Receptionist Pay

Re: Receptionist Pay

Claire Cameron — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 08:06:40 GMT

Who knows, I understand that they are the face of the practice etc etc but when your nurses also do the recep role and are highly skilled, qualified members of staff I personally find it insulting. esp at my old practice where even unexperienced reception staff were paid more than QVNs. grrr lol xx

Re: Receptionist Pay

Katy — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 07:54:19 GMT

[quote user="MissVetNurse"]

[quote user="Katy"]

So don't dismiss the receptionists until you've tried it yourself! (Whilst simultaneously mopping the floor and answering the phone!!!)

[/quote]

Been there and got the T shirt, which is why it annoys me that they get paid more than us QVNs as I regularly do their job and mine and everyone elses. I dont mind doing it - i quite enjoy reception but stil dont see why they get paid more than an experienced QVN

[/quote]

I wonder why that is though? Why do certain bosses/companies think that a receptionists job is harder than a VNs? It's madness!

Re: Receptionist Pay

Claire Cameron — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 22:41:21 GMT

[quote user="Katy"]

So don't dismiss the receptionists until you've tried it yourself! (Whilst simultaneously mopping the floor and answering the phone!!!)

[/quote]

Re: Receptionist Pay

Katy — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 22:06:46 GMT

You lot are all SOOO lucky!

We are a small practice so we have NO receptionists! That's right!

So part of my job is manning reception for most of the day when i'm not assisting with ops and cleaning!!!

I actually don't mind it as I come from a customer service background. I enjoy getting to know the clients and patients outside the op room and kennels, and getting to meet new patients too.

So we get to deal with crap off clients, answer the phones, admit and discharge patients. So you're all quite lucky really! We also have to dispense medication too.

My job description is quite big even though i'm not qualified!

So don't dismiss the receptionists until you've tried it yourself! (Whilst simultaneously mopping the floor and answering the phone!!!)

Re: Receptionist Pay

Claire Cameron — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 08:43:44 GMT

Another point I'd like to add......

My last practice were advertising for receptionist and one application was a QVN returning to work after maternity (but couldnt do VN hours anymore so decided to do reception)

My old boss offered her the post and said

"She used to be a VN, we can offer her a lower salary than the others as she's been a nurse on nurses wages so wont be expecting much" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry...I'm tired - finished late and early start today (I don't do mornings very well) and this is a personal gripe of mine so excuse the rambling

Re: Receptionist Pay

Claire Cameron — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 08:38:10 GMT

[quote user="STRVN"]

Some places the receptionist do get grand ideas though, and think they are a cut above and will willingly tell what they are on, knowing full well what some of the nurses get paid, as us nurses are always moaning about pay .........totally justified in my opinion, then a lot of receptionists will divulge, if only to make themselves "more important " than you.And I am not saying they are not, because I was one and they are very important, but I have done both jobs and think a QVN should be on more than a receptionist.

This is only what I have experienced in past employment.But I will be guessing most receptionists are definitely on more than a SVN, and a great number on more than a QVN.

[/quote]

I agree whole heartedly with you here, at a place I used to work at we had 2 receptionists who (in a lot of peoples opinion) weren't very good, they gave out incorrect medical advice, told nurses how to do their job and had poor client communication skills and still got paid more than us QVN's! Makes me mad when reception work is part of my job and I pride myself on my abilities yet even unskilled receptionists got paid more than us.

I understand that a receptionist is face of the practice etc etc but without the nurses who provide a high standard of nursing care and also interact with the clients where would you be?! I for one wouldn't like to go to a practice with a nice receptionist but a horrible nurse.....

Sorry for the rambling. just a sore point

Re: Receptionist Pay

Maisy — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 20:29:12 GMT

Our receptionists are certainly on more than the students. Their hourly pay looks pretty good though as most are part time, this needs to be taken into account. Have worked with a couple of receptionists who loved to inform the nursing staff just how much they earnt knowing that it was more than even the Head VN was on!

Re: Receptionist Pay

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 23:36:00 GMT

This is only what I have experienced in past employment.But I will be guessing most receptionists are definitely on more than a SVN, and a great number on more than a QVN.

Re: Receptionist Pay

Saskia Quinn — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 23:22:14 GMT

Thats fair enough Sandra, though personally, I wouldnt like the receptionist to know what I am getting paid, simply because I wouldnt want to know what they are getting as I fear it is most likely more than me and for that reason, I would resent them

Re: Receptionist Pay

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 23:10:59 GMT

Because contrary to belief, Nurses and receptionists talk about pay, especially if one or the other has a gripe about it, and being a Vet receptionist before I was a nurse........ well I know what they get paid.

Re: Receptionist Pay

Vicky RVN — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 23:08:11 GMT

I did a stint of reception work at the practice i now work in as a trainee VN...i think i was on £7.50 from what i can remember! Which is pretty damn good compared to what i'm on now! But saying that, i wouldn't want to be a receptionist for anything with the crap they sometimes have to deal with from clients. I was only doing it for a while whilst i was looking for a training position, and that was long enough for me thank you very much!

Re: Receptionist Pay

Gillian Mostyn — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 22:59:56 GMT

I was wondering that too SaskiaVN!

Just to make a controversial point, it is VERY hard to find a good receptionist - they are the face of the practice and need to have a wide range of skills. It is easier to find an animal nurse or trainee on the whole. Thus a good receptionist is paid better than an animal nurse/trainee in most practices. I'd say somewhere around £6.50 ph would be normal for a new receptionist. Obviously a VN should be on more than this though.

Re: Receptionist Pay

Saskia Quinn — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 22:54:27 GMT

[quote user="FINNIGAN"]

our receptionist is on 14k , thats more than us!!!

[/quote]

how do you know what pay your receptionist is on?

Re: Receptionist Pay

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 22:49:25 GMT

A lot of vet receptionist get paid a lot more then QVN, I have seen this on a lot of occassions.And to think I gave up reception work to become a VN

Re: Receptionist Pay

FINNIGAN — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 22:47:24 GMT

our receptionist is on 14k , thats more than us!!!

Re: Receptionist Pay

Shane — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 14:32:45 GMT

thanks a lot, was thinking probably in that region. Not a bad salary for someone who justs wants some part-time work as a 2nd income in a family.

Re: Receptionist Pay

Claire Cameron — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 14:14:43 GMT

Hiya,

I'm not sure what salary they get but in my first job the receptionists got paid more than QVN's! Even new receptionists with no experience!

I think around £6 an hour if I remember from speaking to a colleague recently