Hey Mistoffeles,
Did you do any AHEMS before you got to the UK - and which animals? So far what do you recommend for finding placements that we'll get the most out of?
if you're on the five year program, you're not allowed to do any AHEMS before starting classes, so i did not do anything previously. if you're on the four year program, you're allowed to do up to six weeks beforehand. however, getting an overseas placement approved is a little more challenging than one in the UK. it helps if you choose a placement that's already in the AHEMS database, because that means that previous students have been there. but, i don't know if you have access to that yet - did your welcome pack include a code to access the RVC intranet?
in any case, the placements have minimum numbers of animals, which are listed in the AHEMS book. So, that's 100 dairy cows, 25 horses, etc., etc. the dairy and sheep placements are supposed to be done in the UK (ideally) - but if you've got the experience previously, then submitting it for approval is a possibility.
note: the AHEMS placements are absolutely NOT intended to be clinical - so, for example, you can't count working a a vet nurse at a SA clinic as AHEMS, even if there was no kennel staff and the techs did the cleaning. the one exception (i think) is that work as a nurse at an equine hospital *may* be acceptable for AHEMS if a significant husbandry component was involved. primarily, for LA you're supposed to have experience with breeding herds, and for SA it's supposed to be breeding or boarding. special species are subject to registry approval, and in the past it's been challenging to get them approved - the AHEMS registry has taken the view that placements are meant to be generalizable, not specific.
with all that said, we have a new overall director of EMS this term, with a reputation for being very interested in making sure that the students get as much out of their placements as possible, so we're still waiting to see what if anything is going to change.
🙂
. I am in constant turmoil... "no way will I get it, there are plenty of others better than I" and then "well, why NOT you!?" The voices in my head are out of control.
