VET NURSE & TECH CE SERIES
The truth about veterinary nursing
Most vet nurses and techs work in general practice. It can be a vibrant and interesting place to be! Plus, where would all those vets be without you? There’s a good variety of day to day tasks, differing levels of clinical responsibility and support, and you get experience working with a range of different colleagues and animals.
The truth is – and you’ve probably noticed this – many of your peers will talk about wanting to upskill, move clinics, or find a job outside the veterinary industry. But what if the veterinary industry has more to offer you? What if there’s a part of your role that you could expand on, or a way you could step up in your role to tackle some new challenges? Hopefully, that’s what you’ve come here to find out. We want to share some the exciting things available to nurses and techs, and above all, we want you to stay in the industry!
Who is this course for?
Happily, we don’t all want to follow the crowd. If you’re the kind of person who likes to keep on learning, you might be looking for opportunities to branch out, upskill or diversify your career. Fantastic! Keep reading. This course is for you.
We’re not going to tell you to quit your job, grow your armpit hair and become a baker of organic vegan dog treats (although that has some appeal, granted). This course is about opportunity. It’s hosted by 5 successful veterinary nurses and technicians who’ve carved out fascinating and satisfying careers – and they’re ready to share the details with you. They’ll explain the career pathways, tell you how they created opportunities, and how you can do the same. There’s also a strong CE component. You’ll learn valuable skills from each presenter which you can adapt for every day use, or use to visualise yourself in a future professional capacity.
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JOIN LIVE & ONLINE
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ASK US ANYTHING!
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ALL SESSIONS RECORDED
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OPTION TO LOG IN & WATCH LATER
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6 MONTHS TO REVIEW SESSIONS
YOUR CAREER = YOUR OPPORTUNITY
You’re in control
- Be proactive
- Ask for guidance
- Keep an open mind
- Learn how to create opportunities
- Hear how others have succeeded
Embrace a challenge
- Navigating options in your current workplace
- Getting management on board
- How to ask for career advancement
- Opening the career discussion at work
- How to collect valuable new skills for future use
Course schedule
Module 1 – Careers with Exotics & Wildlife – Gary Fitzgerald, BAppSc (Veterinary Technology), AVTCP VTS Exotic Companion Animals
Working exclusively with wildlife and exotics is just a dream for some, but Gary Fitzgerald has made it happen, and then some.
Gary graduated from the University of Queensland’s Veterinary Technology program, and started his nursing career in private practice as a vet tech. Since then, he has become a university lecturer for both veterinary science and veterinary technology students, earned his veterinary technician specialty in exotic companion animals, been the VNCA Vet Nurse of the Year and in 2023, and become the President of the VNCA.
Gary says that training students in small animal and reptile medicine, anaesthesia and surgery are his major passions. He joins us for Module 1 to inspire you to reach towards a career in wildlife and exotics, and to teach us some vital intubation techniques of exotics that you can use in daily practice.
Module 2 – Nurse Management & Leadership – Anita Parkin, RVN, AVN, VTS (Anesthesia & Analgesia), CVPP, TAE
Plenty of vet nurses and techs are interested in management and leadership roles. Anita Parkin, who is well known for her surgical nursing and anaesthesia skills, is also Practice Manager at Veterinary Specialist Services’ third practice in Brisbane.
Another VNCA Vet Nurse of the Year recipient (2022), Anita has domestic qualifications including a Certificate IV in Vet Nursing and Diploma in Surgery and ECC, and she is an Accredited Vet Nurse and a Registered Vet Nurse through the Veterinary Nurses Council of Australia (VNCA). Anita also has a number of overseas qualifications. She obtained her Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner (CVPP) in 2012 through the IVAPM (International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management), and she has her veterinary technician specialty (VTS) in anaesthesia and analgesia through the Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Anesthesia and Analgesia (AVTAA).
Anita is keen to explore leadership and communication with participants and share the attributes that help you to become a good leader. Specifically, she will discuss the importance of communication, paying staff appropriately and how to manage rostering as skills you need to survive and thrive in veterinary management.
