Is veterinary nursing a vocation?

Re: Is veterinary nursing a vocation?

Jennifer — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 11:49:08 GMT

I most certainly think it is a Vocation. We could all sit in call centers doing a 9-5, with no evening or weekend work, get double time pay for any overtime we done. Getting a bonus is a regular thins and better holidays, never mind being better paid to start with.

I often have people say " I don't know how you do it" but I love my job, I love it so much i do my normal 40 hours in one place and have a weekend job in an emergency out of hours, just for the satisfaction and experience i get from it. Tthe high percentage of people who drop out of vet nursing, when still in college, is testament to it being a vocation. I had people on my course who thought being a vet nurse meant cuddling cute pups,playing with cats and walking dogs all day. Well didn't they get a shock when they went to their first placement.

Re: Is veterinary nursing a vocation?

catherinedean — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 21:14:06 GMT

Following from Katie, I found freeonlinesurveys.com better than Survey Monkey, as it was cheaper (about £7 a month) and it compiled the results into a better spreadsheet so you don't have to do much sorting of the data at the end!

Re: Is veterinary nursing a vocation?

LinziC17 — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 19:23:22 GMT

Thanks Katie, for your tip on Survey Monkey! When it comes to doing my full assignment, I will definitely consider doing this!

Re: Is veterinary nursing a vocation?

Katie Mansfield — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 12:18:23 GMT

Hi Linzi,

Might be interesting if you did a Survey Monkey type survey? You'd get the answers to the exact questions you were thinking of then.

Would also be very interesting if you asked members of the general public what they thought.

Yes - this profession is def a vocation in my opinion. You have to really love a job where the hours are long, the money's crap and you get to do a lot of cleaning!!!!! Takes a special person to do it (in all meanings of the word lol)

K x

Re: Is veterinary nursing a vocation?

fairy — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 22:03:25 GMT

I also think that any caring profession should have caring people that are passionate about what they do every day. If you can take or leave a caring role, should you think about working in another field?

Re: Is veterinary nursing a vocation?

fairy — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 21:58:38 GMT

I would say a vocation would be a job that you are passionate about and that you love so much that you can't imagine doing anything else. Which for me personally, is vet nursing. Love it in every way

Re: Is veterinary nursing a vocation?

Sal the 1st — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 21:57:19 GMT

When I first started out in the job I thought it was a vocation, as far as I am concerned it still is ........ but reading some of the gripes and moans on here sometimes and seeing how some people perform in practice sometimes I do wonder if this is still the case? For some I would say that yes it is still a vocation and for some others I'm really not sure anymore - different people have different motivation I guess?

Re: Is veterinary nursing a vocation?

elaine elder — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 21:01:51 GMT

I agree with the above! It's a way of life not a job. You have to be committed to it. It's not a 9-5 job that you get paid well for. You do it because you want to help animals and people. I think my all time lowest point was restraining a rather fractious rottie who decided to urinate, vomit and have diarrhoea all at the same time and I had to just hold on tight while kneeling in it! So I think that shows you that this job isn't glamourous! Lol! X

Re: Is veterinary nursing a vocation?

Nicola Smith — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 18:55:19 GMT

I view a vocation as a job you feel you are drawn to. I feel vet nursing should be a vocation the same as any other medical or healthcare jobs as imo you need it to be a vocation to truly care and want to make a difference. I have worked with people who dont share this opinion and those seem to be the ones lacking in care and compassion. It cant ' just be a job ' because you need to want to make a difference to work over when that emergency shows, or give that sick animal a much needed hug even though they stink :)

Re: Is veterinary nursing a vocation?

kkatkatk — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 17:05:06 GMT

Hey,

Ive never looked up the true meaning of the word "vocation" so i could easily have the wrong take on it but.... i always felt that a career was a job that was money and power orientated and a vocation was a job that you do because you enjoy it and do it for the love of it more than for the money.

I think vet nursing is a vocation because i dont think the financial reward matches the time and effort a person puts into the job so therefore we do it for a bit of money but also for the rewards we get from it.