Category: Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing

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Hospital visit by service dog sparked EIT student’s love for animals | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

2 hours ago

Riva-Lee Habib is currently studying the Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing at EIT.

A visit by a service dog while Riva-Lee Habib was in hospital as a child, sparked a love for animals that has seen her study veterinary nursing at EIT.

Riva-Lee (Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti iwi) was born and raised in Tolaga Bay and attended Tolaga Bay Area School & Kahukuranui.

The 18-year-old says that she was fairly ill with a life-long condition as a child and spent some time in hospital. It was there that she received a visit from a service dog that changed her outlook on life.

“It made me realise how happy they made me and how they helped me get through it.”

Riva-Lee, who is currently studying  Year 1 of the Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing, says that growing up around animals also helped foster her love for them.

An incentive for entering the programme was that she received a Year-13 Scholarship from EIT. The Year 13 Scholarship, which is offered annually by EIT, covers one year of tuition fees. The Scholarship supports school leavers across the Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti regions to study any one of EIT’s degrees or selected level 5 diploma programmes that lead into a degree by providing one year FREE study.

She also won a Walter William McLean Educational Trust Scholarship, which is funded by Gisborne’s Gowerville Station, the farm once owned by McLean. Another honour was the Prime Minister’s Vocational Excellence Award.

One of the things that Riva-Lee loves about the programme is how hands-on it is.

“They have us doing a lot of practicals and working with animals. I also enjoy the friendships we make and the lecturers are there to support us.”

Next year will see Riva-Lee proceed to the second year of the Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing , and she is looking forward to going on a placement in Gisborne as part of the programme. She will then continue on to the final year of the Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing (Level 7).

But that is just the start of her plans as she plans to then enrol in the Bachelor of Business Studies through EIT with the aim of opening her own vet clinic on the East Coast.

“I want to open up a clinic because there is not much access for people on the East Coast to get their animals checked out.”

Asked why she loves animals so much, Riva-Lee says: “It’s just how pure they are. People may see animals as vicious, but it’s just the upbringing that they have. Once you actually get to connect with them, they can be sweet and comfortable.”

Emma Martin, EIT’s Veterinary Nursing Programme Co-ordinator said: “It has been a pleasure having Riva-Lee join our programme. Her long-term goal of making animal healthcare more accessible across the East Coast highlights her strong commitment to improving animal health and welfare while supporting her local community. Riva-Lee has built meaningful connections with her classmates and is an excellent team player. Her dedication to her studies is evident, as she frequently participates in study groups after class, and this effort is reflected in her work and academic success”

“Riva-Lee has also made a strong impression during her work placements in Gisborne, where she has effectively applied her learning in a practical setting. She has seamlessly integrated into the team, contributing with enthusiasm while enjoying the experience. “

“We look forward to seeing Riva-Lee continue to grow in the degree programme and become a strong advocate for her patients, clients, and the Veterinary Nursing profession.”

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Becoming a rural animal technician the aim for EIT student | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

42 seconds ago

Ella Cooke, 19, is currently studying Year One of the Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing.

A love for animals and a desire to work as a rural animal technician is what is driving an EIT student to succeed.

Ella Cooke, 19, is currently studying year one of the Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing. She has grown up with animals and currently lives on an orchard outside Hastings with her parents.

She attended Iona College last year and came into EIT with a number of scholarships. One was a Year-13 Scholarship from EIT, which is offered annually, and covers one year of tuition fees. The Scholarship supports school leavers across the Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti regions to study any one of EIT’s degrees or selected level 5 diploma programmes that lead into a degree by providing one year FREE study.

She also won a scholarship from Vet Services Hawke’s Bay, as well as a Prime Minister’s Vocational Excellence Award.

“I just love animals and love to care for animals and I’ve had four dogs and a cat in my life.”

Ella says that she is loving the programme, especially the hands-on work with animals.

“It is not just about attending lectures, but we also actually get to work with animals. We get to learn how to handle the animals properly.”

“I want to get my qualification, and then I eventually want to work with large animals – livestock – and visit farms.”

