Whats the average salary of RVN?

Re: Whats the average salary of RVN?

Teri-Ann Baldwin — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 08:29:59 GMT

Myself and my friends who qualified at the same time all left uni to go in to jobs we'd (very luckily) found. I earn more than they do but none of us have extra qualifications or more experience or anything, it's just because of the areas we work in. I work in south wales and a lot of my friends are in the south of england. I do think that the area can affect wage sometimes as a lot of practices here have found it difficult to find RVNs. However, i didn't get in to my job to have a lot of money, i did it because i love the job, i've always loved the idea of the job and i always will. I do my work because it makes me happy, yes it would be lovely to be able to afford things (like an actual food shop ha!) and not be scraping money at the end of the month but at the end of the day if i wanted to earn lots of money i should have chosen a different career path, or become a WAG :P

I definitely think all veterinary professionals deserve more praise than they deserve and it's not nice when we get told 'you charge this much but you earn xx,xxx a year' (when obviously we don't and they don't realise some of the hours we work e.g. staying till midnight when you finish at 6pm) but that's the territory, if we had a pet nhs people would behave differently and be way more greatful (although my friend's a trainee doctor and they get treated like rubbish too).

Definitely a job where you have to appreciate the self satisfaction from the job!

Re: Whats the average salary of RVN?

Amy Homer. RVN. NCert A&CC — Tue, 15 Oct 2013 19:21:46 GMT

i completely agree with you siobhan, it shouldnt matter how great your job is, you should be paid a decent wage for it. x

Re: Whats the average salary of RVN?

Siobhan Steven — Tue, 15 Oct 2013 13:47:44 GMT

I am on the equivalent of 18 pounds an hour, I work at a university... having said that I work with Veterinarians who have done ridiculous amounts of further education and have many letters after their name and their pay does not justify the time and effort invested in their careers and maybe never will. Even if they branch out and open their own clinic they will be up to their neck in debt...but having said that, with all the grief that comes with politics and personalities where I work I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. You don't have to choose between rubbish pay vs good job and good pay vs rubbish job, there are good jobs out there, it is just an industry that will probably never be appreciated the way we think it should.

Re: Whats the average salary of RVN?

Gillian Mostyn — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 22:37:59 GMT

[quote user="Wispa"]I work for a charity clinic, and we do let our clients know exactly how much things cost.[/quote]

Wish they were all like you.

Re: Whats the average salary of RVN?

Wispa — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 20:20:52 GMT

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"] I would also argue that some charity clinics, while doing excellent work, also let us down by making the same mistake as the NHS and not making clients realise what their pet's care actually cost![/quote]

I work for a charity clinic, and we do let our clients know exactly how much things cost. Each client who leaves our building does so with a breakdown of how much they have cost the charity, and they're asked to base their contribution on this breakdown. some will actually cover the cost of the treatment, but others will give nothing.

Re: Whats the average salary of RVN?

azlana — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 13:10:57 GMT

I feel alot of the poblem with RVN pay is that there are so many new grad foreign vets (not going where you think) coming over and are accepting work for minimum wage in order to get into practice and get their MRCVS hours required if not seen. These poor vets are used as vaccine cows and dont get do do an awful lot but because they are willing to work for so less. practices negate the cost of employng another RVN and supliment with cheap vet labout for a year or so as they can get more clients through thje door. Alot of these vets work as nurses aswell almost. untill thi is addressed and these vets are paid at the rates they deserve for the study they have put in and experience they may have then out wage is always going to sit down low.

I have worked in a few practices and earned a great wage with an increase each year and a bouns for any courses taken/articles written gave you a bonus (refferal) The current practice I am working in I have worked out I am on about £10 an hour give or take a few pence. I am really happy for the moment. I feel i am on a decent wage for a RVN.

Re: Whats the average salary of RVN?

