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An Update From Student Vet Nurses, Abbie + Ella!
Last year we shared A Day in the Shoes of Student Vet Nurses, Abbie and Ella. We’ve touched base with them again to see how they are getting on in their roles.
A quick reminder from Abbie and Ella’s last blog
There are two ways of becoming a Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN): by undertaking a vocational qualification (working in a training-approved veterinary practice while studying for a diploma) or through a higher education (degree) course involving clinical placements.
Abbie and Ella joined Team Ralph as part of our Patient Care Assistant team, and last year progressed to Student Veterinary Nurse (SVN) positions as they both work towards their Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing.
Abbie and Ella are now in the second year of their studies,
Here is how it’s going…
How have you been finding your role at The Ralph since our previous conversation?
Abbie: Things have still been very busy and full on, I’m onto my second year of nursing now and it’s still very much enjoyable. I’ve learned a lot of new skills and have been putting them to use here already.
Ella: I’m really enjoying the course so far and very happy with how I am progressing. It definitely has its challenges and balancing work, study and everyday life can be tough but it will all be worth it soon!
What is something new that you have learnt in the past year?
Abbie: I have learned many new skills, for example, I have now learnt how to place intravenous catheters and take blood samples, which I really enjoy doing.
Ella: I have learnt so much since starting the course and continue to learn new things every day. I have enjoyed learning about the triad of anaesthesia and the effects that different drugs have on the body (pharmacodynamics). This is important to know as a veterinary nurse so we can monitor changes in vital parameters after the administration of anaesthetic drugs and know when intervention is needed.
Recently, I have really enjoyed learning about body systems and the medical disorders associated with them.
I hope to become more familiar with the clinical signs, diagnosis and treatment options for each condition.
Have you got any new advice for aspiring veterinary nurses?
Abbie: Just be yourself, work hard and smart, be confident and don’t be afraid to ask questions, nothing is a stupid question here, it’s better to ask than get it wrong!
Ella: Find out what your learning style is. It really helps a lot when it comes to revision techniques and retaining information.
I have found that the more you understand a topic or see it in practice the easier it is to remember. So make sure to ask lots of questions and get involved with different cases in practice.