Ben Witcomb , DipVN , RVN

Woodward Veterinary Practice , Leicestershire

ENVELOPE benjaminwitcombfreelance @ gmail . com

Ben joined Woodward Veterinary Practice in 2017 , after travelling in Australia and Asia . He started on reception before transferring to the nursing team a year later to start his training . He qualified as an RVN in 2022 and is now a lead consult nurse and a sustainability lead at the practice . Ben is particularly interested in anaesthesia and nurse consultations . He has a cockapoo called Barney who loves stealing socks and pulling plants out of the garden .

Introduction

Training to be a registered veterinary nurse ( RVN ) takes commitment , hard work and a whole lot of passion for animals . During my training , there were plenty of times when I would stop and think to myself , “ How on earth am I going to remember all this ?” I ’ ve been an RVN for a year now and when I reflect on my time as a student , there are a few things I wish I ' d known . In this article , I will share some of those things , and some advice I think would be handy for student veterinary nurses ( SVNs ) and RVNs , no matter how long they ' ve been qualified .

Different training routes are available

Before you start your training , ensure that you fully understand each of the training routes available to you . There are usually two training options for a veterinary nursing qualification – a university degree and a nursing diploma – with each having its own pros and cons ( Tables 1 and 2 , page 47 ). One option may suit the personality , lifestyle , learning methods and career aims of one student , whereas the other pathway may better suit another student , so it is always worth taking time to research both thoroughly .

46 Veterinary Nursing Journal