by Kenneth Johnston, Senior Lecturer (CAFRE, Greenmount Campus)

CAFRE Greenmount Campus (Antrim) is holding an open afternoon for anyone interested in veterinary nursing courses on Saturday 13 March 2010 starting at 2.00 pm.  Potential students will be able to meet staff involved with the veterinary nursing programmes and have the opportunity to view the excellent facilities.

Greenmount Campus offers Level III Veterinary Nursing and Animal Nursing Assistant courses which are designed to prepare students for a career in veterinary nursing/animal care based within a veterinary practice. The training provides the knowledge required to complement the practical skills acquired through working in a veterinary practice.  It also helps student nurses to become valuable and highly motivated team members.

Course Structure

The Animal Nursing Assistant course is delivered on a day release basis over one academic year. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Level III programme will be delivered in 22 weeks of training over two years and involves attending the Campus for a total of 16 weeks in year 1.  The remainder of the time is spent working or in placement in an approved veterinary practice.

Student Profile

Steven Robonson from Ballyclare and Ruth Power from Enniskillen are both presently studying on the RCVS level III Veterinary Nursing programme at the Greenmount Campus of the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE).  Steven is employed at Clare Veterinary Practice in Ballyclare and Ruth at Brook Veterinary Clinic in Enniskillen and both have already completed the Animal Nursing Assistant and RCVS level II courses at Greenmount.

Ruth says that she is “lucky to have a very supportive nursing and veterinary team to work with and learn from”.  She also stated that she is really glad to be back at Greenmount to complete her nursing course having enjoyed the Animal Nursing Assistant course so much.

As well as agreeing with Ruth’s comments, Steven also paid tribute to the staff at Greenmount who have had a huge influence not only on his career as a Veterinary Nurse so far but also on the careers of all the other Nurses.

Location

Greenmount Campus is located three kilometres from Antrim.

More Information

If you want to know more about veterinary nursing courses come to the open afternoon, contact Kenneth Johnston (028 9442 6769), use the Campus Freephone Number 0800 028 4291.

RCVS Level 3 veterinary nursing students Ruth Power from Enniskillen and Steven Robinson from Ballyclare pictured with Greenmount lecturer Kate Alcorn during their level 3 veterinary nursing studies at the Campus