Declan Jones is a Registered Veterinary Nurse who works on the Kent coast. He qualified in June 2021 and loves his job of caring for animals more than anything. But, when not caring for any animals, he can often be found caring for and singing gently to his piles of paperwork.

Here, Declan discusses the options for training to become a veterinary nurse:

If your curiosity to join the profession has been sparked, ask any RVN about the day they passed their final exams. I guarantee every RVN in the country would agree that passing their final exams was one of the most exhilarating and fulfilling experiences of their lives! Besides raising a family, perhaps? Only those who found a profession they loved would commit to the years of determined hard work, dedicated studying and tireless compassion required to make it to their final exams. Quite frankly, everyone’s a little bit nuts! But sometimes, being a little bit nuts is needed to help keep a team smiling and cheerful.

In short – to become an RVN, you will need to prove you are capable of what we call the Day One Competences, Skills and Professional Behaviours, which can be taught to you through an accredited veterinary nursing qualification. These “day one” requirements help to safeguard and verify that RVNs are capable team members from the get-go, which can seem daunting! But, remember, everyone should expect to continue learning and growing as a professional for the rest of their career – no one is expected to know everything.

So, “How do I get myself a veterinary nursing qualification?” I hear you ask. Well, there are two different qualifications to choose from: the degree (awarded by a university) and the diploma (typically awarded by a college). Exactly which qualification to choose is a very personal decision, which your specific circumstances and learner needs should determine. As a rule of thumb, the degree route will provide a great source of knowledge and understanding from the increased classroom hours accumulated over the qualification – ideal for people who thrive in academic scenarios. In contrast, the diploma route can provide a great opportunity to get stuck in thick and fast with increased on-the-job training – ideal for people who thrive when learning through doing. There is much to learn about the various qualification options available to you, their funding, and the career prospects they could lead to – I encourage you to reach out to a training organisation and ask the questions which are important to you.

When you know which qualification is right for you, the next step is to find an organisation that can award it to you. This is where the fun begins! Depending on your chosen route, this could be through a university, a college or a veterinary nursing school. If your ambition is to complete vocational training via an apprenticeship, your veterinary ‘training practice’ will have enough experience to guide the decision. Rest assured, all organisations that can award you a veterinary nursing qualification undertake an accreditation process and maintain ongoing annual quality monitoring. However, certain aspects of their delivery will vary. Investigate your options and search for a venue that provides the lecture content and teaching methods you prefer, the support you deserve and the facilities you are eager to use.

Of course, the competition for entry into the industry is fierce. You will be one of many hoping to enrol with your chosen organisation, so it’s important to shine as brightly as possible! At least two weeks’ experience volunteering in practice is often a minimum, but you should aim for more. The greater your experience working with animals and in practice, the better; it demonstrates your commitment to the profession and bares the reality of the profession to you. Being an RVN is not all cuddling kittens and puppies, although it’s undoubtedly a fab perk of the job! We work very intimately with the owners of animals – spending a great deal of time aiding them through turbulent and challenging times. But these times will often be the most gratifying. Ultimately, to become an RVN, you must have a passion for helping both the animals and their people.

But is it ever too late to become an RVN? No! Is there anything stopping you from becoming an RVN? No! There will be tailor-made roles for you out there if this is a profession you want to pursue. The industry is a very welcoming and inclusive one, and no doubt you will quickly encounter people who would love to assist you on your journey to becoming an RVN.

I hope your curiosity to join the profession is positively aflame! To learn more about anything discussed in this article, please read further by looking at the British Veterinary Nursing Association’s “Careers” page or by searching “I want to be a veterinary nurse” and exploring the information provided by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

Want to learn more about what it’s like to be an SVN?

Find out more about how you can get involved in #VNAM2023 here.