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    Undergraduate

    Veterinary Nursing

    Course overview

    Registered Veterinary Nurses (RVN) perform a varied and integral role within the veterinary team.  Completing this award and meeting the required assessment criteria will allow graduates to apply to enter the register of veterinary nurses held by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), the regulatory body.   

    On entry to the course, you will enrol with the RCVS as a Student Veterinary Nurse (SVN).  During your placement periods within a veterinary practice, you will develop the practical skills you will require as an RVN. 

    The course will provide you with the practical, theoretical and technical skills required of an RVN. This will include use of evidence based veterinary nursing, leading to the completion of a dissertation in the final year. The Day One Skills and Day One Competencies required by the RCVS will be covered, in addition to advancing understanding and developing skills above and beyond this. You will be taught in interprofessional, specialist facilities. Teaching approaches will be varied to suit the subjects and allow you to develop independence and take responsibility for your own learning. This will support your development to become a reflective practitioner. Assessments will align with professional body (RCVS) requirements and utilise a range of assessment types. 

    Students undertaking the Veterinary Nursing with Companion Animal Behaviour pathway will study the diagnosis and treatment of behavioural problems, whereas students on the Veterinary Nursing with Small Animal Rehabilitation pathway will study rehabilitation of the veterinary inpatient. Those undertaking the honours degree in Veterinary Nursing will study leadership, business skills and consulting for veterinary nurses.

    Course key info

    Veterinary nursing overview  ❯

    UCAS code D314

    Institution code: H12

    Duration

    4 years (full-time) including a one-year work placement. A three year programme is available for applicants with at least two years, full-time relevant work experience.

    Location

    Harper Adams University campus (and location of work placement)

    Accredited by

    Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS)

    Discover Uni

    97.5%

    of our Harper Adams graduates are in employment or further study!

    Graduate Outcomes, 2024

    Learn about our placement advantage  ❯

    Entry requirements for 2025

    Our typical offer

    96-112 UCAS points for A level students. See below for details of entry requirements for other accepted qualifications.

    Full requirements

    Use the drop-down tool to select the qualifications you have or are working towards to see what grades would be required for access to this programme. If you can’t see your qualification or would like any assistance with entry requirements, please contact the Admissions team: admissions@harper-adams.ac.uk

    Course modules

    Module Table
    Year 1
    Year 2
    Year 3
    Year 4

    Let us be your guide...

    For course related enquiries please contact:

    Admissions
    Telephone: 0300 131 3950
    Email: admissions@harper-adams.ac.uk

    Work placement

    To obtain the nursing qualification a minimum of 1800 hours is spent working in a registered veterinary nurse training practice, both as a short block release and during the sandwich year. This hands-on experience complements the applied animal health, nursing, business and welfare sciences studied at Harper Adams.

    Careers

    Veterinary nursing is a career with lots of job satisfaction and there is a strong demand for registered veterinary nurses. Although the majority of RVNs work in general practice there are increasing opportunities for specialisation in different areas, such as patient rehabilitation and companion animal behaviour. Although primarily a companion animal qualification, the degree offers modules for those interested in other species, increasing the job opportunities available upon graduating.

    The pharmaceutical industry employs trained veterinary nurses. The degree also opens the door to wider opportunities concerning the health and welfare of animals.

    Accreditation

    Accredited by: Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS)

    Harper Adams’ courses are approved by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and the requirements for gaining the RCVS Veterinary Nursing Licence to Practice are written into the course structure, so you will not only have the skills and rights of a registered veterinary nurse but also those skills provided by an honours degree in science. Graduates in Veterinary Nursing will receive the Licence to Practice at graduation and will be able to register with the RCVS as a qualified veterinary nurse.

    Fees and costs

    The latest fees for this course can be found in our fees and funding section. You will also find course related costs, specific to this course in this area.

    Disclaimer

    Whilst every opportunity has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information on this course page, Harper Adams University wishes to emphasise that the content is regularly reviewed and is subject to change from time-to-time as required. Our courses undergo reviews to ensure they are flexible, relevant and as up-to-date as possible.

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