ACS Graduate Success
Frances is an ex ACS student who has kept in touch with us to let us know how she is getting on. Here is her latest news –
"Yes, it’s been a while since I penned a newsletter to everyone. Life has been somewhat manic in the last 7 months but I’m on the move again, and have a rare hiatus where I’m able to catch up with quite a few things that have been on the backburner. Including keeping in touch with friends. Great lashings of apologies all round!
Since I don’t even remember where I was up to in my last update, I’ll start with my move to the UK. That was way back last August, when I secured a job in a vet hospital in Dover. My career there was short-lived due to a bout of severe anaemia during which I was unable to work. This has been resolved for some months now, but took so long to fully recover from that I had to resign my position. I travelled all over the countryside in my quest for a job once I was firing on all cylinders again. I was offered three jobs on the same day – yes, there really is such a desperate nurse shortage here! – and plumped for a position in a hospital in Lincolnshire to log over 1000 hours and prepare for the practical exam as required by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) before registering as a vet nurse ... According to my records, I’ve now completed my hours so am just waiting for the practice to submit their confirmation to the RCVS; I sat the practical exam just over a week ago and am waiting for results. That’ll take another three weeks to come through – fingers crossed! Once all the boxes have been ticked I can apply to go on the RCVS register – and then the world is my oyster 😊.
I have already moved on ... and am currently taking a couple of weeks while I complete interviews and make a final choice as to where I want to end up. I’ve already had one job offer from a practice in Exeter (oh yeah, I get around!) but in the meantime am staying in Northampton and have other interviews in the area this week. I am being quite picky this time with which practice I go to, and have only applied for work at hospitals or clinics where there is no out of hours work – random night shifts are killers! In addition I have been narrowing the field by looking for places that either have Cat Friendly status through the International Society for Feline Medicine, or work with exotics, or both.
As always, I have a lot of plans for the future, including further certification. I already have Level 1 Fear Free certification and am looking to take this to Level 3 by the end of this year; I’m embarking on a wildlife and exotics nursing certificate in the next week or so; and I’m deliberating whether next to go on to an advanced anaesthesia certificate, a feline nursing diploma, or a behaviour qualification…. or, knowing me, all 3 as time and pennies permit! I’ve also signed up for a feline zoopharmacognosy workshop in August, which I’m really looking forward to.
Beyond that, I need another 18 months small animal experience and then I’ll be able to go on all those awesome wildlife projects as a vet nurse, that I’ve been dreaming about since before I started studying for the vet nurse qualification. As things stand at present, the long road home involves a stop in Canada, the US, Belize and possibly Costa Rica as well as Indonesia to work with wildlife and dog/cat shelters. After that I’d love to go back to South Africa to nurse wildlife – however this involves yet another equivalency exam which is only held once a year and is incredibly expensive. There really is so much work the world over for a vet nurse provided I have the relevant experience. I will be home at some point but for now, and to quote ELO – I got the rest of the world blues!
Love, Fran xxxx"
If you are interested in working in wildlife or studying to learn more about Wildlife Management, and have a passion for wildlife and conservation, why not consider our wildlife courses –
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Certificate In Wildlife Management
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