Gillian Mostyn — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 11:15:45 GMT

[quote user="Amy Homer. RVN. NCert A&CC"]I think alot of beople are drawn to vet nursing because it is a good job, without really realising how poorly paid it can be. its not as simple for some just to say ' well i dont get paid enough so il find something else to do'. many of us have worked our asses off in order to qualify, have sacrificed things along the way, and just want to be paid fairly. [/quote]

Unfortunately this situation is not solely the domain of the vet nurse. Vets also 'work their asses off' (very few jobs require more dedication in order to qualify) and yet the average new grad will be on similar to a policeman and a teacher, and will be on a very restricted pay scale unless they buy their own practice - thereby incurring debts well into the 100,000s and having the responsibilities and stresses of management. Even after this, a partner is unlikely to approach the salary of a senior civil servant.

I am not complaining - vets are never poor. But what a nurse is paid depends on what the practice earns and the practice principal(s) only earn what is left AFTER EVERYONE ELSE IS PAID. Most practices simply cannot afford to pay more, or the owner would only earn what they would as an assistant. Would you take on the debt, stress and responsibilities of ownership to only earn the same as your staff? Just think - if every member of staff in your practice only earned £1000 per year more, how much would that reduce the principal's income.....

The veterinary profession is limited by what people are willing to pay. We can try to improve our services and charge fairly but this is not helped at all by some practices continuing to do 'loss leaders' - giving the impression that others are overcharging. I would also argue that some charity clinics, while doing excellent work, also let us down by making the same mistake as the NHS and not making clients realise what their pet's care actually cost!

It is a frustrating situation and I assure you practice owners would love to pay their staff a lot more!

Re: Whats the average salary of RVN?

Sal the 1st — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 10:09:30 GMT

[quote user="Amy Homer. RVN. NCert A&CC"]

hey, im not here to start an argument about it.

! its a forum and i am putting my opinion across.

we are highly trained people, and this should be reflected in our pay! that is all im saying. x

[/quote]

and neither was I - you stated your opinion I stated mine - nothing more. Not everybody places the same value on the same things.

Re: Whats the average salary of RVN?

Amy Homer. RVN. NCert A&CC — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 06:41:05 GMT

hey, im not here to start an argument about it.

! its a forum and i am putting my opinion across.

we are highly trained people, and this should be reflected in our pay! that is all im saying. x

Re: Whats the average salary of RVN?

Sal the 1st — Sun, 13 Oct 2013 21:16:03 GMT

[quote user="Amy Homer. RVN. NCert A&CC"]

although, in order for veterinary nursing to move forward and be accepted as a profession, we have to be given more of a defined role, and hopefully wages will follow suit.

[/quote]

And if that role is not given more definition?

You hope, but I doubt - the two do not necessarily go hand in glove

Re: Whats the average salary of RVN?

Sal the 1st — Sun, 13 Oct 2013 21:11:31 GMT

[quote user="Amy Homer. RVN. NCert A&CC"]

true, but it infuriates me when i hear of rvn's who have been qualified years, working for minimum wage or there abouts!! sorry but thats a JOKE!

[/quote]

would just like to point out I qualified in 96 - started in practice in 84 and the above mentioned hourly rate is just a little less than I earn an hour. I have worked in jobs that have paid me a lot more and I have been really miserable because for me some of these places were just not friendly practices to work in - a couple of them have pushed me right to the edge and very nearly to making the decision to get out of vet nursing altogether (their glowing description of themselves in the job ads were lets say more fiction than fact).

It really depends on what you want from the job. So for you that rate may be a joke but for some of us it is acceptable because we place a greater value on actual working conditions.

Re: Whats the average salary of RVN?

Amy Homer. RVN. NCert A&CC — Sun, 13 Oct 2013 19:12:35 GMT

although, in order for veterinary nursing to move forward and be accepted as a profession, we have to be given more of a defined role, and hopefully wages will follow suit.

