Recruiting qualified veterinary nurses is an ongoing challenge, with the demand far outstripping supply in many practices. Offering work placements to student veterinary nurses provides a practical and cost-effective solution to this issue. Here’s why it’s beneficial:
Nurture a future veterinary nurse with long-term potential
Supporting a student veterinary nurse gives your practice the opportunity to nurture and train someone who could later join your team full-time. It ensures they are well-versed in your protocols, culture, and values, making the transition smoother once they qualify. This also reduces future recruitment challenges, as the student becomes a qualified, familiar face who already understands the requirements of your practice.
You can host students for a one-off placement, or retain a student for the duration of their programme if you wish, giving you plenty of time to assess their development and contribution to the practice, at which point you could consider offering them paid employment. Not only this, you can interview the student beforehand if you wish to ensure they are a good fit with your team and practice.
Gain immediate staffing support
Whilst students are still in training, they can take on essential but non-specialised tasks within the practice. This helps alleviate workload pressures on your current team, freeing up qualified veterinary nurses and veterinary surgeons for more complex procedures. Although they are unpaid, student nurses often become a valuable asset to the practice, contributing to daily operations.
Low-cost recruitment option
With no wages or course fees to pay, and no additional insurance required – taking on a placement student is a low-cost way to gain an extra pair of hands in practice and support the next generation of veterinary professionals.
Extensive employer support from CAW
We offer practices who work with us free clinical supervisor training, an allocated IQA to support your practice and we can guide you through the TP approval process if applicable.
Offering placements contributes to the wider veterinary community by helping to train the next generation of nurses. It supports the industry’s growth and ensures a steady flow of well-prepared professionals into the workforce. For practices committed to the long-term success of veterinary nursing, this is a vital step.
Grow your own veterinary nurse with our Practice Placement Scheme
We currently have diploma and degree level student veterinary nurses looking for unpaid work placements in veterinary practices across the UK. If you would like to have an informal, non-obligatory chat, to talk through your options and any concerns/queries, please call our team on 01480 422060 or leave your details below and we will call you. You can find out more about our Practice Placement Scheme here.