Hey, I'm an RVN currently going through Vet Med applications so I'll tell you my experiences
Are you doing the Diploma or Degree? Hope it's all going well.
So at GCSE I achieved all As and Bs but was told not good enough to do Vet Med related A levels. Chose random A levels and did terribly as I felt I had no direction. Fell into nursing at an amazing local hospital who then sent me to college and I qualified in 2016 with the diploma. Since then, I've worked in a University Referral Hospital and have done charity work abroad with smallies and large exotics and all of these experiences made me decide that Vet Med is definitely a career I wanted to pursue.
I contacted the RVC, Bristol and Nottingham regarding entry protocol. Nottingham DO take/ consider applicants with vocational qualifications such as Vet Nursing Diplomas subject to experience and individual application. There was a miscommunication with the RVC and they told me to do an Access to HE Course in Science in place of A levels as the Nursing diploma isn't accepted (it's a level 3 course that is like Science A levels condensed and squished into 1 year). Turns out this is incorrect as because I already have A levels they cannot accept me as an applicant (despite being an RVN and achieving all the highest grades on Access assignments so far) as the mistakes of you past taint all your future applications apparently. They might consider me for 2020 application if I'm unsuccessful this year to other Unis depending on my grades. You won't get onto an accelerated course with the diploma it has to be a degree post grad application. So you're looking at the 5 or 6 year depending on Uni.
Bristol take the Access to HE course as route of application, RVC would too if you achieved the grades- both for the five year course. Nottingham you can apply with an Access course or as an RVN- but will be subject to your whole experience and they will put you on the 6 year course. I believe Liverpool have their own Access to Medicine course. I'm happy I'm doing the Access course as I feel it'll hold me in good stead alongside the fresh out of A level students if/ when I get in. I could do a related degree as means of entry if unsuccessful but I'm not getting any younger so I'd rather have a crack with the access course/ my nursing and see.
I was interviewed last week for Nottingham and really enjoyed the whole day and if I'm not successful this time I'm going to reapply. I was rejected from RVC on grounds of A levels, and I'm on hold for Bristol. I didn't apply to other vet schools so can't speak for them.
So it is possible. I think you have to consider how different the job roles are but nurses CAN make amazing Vets. Two of the best vets I know were RVNs and one of the best Vet Students I know was an RVN too.
If you don't try you'll never know!
Hope any of that ramble helps!
(If any nurses read this and have taken the jump from VN to VS can we chat about your experience!!)
xx