I think alot of beople are drawn to vet nursing because it is a good job, without really realising how poorly paid it can be. its not as simple for some just to say ' well i dont get paid enough so il find something else to do'. many of us have worked our asses off in order to qualify, have sacrificed things along the way, and just want to be paid fairly.

personnaly, i am happy with my salary package, but i really feel for people who arent

Re: Whats the average salary of RVN?

Amy Homer. RVN. NCert A&CC — Sun, 13 Oct 2013 16:38:58 GMT

true, but it infuriates me when i hear of rvn's who have been qualified years, working for minimum wage or there abouts!! sorry but thats a JOKE!

Re: Whats the average salary of RVN?

Sal the 1st — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 21:04:39 GMT

[quote user="Amy Homer. RVN. NCert A&CC"]

sorry to disagree but i do not think £7- £8 is a good wage! its insulting that as RVNs we are taken advantage off. a human nurse would be paid alot more

[/quote]

Yes and human nurses are public sector employees mostly - paid for out of the public purse. When veterinary nurses are also public sector employees and paid for out of the public purse then this would be a valid argument but until then it just doesnt hold water. I very much doubt there are any veterinary practices or corporates out there that have the kind of budget the NHS enjoys.

Everybody has choices - you can either do a job that pays big bucks and be financially happier or do a job you enjoy and earn less money, its very very rare that you will find a job that will give you both. If you accept the job then you accept the conditions that go with it, if you find the conditions are not to your liking then you move along to somewhere that is, nobody forces anybody to stay. To some extent I agree that nurses are taken advantage of in that they have been loaded with greater responsibilities, but then there are those of you who are not happy with the wage and think it is too low that are fighting for even more responsibilities and the ability to be able to do even more?

Nurses wanting and getting more responsibilities doesnt necessarily equate with employers wanting to pay them more. Maybe something that needs to be thought through a little more before some of you start having any more bright ideas on what we should and shouldnt be doing

Re: Whats the average salary of RVN?

Amy Homer. RVN. NCert A&CC — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 20:13:04 GMT

sorry to disagree but i do not think £7- £8 is a good wage! its insulting that as RVNs we are taken advantage off. a human nurse would be paid alot more, but i also think that as long as we are happy to work for pennys, it will keep happening! very frustrating!

Re: Whats the average salary of RVN?

funkyfish — Thu, 10 Oct 2013 10:06:07 GMT

I've just worked out that I earn £8.30 an hour. I've been qualified for 14 years and 16 years in practice, which doesn't sound like a lot. But I've moved to a practice where I work amazing hours (8-2 6 days a week), no OOh and I have plenty of time for a life and all my animals/hobbies, so I'm happy with it.

Re: Whats the average salary of RVN?

Sal the 1st — Wed, 09 Oct 2013 21:06:45 GMT

[quote user="Fuzzyduck"]£7.69 is an ok salary for a relatively newly qualified nurse I would say. Up to maybe 4 or 5 years post qualified. My salary has risen steadily over the 14 years I've been nursing but I have moved round jobs in order to get pay rises as I found staying in 1 place, the wages never really increased. It's true you are never going to be a millionaire, most people I know only own their own house when bought with a partner/husband. But that's the same in a lot of industries not just vet nursing. There are ways to get a better wage, you don't have to just put up with it. Move to a larger hospital type practice as they often pay more, or move in to referral as they always pay more. Repping for drugs companies or lecturing are another couple of options which usually pay more than small first opinion practices. Ultimately you have to find a place that pays you a salary you are happy with, it doesn't matter what everyone else is earning, if you are happy and able to live on a low wage, great, if you are not, then do something about it!

[/quote]

thats pretty much the way I think

and as to unions - good luck with that one I used to be a member of one of the big nationals. Took a grievance to them which I had already tried to resolve myself with my boss at the time - their reaction 'only an idiot would have signed that contract (referring to my contract ) and now you are stuck with it'. So what did the union do for me - bog all and it cost me nearly £3 a week for the privilege. I am very anti unions I am afraid - they are trouble

Re: Whats the average salary of RVN?

