Hey guys!

Today I’m going to talk about going back to uni! Now we are in September, that means a whole new batch of students heading to university in the next coming weeks. And obviously current students heading back to university. I wanted to give a bit of a guide if you’re a new student heading to university or college. This is going to primarily be aimed at prospective students who are going to study vet nursing, but some points could be adapted to any new students! 

This is going to be a bit like a ‘preparation’ guide. I know the universities usually send you little (or actually rather large) kit list of what to buy before you go, but to be honest, the list is usually extremely extensive and some things on there you might, quite frankly, never even use. I remember receiving the list from Hartpury and panicking about where I am going to magically gather several hundreds of pounds together, to spend on a load of books and equipment. So before you go forking out your whole savings on books and equipment, have a read of my experience of what you REALLY need for uni.

1) A diary

It may seem pretty obvious to be honest. Maybe a bit insulting actually, so apologies! I cannot emphasise how important a diary is. I use mine for writing down deadlines(very important), lecture room changes, practical sessions and loads more. Most of the time, for practical sessions they often split you down into separate groups so you’re all going to sessions on different days at different times. I’d often write in my diary as well if I was sat in a lecture and there was a particular part that I felt I needed to read more into to properly understand it, I would jot it down just so I could remind myself. I wouldn’t use my diary just for uni purposes though, I’d use it to literally organise my whole life – appointments things like that. It’s nice to have everything written down in one single place and on paper. Obviously, if you prefer the more electronic method of organising your life – your phone calender or laptop could also work. Here is a lovely picture of my diary that I’ve bought for my return this year (featuring my cute fluffy pencil case)!

2) THE BIBLE

No not the actual Bible. Unless you’re religious then yes a Bible may be necessary. When I say Bible, I mean the vet nursing Bible. The book that every single vet nurse in training has probably studied cover to cover. If you can’t find the answer in this book – then the answer probably doesn’t exist. THIS BOOK HAS EVERY SINGLE THING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO BE A VET NURSE. Yes, it may be £50 odd, but it will be the best £50 you spend. From what I remember, college or uni send you a book recommendation list literally the length of your arm. However, in my opinion, this is the only book you actually need. The rest of the other books you can literally borrow from the library! Hartpury had all the books you will require for the course in the library – and plenty of copies. It’s very handy though to have your own Bible. As you can see from the picture, mine looks extremely battered – but I’ve literally used that book so much there’s no wonder! The other books I have in the picture are books that I have bought along the way out of interest. I bought the clinical procedures one in my OSCE’s year, and that was quite handy whilst doing OSCE preparation. The fluid therapy and bandaging books were handouts I acquired from guest speakers/lectures

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Another tip as well when purchasing books, I’d always recommend having a look on eBay/vet nurse forums/facebook groups for people selling these books. You will get a much better price! It doesn’t matter if it’s second hand as long as it’s got all the information in.

3) Folders, pens & pads

Again, another extremely obvious one. I always go really OTT with stationary, I’m a little bit obsessed with it!!! I always get lots of colourful pens to do revision with. It all depends on how you revise best really, I love colour personally – so I always have loads of highlighters, sharpies, coloured fineliners etc. I always get a lined paper pad, and a plain paper pad too. I use the plain paper for spider diagrams, drawings and flowcharts things like that!

4) A riding hat and gloves

One thing Hartpury do recommend is getting some riding gear. This is something that you do actually need. You don’t need to get an all singing all dancing riding hat, it literally just needs to be a basic one if you don’t plan on using it for riding. Obviously, if you’re into horse riding, then get a decent one. But all Hartpury want you to get one for is literally for mucking out, leading horses and putting head collars on. It’s more for a safety aspect. As part of your practicals, you have to go to the yard at Hartpury and you have to have the correct footwear and clothing. Yards like at Hartpury have very strict health and safety rules, and if you don’t have the correct attire, they will tell you to go home and you wont be able to go on the yard! I think I literally went to countrywide and just got the cheapest hat and gloves I could

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5) Suitable footwear (if you haven’t already)

If you haven’t already got a pair of wellies or yard boots then you need to buy some. That’s another thing that you definitely need to get! I already had wellies but I wanted to do some extra stuff around the yard and I also ended up helping my friend out with her horse and doing a bit of riding too. So I bought myself a pair of Muck Boots and also a pair of riding boots too. But again, these are literally just for your practicals on the yard and on the farm so cheap wellies will do absolutely fine!

6) A lab coat

Uni or college will recommend a lab coat. You do actually need a lab coat. Your practicals in the lab you have to wear a lab coat or you’ll be sent away – they are thatstrict. To be fair, the last thing you want is for your favourite jumper to be covered in a load of optic fluid when cutting open an eyeball.

A lot of student nurses often go out and buy fob watches, nursing scissors, thermometers and a stethoscope. But to be honest, you don’t actually need any of this equipment until your placement year. Obviously, if you’re going to be in practice alongside college, then yes your own stethoscope, fob watch and scissors etc may be useful! But again, it’s not a necessity. 

This list probably doesn’t include everything – and there’s obviously going to be more things that I’ve missed off – but I have tried to give you a sense of what you actually need instead of buying everything off the recommended list.

Good luck if you’re starting uni in the next coming weeks!

Laura SVN  x