One of the things that Ella loves about EIT, is that it is close to home and she did not have to move out of Hawke’s Bay to achieve her tertiary education dreams.

Work experience is an important part of the programme, and Ella is due to return to Vet Services in Hastings, where she has been before.

Emma Martin, EIT’s Veterinary Nursing Programme Co-ordinator said: “Ella has been a pleasure to have in the programme this year. She has come out of her shell, taking full advantage of every learning opportunity and making the most of her experiences. “

“Ella has received excellent feedback from her clinical placement at Vet Services in Hastings, where she has impressed with her skills and professionalism. She works exceptionally well in a team and has built a strong network of classmates, combining fun with learning experiences. We are excited to see what the future holds for Ella as we continue to support her in reaching her final goals.”

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Caring for sick animals and helping them get better prompted student to study vet nursing at EIT | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

6 hours ago

Bayle Smith, 18, is currently studying the NZ Certificate in Animal Technology (Level 5).

Caring for sick animals and helping them get better prompted Bayle Smith to study vet nursing at EIT.

A life-long animal lover, Bayle, who was born in South Carolina, USA, moved back to New Zealand as a youngster and has grown up in Hawke’s Bay.

Bayle, 18, is currently studying the NZ Certificate in Animal Technology (Level 5), with the aim of completing the Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (Level 6), with the option of going on to finish the Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing.

Bayle was in Year 12 at Napier Girls’ High last year when she decided to leave school and go straight into the Veterinary Nursing programme, because she knew that’s what she wanted to do.

While she was at school she had to do some extra assessments and credits to qualify to enrol at EIT.

“I did a  few extracurricular assessments in my English class to have the right amount of credits. I had a couple of meetings with the coordinator before that and she gave me some help with working it out.”

“I love animals and I have an interest in the anaesthetic side of things and looking after the patients. I grew up watching the Irwins so my dream job is to work  at a zoo with exotic animals, but the first step is doing small animals before you get to the large animals.”

“I’m on my second work experience placement at the moment where I get put in a clinic and it’s making me realise that I definitely want this career. I love to look after and monitor the sick animals and make sure that they get better.”

Bayle’s first placement was at a Vet Clinic in Hastings, while she is now experiencing things on the frontline at a clinic in Hamilton.

Her love of animals stems from her time growing up on a farm in Eskdale.

“When I was a little kid, I was always out in the paddock playing with the animals. We would bring in the orphaned lambs and baby goats to look after them. So, I’ve grown up my whole life around animals and loved looking after them.”

“I’ve also volunteered at Riding for the Disabled and SPCA, so when I decided to go into veterinary nursing, it certainly did not feel like a job. I could happily do it free and go volunteer, because that is what it is all about.”

Bayle says she is loving the programme and particularly enjoys the interaction with lecturers, who she says are keen to pass on their knowledge to students.

“I do want to go all the way to my Bachelor’s degree. Obviously, I’m just at the start of it, but I definitely know that I’m going to continue with it for sure.”

“I came into this programme knowing some things, but not a lot. But, I have learnt so much in my lectures and on my placement. This programme really sets you up well for a good career.”

Emma Martin, EIT’s Veterinary Nursing Programme Co-ordinator & Lecturer said: “As Programme Coordinator for the veterinary nursing programmes at EIT, I first met Bayle in 2023 at our temporary offices on Vautier Street. At the time, she was still in school, working through her NCEA journey. “

“We had a great conversation about her potential career options, and it was clear that Bayle was passionate about animals, providing care, and showing compassion to both pets and their owners. After discussing the academic entry criteria, Bayle returned to school with a clear goal, and we were delighted to welcome her into the veterinary nursing programme this year.”

“Since joining, Bayle has demonstrated herself to be a keen and eager learner, always striving to deepen her understanding of the many concepts we teach. She has been making the most of her learning opportunities, both in the classroom and during her work placements. We are thrilled to see her continued focus and enthusiasm as she pursues her studies and works towards entering the veterinary nursing profession.”