Wages - Ahh! why do we do it!!!

Re: Wages - Ahh! why do we do it!!!

Tracy Windler RVN — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:51:10 GMT

I know what you mean! I was on 23K at my last locum and still had the occasional bad point (usually at 3am in the morning!). I am at such a lovely practice at the mo, even if people are stressed and up to their eyeballs, they don't take it out on other people. Makes all our lives a lot easier that way. Maybe they could introduce a new "Colleague Care" module to the Vet Degrees?? How to get your nurses to do what you want without making them feel like shit.....

Re: Wages - Ahh! why do we do it!!!

Emma P — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:24:39 GMT

Yeah I know that I am not that badly paid compared to other nurses - was having one of those days with ultra demanding clients and moaning vets. The type of day when you think I should get a million quid for putting up with this! But we all get days like that.

Re: Wages - Ahh! why do we do it!!!

Tracy Windler RVN — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:10:13 GMT

I think 19K is pretty good with free accomodation/bills etc. My last job, I earned 13.5K, had free acomodation, but paid all my bils and often did more than 50 hours per week with no extra pay as I was salaried. One month I worked out that I was paid around 4pound/hr. Then they asked me to leave the accommodation as they wanted to rent it out to make more money! I started looking for another job!! I´ve been nursing for 6 years and qual for 3.

Its correct to say that there are always other people who are glad to step into your shoes if you leave, but this is usually potential trainees and how does that affect the quality of nursing in general if more experinced RVN´s leave the proffesion to be replaced by trainees (who don´t always get Training!). I know they replaced me with a potential trainee to cut costs.

Re: Wages - Ahh! why do we do it!!!

Angel — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:47:33 GMT

we do it because of what the RCVS say - "Recognition, reward and respect - it's not all about the money"

Yeah, but you need something to live off. Living costs in these day and ages is a mere fortune. I know of lots of vet nurses who jugle with several jobs just to make ends meet, and even then they can still be short of money!! What was that RCVS?!? Disagree sorry, I would like to see more than their three R's and get the salary to go with it as well. Yeah wholeheartedly I agree that the job is about the patient, but my view is why kill yourself trying to do it - there are others who would be glad enough to step into your shoes believe me!

Re: Wages - Ahh! why do we do it!!!

Angiy Michael — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:08:08 GMT

Kezza ..come work with us..no one shouts at you..although we have lots of other issues ..but would def get more money and prob more time off ...Woodcroft are looking also XX

Re: Wages - Ahh! why do we do it!!!

Maisy — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:41:18 GMT

[quote user="Mushroom Claire"]

eewwwwww- but why would you want to? they'd have to pay me well for clipping old folks feet

[/quote]

Exactly! But if you didn't mind old feet that's a pretty good wage for just clipping some (likely manky) nails

Re: Wages - Ahh! why do we do it!!!

Claire Coulthard RVN — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:46:30 GMT

[quote user="Maisy"]

On another note, I saw a job in my local paper with Age Concern for a toe nail clipper where you would earn a generous £8.50 per hour. Just for clipping nails!

[/quote]

eewwwwww- but why would you want to? they'd have to pay me well for clipping old folks feet

Re: Wages - Ahh! why do we do it!!!

Maisy — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:44:14 GMT

[quote user="kezzathecat"]

hahaha yes and thanks!

[/quote]

LOL Ooops! I sounded more supportive when I was writing that!!

On another note, I saw a job in my local paper with Age Concern for a toe nail clipper where you would earn a generous £8.50 per hour. Just for clipping nails!

Re: Wages - Ahh! why do we do it!!!

Steph Worsley — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:26:45 GMT

i think 19k plus free accom is hugely above average! my accomodation and bills comes to approx £600 (minimum) a month so if you work that out over a year it would £7200 so getting that plus a decent salary is a very good deal in my opinion

Re: Wages - Ahh! why do we do it!!!

Kerry Spain — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:24:49 GMT

[quote user="Maisy"]

Sorry Kezza but that's a rubbish deal you have there

[/quote]

hahaha yes and thanks!

Re: Wages - Ahh! why do we do it!!!

Maisy — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:19:43 GMT

Sorry Kezza but that's a rubbish deal you have there

Re: Wages - Ahh! why do we do it!!!

Kerry Spain — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:18:14 GMT

[quote user="Debbie Summers"]

As far as the other QVN's, it would depend on how long they were qualified, do they have any other responsibilities than routine nursing? £15k for a QVN with more than a years experience is (I think) pretty average.

[/quote]

Been nursing since 1994, qualified 2005, A1, C&G Cert SAN, head nurse, had experience at other practices too, I pay for my own CPD, Medical and Surgical nursing duties included in daily duties along with the day to day running of the place feeling majorly used and underpaid Considering leaving nursing if it get any worse.

Re: Wages - Ahh! why do we do it!!!

Maisy — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:10:45 GMT

As a HVN and assessor in Surrey I was on around £22,500. Anyone who lived in staff accommodation wasn't expected to perform any night checks unless they were on duty, and you would be paid extra for this. I suppose in relation to geographical area this is a medium-low end salary in comparision to house prices, though some places in this area were offering £13-15000 so location doesn't always count unfortunately.

Re: Wages - Ahh! why do we do it!!!

wendy mcadam — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:44:01 GMT

Hi there just to throw a little more on the subject im a RVN qualified in jan 2009 on 16k, but at my previous practice where i did less work was on 17k so there doesnt seem to be much logic in the wage system for VN's and RVN's. I think alot of it depends on how well your practice does income wise, number of staff and obviously equipment and rental costs, by your practice.

Re: Wages - Ahh! why do we do it!!!

Debbie Summers — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:21:32 GMT

Hi Emma,

I think it would depend where you are in the UK. Could you work out the monetary value of the rent and bills you are not having to pay, and therefore work out a total salary package? If you are in London, the rental / bills package could be a significant 'extra', but if you were somewhere less expensive, it obviously wouldn't be quite as good. As far as the night patient care, then it depends how much you have to do, and that could be difficult to assess financially. Potentially you could have a total salary package of around £25k.

To my mind, £19k plus the benefits you have sound not bad, even with the night checks, except if those were more than a quick check and any meds, and you weren't having to deal with 20 patients!! Salary packages like this are very hard to work out - the holiday you have said is more than the statutory minimum, so that is good too.

Not sure if that has helped - wages are always a bone of contension!!

Debbie

Re: Wages - Ahh! why do we do it!!!

Kerry Spain — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:19:04 GMT

I'm on 16k !!! Head nurse running a small animal practice, used like a slave, treated and spoken to like crap. Living back at home at the age of 31 (paying rent) as I can't afford to rent let alone afford a mortgage. In debt, struggling to make ends meet, generally fed up with everything!

Re: Wages - Ahh! why do we do it!!!

Angiy Michael — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:11:38 GMT

Sounds like you are doing a lot. I would say ...sadly..t's still fairly average for an experienced VN..the only bit I would say isn't fitting the average salary profile is the 11 nights in-patient care..they should pay you for this..plus it surely tps you into illegal working hours...are they working this based on you having the accomodation.

As a guide I am paid 18k ..I work full time on a 4 on 4 off pattern working 1pm -11pm. As we are a 24 hospital I don't do on call etc as we are staffed round the clock. I have been nursing for 12 years and qualified for 7. I don't get accomodation or anything else. I get 19 days hols inc bank holidays ( based on a 4 day week) . I am generaly considered to be well paid by other VN's I speak to. Hope this helps. You could take a look at the BVNA's last pay survey..it's a few years old but still prob helpful to get a guide for your part of the country.