Rodentology course

[Smoo]

Hi everyone, I know I've been off for a while but it has been a very unsettling year for me (and the piggies) so far...

As a result of the upheaval I now have more time and money to myself and also the opportunity to do something I've wanted to do for a while... I want to train to become a veterinary nurse.
Because of my (lack of) qualifications I can't go into it straight away, I'd like to get a place with a training practice but in the meantime I really want to do the rodentology course.
I'm really lucky in that I live in Peterborough so it's literally just down the road from me and I can fit it around my work.

I guess my question is, has anyone done it and as I want to do the full course do I have to do the RHA course both parts before I can do the GBAR course modules?
Seeing as I now have 6 piglets I think it would be invaluable to me and when I get into nursing I would like to specialise in guinea pigs as we all know how hard it is to find vets who are knowledgable when it comes to our little piggies.

I'm finding it really exciting and terrifying that I'm about to do something I've never thought I'd be able to do, it's definitely been a year of firsts for me so far!

 

[twiams]

Hello,

As someone on the way to becoming a qualified vet nurse (i’ve just qualified as a nursing assistant) , i’ll start by telling you it’s difficult and at first i thought it would be simple, but it takes alot of hard work, mostly voluntarily, and even after all that it’s still not easy.

My personal opinion would be that a rodentology course wouldn’t help you in getting a placement in a training practice, i’ve enquired about the course before, and i’ve also discussed it with the head nurse where i work and she said that something like that is good for specialist vets, but for students, it’s virtually useless and although it looks nice on your C.V it doesn’t really hold any real qualification to it. To become a VN, you need a wide range of skills, as part of the course now involves equine, not just small animal, something like rodentology is specialist and something you’d look more towards later in your career once you’re qualified as there are courses more nationally recognised for nursing of exotic species etc.

The best place to start really is to do an Animal Nursing Asssitant course. It used to be known as the pre-nursing course.

If you want to talk more about becoming a VN or want more of an explanation feel free to PM me.

 

[MrsSuzy]

Good luck with it all! I have the Rodentology Course on my list to start very soon. I am doing a Small Mammal Diploma at moment and trying not too overload myself

I very recently looked at training as a Vet nurse as I am desperately unhappy with my day job and really want a career change. But I found it nearly impossible as you either do it full time or as an apprenticeship. Unfortunatelly, I would not be able to pay my mortgage if I took this route. It's quite depressing actually, knowing I'm stuck.