When the Ladder’s a Lie: A Rant from a Burnt-Out RVN

RE: When the Ladder’s a Lie: A Rant from a Burnt-Out RVN

Amy M — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 18:22:05 GMT

What timing. I'm literally about to move from clinical work to a totally different corporate role in insurance (nothing to do with animals). I'm having a really tough time accepting that I will no longer be nursing on a day to day basis, but similar to the other response I want to volunteer.

My new job includes weekends and bank holidays off and work from home 2-3 days a week, that's really all I want now. The whole reason I got into the profession is to help animals so I will keep doing that in a different way. But yeah, I too am fed up, can't be bothered, jaded... I just want something that pays my bills that gives me a chance to actually spend my days off not just lying on the sofa trying to recover, and maybe catch up with the friends I haven't had the energy to see in about 2 years at least!

I recently helped out at a Future Vets camp, a paid course for 15-17 year olds who want to be vets and nurses, and all I can think of is okay but the whole profession needs to be drastically improved. I find it hard to see that vet med is put on such a high pedestal with a huge fall off the other side - sometimes some don't make it out alive. The lengths people go to to get into the courses (myself included) then to be so burnout and disillusioned once you qualify. I look at nurses in my pets practice and I am envious but also now accept eventually that I just can't cope. So yeah, that's me...

RE: When the Ladder’s a Lie: A Rant from a Burnt-Out RVN

azlana — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 11:43:06 GMT

I appreciate other people's perspectives, it's nice to know I am not alone.

I am looking again to change jobs I am applying for anything remote or hybrid just to get a chance to get out of clinical work. I am also applying to a few local vets I have respect for if nothing else turns up.

The kicker is I actually really love the team I work with. The nurses are so supportive and most of the vets are humble and know how to say thank you for a job well done. It's the upper management that I can't seem to forgive or get over. So on i go, pack on my back and feeling like I have wasted my time.

RE: When the Ladder’s a Lie: A Rant from a Burnt-Out RVN

Laura O'Hagan — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 09:17:47 GMT

This! I had the exact same thing 3 years ago and I feel your pain.

I put my everything into my last job (to my personal detriment come the end). All the experience and knowledge to be overworked and underpaid, with no real chance of progression. One opportunity came up, which I was actively encouraged to apply for. So I put all my effort into prepare for it yet, it was given to someone else. A similar opportunity came up shortly afterwards and again, I was encouraged to go for it and got knocked back again. The silly thing was, I could do that job with my eyes closed! But, my face did not fit.

I gave up after that because I'd just had enough and left nursing altogether. I applied to University to study for a degree in a different field (I qualified via NVQ route so never went). I did keep my registration so I could Locum over the summer and have really enjoyed it but, the profession is letting good, experienced RVN's down because of the empty promises and lack of choice.

I don't know the answer but I felt it was not going to get better any time soon.

RE: When the Ladder’s a Lie: A Rant from a Burnt-Out RVN

Leigh123 — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 13:53:09 GMT

Feeling very similar.

Left a job I was doing well in, got on very well with everyone, enjoyed my work but took voluntary redundancy (IVC) because another job, advertised at just the right time, promised different experiences, new skills to learn and a chance to try a different way to nurse. But after a year of waiting for these things to start I'm changing jobs again for a years maternity cover role purely doing what I enjoy the most while I figure out my future plan.

I don't regret leaving my previous job overall as it definitely wasn't perfect but I do miss the trust and value of my input I had with colleagues I'd consider good friends.

RE: When the Ladder’s a Lie: A Rant from a Burnt-Out RVN

Gizmo — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 10:36:14 GMT

azlana

I gave up on the ladder. Realised it would never happen to me while those who actually had no skills or whose face was a better fit got promoted. So disillusioned that I turned to a support role to pay the bills, and now save my nursing for non-profits when I go on "holiday". As a registered nurse at a non-profit I'm actually appreciated, my skills are thoroughly utilised, promotion doesn't matter, my input into clinical decisions is listened to, other paid staff (non-veterinary) are upskilled and I make the vet's life at the hospital that little bit easier. It doesn't pay in terms of money because I volunteer, but the benefits to my mental health and life satisfaction are priceless.