As a ‘mature student’, I had already attended a college and completed traditional A levels. However, after working in an array of different industries, I realized that I’d like to pursue a career in an industry I was more passionate about; animal care. By this point, I already had financial commitments that would prevent me from attending fulltime education, as I still needed to work alongside my education.
The apprenticeship fitted my needs perfectly, I was able to earn a good wage and gain an education at the same time; earn while you learn! The structure of the course also allowed me to work in the industry I was getting an education for, so by the time I completed the course, I already had 3 years of hands on experience, and was able to progress in my career very quickly.
Within one month of qualifying I was on a plane to Bermuda (a tiny island in the middle of the Atlantic ocean!), to start working as a Registered Veterinary Nurse at a concierge veterinary practice, two years on and I am now Head Nurse and Lead Anaesthetist of the same clinic.
Initially, I was nervous about changing my career, and was unsure of how I would balance work and education at the same time, while maintaining any shred of a social life! But the apprenticeship is structured in such a way that as long as you put in the time and effort, everything just falls into place.
I’m so glad I did the training at Sparsholt College, everyone was so supportive and the college itself is a beautiful place!
Despite the pandemic, the veterinary industry never closed its doors, not even for a day, it offers great job security and more importantly, a career with purpose. I would highly recommend the Veterinary Nurse Apprenticeship course to anyone considering joining the industry. I’m so glad I did the training at Sparsholt College, everyone was so supportive and the college itself is a beautiful place!
One of my highlights was being added to the RCVS Register of Veterinary Nurses, knowing that I’d accomplished something I had set out to do felt powerful.
Since then, I have developed a passion for anaesthesia, and sought to anaesthetise as many different species as I have the opportunity to. To date, I have anaesthetised just about every breed of cat and dog there is (from Persian to Great Dane), small furries (Rabbits, Mice, Guinea pigs), exotics (Sugar gliders, Macaws, even a fox!). But by far my most memorable, whilst working at ZSL London Zoo, I anaesthetised a Colobus monkey and a Northern bald ibis, which is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN.
Working in the Veterinary industry is an incredibly fulfilling career! I see something new every day, and every day brings new challenges. It’s a dynamic profession that is ever changing with the latest information and continued education. I find myself surrounded by highly educated professionals that work as a team that I am lucky to be a part of.