Module 3 – Becoming a Veterinary Technician Specialist – Alexander Philp, Certificate IV Veterinary Nursing, VTS Anaesthesia & Analgesia
Alexander is the Nurse Unit Manager at UVTHS. He is a veterinary technician specialist in anesthesia and analgesia, and enjoys teaching at all levels within the veterinary profession, and is a firm favourite within the VetPrac online and face to face education crews. He has also commenced the Masters program in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia through Edinburgh University.
In this session, Alexander will describe how you can follow a career pathway towards becoming a veterinary technician specialist (VTS). Hint: you don’t need to work in specialist or referral practice to make great use of a VTS qualification! Alex will also share some critical anaesthesia skills – these are things that you should know, no matter where you’re working.
Module 4 – Focus on Veterinary Nutrition – Kim Healy, RVN, AVN, FFCP (Veterinary), VTS (Nutrition)
Kim has a scientific mind and an intense curiosity about veterinary nutrition, so she made it her career. Not only that, but like many of our high-achieving nurse and tech team, she’s got a swag of qualifications and there are more on the way.
In this session, Kim describes how she crafted an ideal career in the veterinary industry. As well as sharing how you might do the same, she’ll also provide you with some evidence-based CE. You’ll hear how to make nutrition consultations part of your nursing skillset, how to get buy-in from the management team, how to generate practice resources and how to successfully build on what you already do in clinical practice.
Module 5 – International Opportunities in Vet Nursing – Kate Hatcher, RVN, Cert IV VN, VTS (A&A)
They say that if you follow your passion, and you’ll never work a day in your life. If you’re willing to live and work overseas, you can follow your passion for travel, exploration and adventure.
Kate has three significant nursing qualifications from three different countries. She is a registered veterinary nurse (RVN) with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in the United Kingdom, she has a Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing, obtained through the Animal Industries Resource Centre in Australia, and she is a veterinary technician specialist (VTS) in anaesthesia and analgesia in the USA. We think there’s nobody better suited to talk you through her journey, and explain how veterinary nursing can take you to far flung places to inspire and motivate you.
A VETPRAC COURSE WILL PAY FOR ITSELF
INVEST
5 Wednesday evenings, an open mind & just $447 towards your professional development
LEARN
Vital skills for a range of careers in veterinary nursing, inspiration for your next steps
RETURN
Hear real life stories of success & achievement, take control of your career journey
Your presenters
Alexander Philp
Anita Parkin
Gary Fitzgerald
Kate Hatcher
Kim Healy
CHOOSE YOUR PAYMENT OPTION
UPFRONT PAYMENT
$447 AUD
PAYMENT PLAN
x 3 monthly payments of $160
Your Questions Answered
Do I need to attend specific session times?
Not at all. Of course, you can only ask questions and participate in the discussion if you attend live, but it’s not a requirement. Each live session is recorded and uploaded within 24 hours of the live timeslot. Participants have access to recording during the course and for 6 months afterwards.
Are there group discounts available?
Absolutely Work together, learn together, we say. If 3 or more participants register from the same clinic under the same booking, you’ll receive a 5% discount at checkout when you book on our website. For 4+ registrations, the discount increases to 10%. This isn’t valid with any other promotion.
Can I pay in instalments, or do you offer payment plans?
Yes we have a payment plan available scroll up and you will find it.
Will I get CPD points and a CPD certificate?
Of course! Each participant will receive a CPD certificate via email. We do this after you’ve provided feedback and completed the quiz questions at the end of the course.
What kind of learning materials are included?
All live online courses include live and recorded video presentations. Our educators also provide a variety of other resources so you can expect supporting materials like images, diagrams, course notes, slide presentations, journal articles, links to further reading, and more.
How long is course access open?
24/7 access is available for the duration of the course, and for 6 months after the last live session. You can access recordings, references and reading materials via your course library at any point during this period. We’ll remind you to download and review the course materials before the time is up.
What happens if the course is cancelled?
If we cancel a course, we will refund your course fees. It’s a simple as that.