational institutions at conferences and exhibitions. Find out more about becoming a Veterinary Nursing Lecturer

Leadership and Management

If you’re looking for leadership and management opportunities within veterinary practice, you could become a head nurse.

Head Veterinary Nurses lead and provide support to veterinary nursing and veterinary care teams in practice. Day-to-day, this may cover many areas in team management, for example recruitment, selection, development, absence reporting and monitoring in line with practice policies. The role is perfect if you’re looking for a bigger influence over practice life by developing staff and clinical practice. You could undertake formal leadership and management training, and even work towards becoming a veterinary practice manager over time. The Veterinary Management Group (VMG) can provide more information about management opportunities and training.

Sales

Another career route you may take once you have qualified as a veterinary nurse is working for one of the many companies and service providers that supply the veterinary industry as a sales representative.

Becoming a veterinary sales representative is one of the less-recognised career paths open to veterinary nurses. It offers a fantastic opportunity to travel, meet new people and help veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and other professionals to deliver better care to their patients.

As a veterinary sales representative you would be promoting new products directly to people involved in animal health. You would keep your clients up-to-date with fresh developments and recent scientific advances. You may also offer in-house, product-related training for clients.

Rehabilitation

As a qualified veterinary nurse, you could grow your career by training to become a veterinary physiotherapist or hydrotherapist. Rehabilitation following veterinary referral can help animals recover following surgery and from a variety of conditions such as pack pain, sprains, strains, fractures and sporting injuries. It has become a growing service within specialist veterinary hospitals, referral centres and first opinion practices. You can visit our career profiles to find out more about how to pursue a career in veterinary rehabilitation.

Writing and research

If you have studied to become a veterinary nurse at degree level, you may wish to pursue a career in conducting and publishing research. This work is essential to developing veterinary nursing techniques and championing evidence-based practice.

You could also take your academic development in a new direction by speaking at industry congresses and events. If you have a creative flair, you could also aim to become a freelance writer. You could even start your own blog!

Want to train as a veterinary nurse?

Career opportunities for qualified veterinary nurses are varied and wide-ranging. If you’re looking to kick-start a career as a veterinary nurse, we deliver veterinary nurse training from centres all over the UK, with intakes starting throughout the year.

Apply to start training as a veterinary nurse

Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month (VNAM) was originally started by BVNA in 2005 as National VN Day and has since progressed into National VN Week, followed by a whole month campaign since 2012 to spread the word about the importance of the role of the veterinary nurse in practice and the provision of responsible pet care to the general public. To find out more visit the BVNA website.

Subscribe to receive updates about our veterinary nurse training

* indicates required
School of Veterinary Studies

CAW Connect: A new alumni association!

We are delighted to announce the launch of our new and exclusive alumni association, CAW Connect!

CAW Connect is a new social networking website and education hub which will give our alumni the opportunity to:

  • Be part of a professional online community: As an alumni member you will become a part of a close knit network of industry professionals, where you can connect with your classmates and network with other alumni!
  • Access special alumni discounts and CPD offers: We have put together a wealth of industry benefits especially for our alumni. Gain discounts on industry congresses, CPD courses, professional body membership, clothing, merchandise – and much more! What’s more – members will also see the beginning of special alumni events and competitions. Watch this space…
  • Benefit from exclusive resources and careers advice: Get ahead in the industry with the help of free careers advice, newsletters and resources from the college, all exclusive to our alumni community!
  • Contribute to an online education hub: CAW Connect is the perfect place to enhance animal welfare by sharing knowledge, news and best practice with your new connections; and keep up-to-date with the latest industry news, views and developments using group forums and blogs!
  • Stay up-to-date with college fundraising: As an alumni member, you can have your say on which charities the college supports, and team up with fellow alumni members to fundraise and make a real difference in your community!

CAW Connect will be open to students who have completed an accredited course with us at the point of certification. If you have a completed a course with us in the last 7 years, you will receive your login details shortly. If you completed a course before this, please visit our website to request your login details.  To find out more about our alumni association visit www.caw.ac.uk/alumni