Whether you are looking to begin your career as a veterinary nurse and are attracted to the prospect of locum working, or you currently work on a permanent basis and are looking for a change, becoming a locum veterinary nurse can be an attractive option.
In this blog, we take a look at how to become a locum veterinary nurse, what the job involves, and how to transition from permanent to locum work.
Related article: Becoming a Locum Vet
What is a locum veterinary nurse?
A ‘locum’ vet nurse is essentially a supply nurse who is employed on a temporary basis to cover when permanent staffing levels are low. This could be due to employee illness, maternity leave, holidays or staff resignation. They also provide additional support in areas where demand is high.
Locum vet nurses can work in a number of different locations and the work is often short notice but it does give you the flexibility to work at different practices and the opportunity to meet new people.
How to become a locum veterinary nurse
The best way to become a locum veterinary nurse is to first have a certain amount of experience in permanent vet nurse roles. This is the best way to prove your experience and get used to the demands of the role before you start working a number of different jobs with varying rules and expectations.
In order to qualify as a veterinary nurse, you can either complete a degree in veterinary nursing or learn and gain qualifications on the job as an apprentice. To begin your training, you will need five GCSEs at grade C or above (grade 4 or above with the new system) and these need to include English language, maths and science. Once you begin training, you need to enrol as a student veterinary nurse with the RCVS.
Once you have some experience as a vet nurse in a permanent role, you might want a change. If you are looking to transition to a locum position, the best thing to do is register with a veterinary recruitment agency as they will be able to send you job recommendations and support you throughout the process. Locum vet nurses will constantly need to be on the lookout for new work so it’s important that you have help during this process!
To register with a veterinary recruitment agency, you can typically just send them your CV and any other relevant information and they will then contact you with any roles that may be of interest to you.
What does the job role involve?
Often, vet practices will need locum vet nurses in times of uncertainty or change. This means that you should be level-headed and able to establish smooth operation within the practice.
There are a number of jobs you might need to cover during your time as a locum veterinary nurse, including working in clinics, theatre duties during operations, covering reception and more. You will be of assistance to the vets in the practice, who may ask you to perform a wide range of tasks in order to ensure they can continue to provide the best level of care.
The skills you should possess include the following:
- Flexibility
- Time management
- Emotional resilience
- Efficiency
- Ability to keep a level head in stressful situations
- Potential to multi-task
What are the pros and cons of becoming a locum veterinary nurse?
There are a number of things to consider before asking how to become a locum veterinary nurse and these include the positives and negatives of the job.
Positives:
- Wages can often be higher than for full-time veterinary nurses
- Opportunity to learn new skills
- Opportunity to meet new people
- Opportunity to travel
- You have the freedom to choose when you work
- You can test out a particular veterinary practice before signing a full-time contract
Negatives:
- No guarantee of work
- No holiday or sickness pay (although this can be balanced by higher wages)
- Harder to build bonds with your colleagues as you are in a temporary position
- Potential for long periods of time spent away from home
- You have to take work wherever it is available
It really comes down to the type of person you are and how you work. If you have spent a few years as a permanent vet nurse and you fancy a change, it’s worth trying out locum work! You can always seek out a permanent position again in the future.
Hopefully this blog has been useful in helping you understand how to become a locum veterinary nurse and whether it’s a good option for you. If this is the path you want to follow, you can get started by browsing our locum vet nurse jobs or sending us your CV.