money

Re: money

Phrin Vernon RVN — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 23:13:33 GMT

I finally qualified in Jan 2011, and my wage went up to the grand sum of about 6.20 p/hr.... had to leave practice as I couldn't do on call any more due to personal circumstances.... I'm currently working as a kennel manager on 7.00 p/hr..

Re: money

Jo Oakden — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 16:27:19 GMT

I was on £15,000 gross as a newly qualified degree nurse. I was on 40hrs p/week and got paid overtime for OOH etc, however at £8per hour after tax it wasn't worth the overtime! I am now on slightly more now I am 5years qualified, but don't expect to get anymore than I am on until I go into senior nursing/management roles. Its a pain, my sister gets paid more than me as a hotel receptionist and she is 4years younger, its just one of those frustrating things, but I wanted to be a VN, it just depends what path you go down - commercial/referral/management/teaching.

Early years as a new grad are poorly paid in most places! yoru sister is just lucky and they must be a very affluent kennels, lucky her!

Re: money

Victoria Nielsen RVN — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 12:03:18 GMT

Less or more? I assume more than you?

Also depends on the practice you work in as well I guess?

Re: money

Anonymous — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 20:38:30 GMT

I just found out a vn that qualified this week is being paid )£3500 less then me. I have been nursing 13yr and yes same area as me. Not happy!

Re: money

Victoria Nielsen RVN — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 15:31:14 GMT

And it does depend on where you are in the country. That really reflects on what you are paid.

I am in Hertfordshire and get the London weighting as well, and as a Head Nurse, I'm paid quite well. Even more than newly qualified baby vets. But again, it depends on where you are as living costs are higher etc in London than in other places.

Don't give up! Look around, there are plenty of jobs around and plenty of opportunities to use your newly acquired qualification Congratulations!

Re: money

Vickipr — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 12:26:02 GMT

It is true what others have been saying about referral and HN paying more, but I wnated to add that animal charities (RSPCA/PDSA/ Blue Cross etc) all seem to pay firly well. I work for a charity, and the wages are slightly above average. It does help that I work in London because i get London weighting/living allowance, but without that, the basic wages is, as I said, slightly above average. I also find charity work extremely rewarding.

I think you maybe should look around before leaving nursing completely, especially as you have just qualified, it would be a shame not to use your qualification after all the hard work!

Re: money

Sal the 1st — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 22:55:37 GMT

well anybody who isnt happy always has the option to look for something else. Its a choice we all have - so its either put up with it and be unhappy or look around. There is another option which probably wont go down well either and that is to find ways of bringing money into the practice yourself that will enable your bosses to pay a better wage. Wages arent always down to bosses paying the minimum - they are often down to what the practice can afford

Re: money

Fuzzyduck — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 22:48:39 GMT

Sounds like maybe you just need a change of practice before you think about a change of career in total.

If all your college friends get paid more than you, maybe your practice is one that pays very poorly, why not apply for a few jobs and see if you get offered a better deal. VNs do get paid poorly generally but there are some practices out there that pay relatively well, maybe think of a move in to referral if there is a clinic near enough to you as they generally pay better.

However if money is more important to you and you want a well paid job and you wont be happy not well paid, maybe nursing isnt for you.

Re: money

Julie-Anne Wilson — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 22:22:17 GMT

I don't think it's so much that your bosses think that but more the cost of running a practice. As a Vet Nurse, you KNOW that the upkeep/maintenance/replacement of equipment is expensive along with keeping your drugs fully stocked and paying ALL the staff, not just you.

I hate that people always blame their bosses, most practices in the same area will have roughly the same wages so it's not just your bosses.

Re: money

Vicky Dalton-Placzek — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 22:10:24 GMT

She is working in a dog kennels. I just get annoyed when people say 'well you know what to expect' just because we come into this job because we enjoy it should we not get paid decently enough? The wages in this area, west sussex and surrounding areas, are soo varied. The only comparison I can male is that all my college friends got paid more than me and none of them do any on call! I find it galling that bosses use our love of the job to use the excuse that, well at least you like going to work, well quite frankly I don't and have even started considering getting out of nursing despite the fact I've just qualified. I have my other half to think of in terms of getting a mortgage, actually being able to sleep in our own bed, and living our own lives without having to manage to fit it in around being on call!

Re: money

Tracy Windler RVN — Tue, 29 May 2012 18:58:49 GMT

I think its one thing comparing a rewarding, fulfilling vocation such as Vet Nursing on a relatively low wage with a job in business, or IT etc. Its a different world and it can (and will!) drive you mad. But I think the OP is quite justified in feeling put out with her sister being in a similar industry and earning more at a young age. To answer your question, I would expect to be earning between £14-15K for a position that you describe, as a newly qualified nurse, but that could vary a little depending on how long you've been there and where abouts in the country you are.

If a kennel assistant is on £2k more than that, I would like to know where she's working and if they have any jobs going!! (Is it a kennel asst in a kennels, or a vets?)

Re: money

Gillian Mostyn — Tue, 29 May 2012 16:41:20 GMT

make sure you compare houly rate not yearly salary - a few more hours a week will make a vast difference.

Re: money

Fuzzyduck — Mon, 28 May 2012 21:59:38 GMT

I would focus, not on what you earn now but what you have the potential to earn.

Your sister may earn more now, but realistically the scope for her to earn much more as a kennel assistant is pretty minimal.

However as you are only just qualified as your career progresses you should hopefully move up the pay scale. And while VNs are never destined to earn mega bucks, if you were to move in to referral, or a HN role for example your pay will increase accordingly

Re: money

Steph Worsley — Mon, 28 May 2012 21:03:33 GMT

well said Sal....my brother earns probably near £40k a year and I obviously dont, however I have the love of the job and the job satisfaction 99% of the time, so yes sometimes I wish I earnt that much but then I look at what he does stuck behind a desk and realise I have the better deal out of both of us!!

Re: money

Sal the 1st — Mon, 28 May 2012 20:55:26 GMT

well we all know when we come into this job it isnt the best of pay. I could go and work for Aldi now and be 2 pounds an hour better off but would I enjoy what I was doing? I depends on what you want out of life really , a job you enjoy or a job that pays bigger bucks - and very rarely will you find a job that ticks all the boxes.

Re: money

Stuart McQueen RVN MBVNA — Mon, 28 May 2012 17:23:29 GMT

Grrr... No comment!!!

Re: money

Sophie Bedford RVN CertVNECC — Mon, 28 May 2012 16:58:31 GMT

I went through trying to justify wage increases with someone else recently, there is a survey that the BVNA did a couple of years ago with average wages depending on area and qualified status. Have a look on their website - www.bvna.co.uk - if you go to Careers and then "what can I expect to earn" there is an option to download the survey.

Obviously this is based on the people who replied so take that into account when looking at it.

Hope this helps!