Fuzzyduck — Wed, 09 Oct 2013 17:40:35 GMT

£7.69 is an ok salary for a relatively newly qualified nurse I would say. Up to maybe 4 or 5 years post qualified. My salary has risen steadily over the 14 years I've been nursing but I have moved round jobs in order to get pay rises as I found staying in 1 place, the wages never really increased. It's true you are never going to be a millionaire, most people I know only own their own house when bought with a partner/husband. But that's the same in a lot of industries not just vet nursing. There are ways to get a better wage, you don't have to just put up with it. Move to a larger hospital type practice as they often pay more, or move in to referral as they always pay more. Repping for drugs companies or lecturing are another couple of options which usually pay more than small first opinion practices. Ultimately you have to find a place that pays you a salary you are happy with, it doesn't matter what everyone else is earning, if you are happy and able to live on a low wage, great, if you are not, then do something about it!

Re: Whats the average salary of RVN?

emmadilemma — Wed, 09 Oct 2013 13:13:01 GMT

I agree with you Sal that no-one is ever going to get rich in veterinary nursing but I don`t agree that we should sit back and take poor working conditions just because we chose a caring profession. We need to keep fighting for fair pay and decent working hours it`s the least that anyone should expect in this day and age. And we need a decent union!!

Re: Whats the average salary of RVN?

Sal the 1st — Wed, 09 Oct 2013 11:32:52 GMT

welcome to the club - the only reason I have a house now is that my dad left me it in his will. But if its any consolation house ownership isnt all its cracked up to be, you still need money for repairs when things go wrong (or learn to hone your DIY skills pretty sharpish).

Lets face it nobody is going to make their millions from vet nursing. Its the price you have to pay if you choose the job the deal is you take the conditions that come with it.

Re: Whats the average salary of RVN?

Kizzy — Wed, 09 Oct 2013 10:08:17 GMT

If ive worked it out right my hourly wage is £7.69 so yearly salary is £15, 500

The thing is I dont how im ever going to be able to move out and own a house on this wage

Re: Whats the average salary of RVN?

Fuzzyduck — Sun, 06 Oct 2013 20:29:41 GMT

You need to work out your hourly rate, there is no good telling you what my salary is for example because if I said my salary is £20,000 I could be working 30 hours a week or 60 hours a week which would make the hourly rate anything from £12.82 an hour (very good wage) to £6.41 an hour (very bad wage!) Salary is pretty irrelevant. You need to look at your pay slip and divide the amount you earn before tax in to 4 then in to how ever many hours you work per week (average 37) you'll need to take off your lunch hours as these are generally unpaid. When your left with your hourly rate then you can work out if it's decent or not.

Re: Whats the average salary of RVN?

Kizzy — Fri, 04 Oct 2013 15:04:04 GMT

Thanks for everyones reply's its given me a bit to think about.

I dont do OOH just one saturday a month 8.30am-2.30pm

As nurses we do consultations in the evenings for 2-3 hours doing p/o, s/o, new puppy and kitten consults, nutrional advice you know all the usual and ive also started doing basic behavioural consults which im the only nurse that does that.

During the morning its operations where We put in I/V caths, pull up drugs/premeds, prep animal, anaesthetics, xrays, scale and polishs, take bloods ect

Re: Whats the average salary of RVN?

Amy Homer. RVN. NCert A&CC — Thu, 03 Oct 2013 21:20:15 GMT

But it also depends on night shifts/weekend work etc which I'm assuming u don't do. ? Sounds like a fairly good rota so I guess you have to weigh up if it's an equivalent x

Re: Whats the average salary of RVN?

Amy Homer. RVN. NCert A&CC — Thu, 03 Oct 2013 21:14:58 GMT

Hi Kizzy, I also work in bristol, and would think that a regular RVN ( ie not hvn) would be on at least 17500, maybe more if qualified a long time . ( that's yearly)