Students vetted for a degree

Faith Genesis from Heywood and Nicole Webb from Wardle applying an ear bandage

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A group of  students from Hopwood Hall College recently attended the sixth annual VETNET sponsored Veterinary Nursing Symposium held at Myerscough College School of Veterinary Nursing.

The 15 students were first given an extensive talk about the courses on offer, which outlined the modules that would be studied, the course structure, assessment methods and work experience requirements.

Then the students met the veterinary nursing teaching team and current third year students, one of whom was a former Hopwood Hall College Animal Management student.

This was a fantastic opportunity for the students to get honest and relevant answers to the questions they had about the course and the requirements to gain registration as a veterinary nurse, especially as the information was coming from someone who had been at the same College as them three years ago. 

The rest of the day was spent doing practical assessments as these are an imperative part of achieving this highly vocational degree.

The students completed sessions on gloving and gowning, where they learnt how to scrub up for surgery; haematology, to identify PCV levels and diagnose dehydration; setting up anaesthesia; fracture management and bandaging and radiography.

Nicole Webb, 17, from Wardle, commented: “The visit to Myerscough has given me the inspiration and the opportunity to achieve my dream. Spending the day there was a great opportunity to learn about the course from the current Year 3 students and it is brilliant to be offered an interview for the BSc Veterinary Nursing degree for September 2014.” 

Course tutor, Sarah Whitehurst, commented on the experience: “The students were a credit to the College – they fully participated in the entire day and their enthusiasm never wavered. We received some excellent feedback on the students’ high levels of practical ability, subject knowledge and general professionalism. They made me extremely proud to be their tutor.”

The Symposium is part of the Progression Accord that the BTEC National Animal Management course at Hopwood Hall College has with the School of Veterinary Nursing at Myerscough. As a result of the strong links the College has built up with them over the years, and the confidence they have in the calibre of students that Hopwood Hall College produce, every learner who attends the Symposium is guaranteed at least an offer of an interview for either the FDSc or BSc(Hons) in Veterinary Nursing.