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CAFRE

Daniel Gawn – CAFRE Alumni

Daniel, from Bangor qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in March 2021 at Greenmount Campus, CAFRE.

What course did you study at the College of Agriculture Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE)?

I studied the Level 2 Certificate in Veterinary Care Support at Greenmount Campus, Antrim. It is a one year course which is a great starting point for working within a veterinary practice. The course provided a great balance between practical application and theory. Following successful completion of the Level 2 course, I progressed and completed the City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing. I attended class two days a week for lectures for the first two years. I spent the remainder of the week working in a veterinary practice to develop practical skills and gather evidence for my course portfolio. This provided me with confidence and the opportunity to apply the theoretical knowledge that I learnt in class into practice. Although this was difficult at times, I found it very beneficial. It meant that everything I learnt was relevant and it helped me to do my job to a higher standard, understanding the reasons behind why I was doing some of my tasks. I also spent a further year compiling an electronic nursing progress log (NPL) which provided a complete record of the clinical skills I had learnt throughout my training. 

Why did you decide to study at CAFRE?

I have always had an interest in pets and animals. Once I had heard about this course, I knew it was the career for me. CAFRE has excellent facilities and offers plenty of hands-on experience to help with improving my knowledge and skills to use in practice. The lecturing staff are either Veterinary Nurses or Vets with a lot of experience, which is a massive bonus being able to learn from them. The balance of studying and working throughout the week suited me, as I enjoy being hands on and it allowed me to work and earn while studying. Greenmount Campus was close to home too, so that was a bonus!

What is your current job and responsibilities? 

Upon successful completion of the qualification at Greenmount Campus, I completed my enrolment with the RCVS so I could practice as a Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN). I currently work as a RVN at Cedarmount Veterinary Clinic; a first opinion small animal practice in Bangor, County Down. Being registered means I am on the RCVS list of registered nurses that is recognised in other countries, such as, Australia, New Zealand and the rest of the UK. As a result, I can travel with this qualification and work abroad. My job covers a variety of tasks, including running of surgical procedures, in-house diagnostics, inpatient care and a variety of general practice duties. I am also a clinical coach to a first year student nurse.

Do you have a typical working day?

The nursing role is so varied and every day is different. What you do one day could be different to the jobs you do the next.  A typical working day would start with opening up the practice, turning everything on, taking care of any inpatients, if there are any. I then set up for operations, admit surgical patients, monitor anaesthesia. In the afternoon, I feed and medicate patients that require it, work through the prescription list, making up drugs for animals that have been ordered throughout the morning. I discharge day patients and then handover any relevant information to the evening nurse before leaving for the day. This variety of work keeps my job interesting and rewarding.

What is your fondest memory of your time at CAFRE? 

I had an amazing opportunity to go to South Africa with other students in my class for two weeks volunteering in a rhino conservation camp. I was able to gain hands on experience and apply some of what I had learnt in dealing with very different animals to the usual!

What advice would you give a new graduate? 

There are so many opportunities available and I would encourage you to grasp them when they can. I would recommend someone interested in veterinary nursing to do their research – try to get in and work in a veterinary practice for a while, speak to as many nurses as they can and make sure it is the job they want to do. Working as a veterinary nurse is hard work, but it is also extremely rewarding. It’s a stimulating and challenging job that requires many different skills. You need to have a passion for pets, a strong stomach to cope with the unpleasant sights and smells and the stamina to stand on your feet all day. Lastly, you will not know everything when you qualify and that’s all right. You learn most when the responsibility is all on you, but it’s worth it!

Would you recommend studying at CAFRE? 

I enjoyed my time at Greenmount Campus. I would recommend studying this course at CAFRE to anyone with an interest in pursuing a career in veterinary nursing. I gained invaluable skills and experience that has helped me do my job to a higher standard. If you are passionate about the job, then the course will be enjoyable for you and easier to learn. If veterinary nursing sounds like something that interests you, I would encourage you to look at the courses available at CAFRE here.