Wages

Re: Wages

paula morgan — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 21:30:52 GMT

[quote user="emma sime"]

I agree! unfortunately the way that the vet surgeon's act is at the moment any lay person can do certain tasks providing that they have been 'trained' - training being being shown by a vet etc. means that vets are not forced by law to hire qualified veterinary nurses.

I personally feel that until the day where vets are forced by law to hire Qualified Vet nurses and whereby only qualified veterinary nurses are allowed to undertake tasts such as monitoring anaesthesia etc things will never change. If they had no option but to hire us (like human hospitals are with their nurses) we would be in a better position to demand higher pay and better conditions. Its a supply and demand thing I think. At the moment us qualified nurses are competing with unqualified staff and why should a vet pay more for a qualified nurse when they can hire somebody without the qualification and pay them less. It's a shame really.

I do not in any way mean any disrespect to unqualified staff and I am not criticising or blaming unqualified staff in any way. I worked as an unqualified animal care assistant myself before doing my training. Its just that after having spent years training, studying and gaining experience in order to become Qualified I find it frustrating that the tasks I used to perform daily in practice could have been undertaken effectively by anybody. I readily accept that a price cannot be put on experience however I feel that having the theory behind what I do is invaluable.

anyhow, enough going on!

Emma x

[/quote]

I agree, otherwise whats the point in training at all! If you dont go to college then you have no idea of all the theoretical stuff involved in the job. I am not staying away from home to go to college, and spending a fortune to be qualified just for the fun of it! x

Re: Wages

emma sime — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 20:42:40 GMT

anyhow, enough going on!

Emma x

Re: Wages

Gemma Preston — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 14:16:46 GMT

I think it is time that RVN's get together and insist on a proper payscale valid for what we're work. Especially now we have to take responsibility and I think more and more will be expected of us. The wage I get is not to bad but I think even that is not enough and we should all insist on more money.. Boss's will need to pay it with clients expecting the pets to be nursed by qualified staff!!

Re: Wages

Kate Claxton DipAVN(Med)VN — Wed, 26 May 2010 22:02:08 GMT

Niknoks - think you've summarised it well - practices can get away with taking advantage of people wanting to work with animals and use the 'vocation' angle to pay peanuts. A big problem is the secrecy around pay - if private practices had to use a public incremental scale like the PDSA it would make it far easier for people to ask for what they are worth! x

Re: Wages

Stuart McQueen RVN MBVNA — Mon, 24 May 2010 08:55:10 GMT

PM sent

Re: Wages

DO DAVID — Sun, 23 May 2010 13:33:27 GMT

Hello I am a vet nurse francaise and I would like to know your monthly salary?

thank you

Re: Wages

Saskia Quinn — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 19:18:58 GMT

In my 12 years of nursing, I am better paid now than I have been in those 12 years. If for some reason, I was no longer employed where I am now, I would likely leave the VN profession too as I know I would not get such a wage anywhere else.

I once asked a previous employer for £xxxx in my account as my net wage monthly - basically, I was laughed at by him.................and now, I am getting a lot more than what I did ask him.

I am not saying I am well off, I am a single mother, trying to bring up 2 children on my own as well as keep a car, house, food on the table - its not easy, I cope - but never have much left over.

I set up an account today where I will pay £50/month into my sons Credit Union accounts - £25 each. Its all I can afford for them at the moment, but hey, its a start!

Re: Wages

Erica Huggins — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 18:29:55 GMT

[quote user="chris beasley RVN MBVNA"]

Why does the new debate over training new nurses not take into consideration that if we were all paid better, there would not be a shortage?

[/quote]

Exactly what I was thinking.

I also can help feeling that in some cases (NOT ALL I WILL STRESS) that the low wages eventually send good nurses who work well over their job descriptions out either to referral work etc or out of the profession all together, leaving the every day practice working with the dross of our profession and I all know who I mean.

Re: Wages

Nikki Graef — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 15:42:10 GMT

Things are never going to change in my opinion until, 1, it becomes illegal for practices to be able to employ unqualified untrained staff acting as VNs because they are too cheap to pay a VN salary, and 2, until VNs stop willingly working for such poor salaries!

I have recently been job hunting, had about 5 or 6 interviews and turned down all apart from 2 jobs on the spot because the salaries were so poor. I refuse to work for a wage that i cant support myself on. I think i have been lucky in the past and had better paid jobs than alot of others. But i just said to practices im not willing to work for less that X amount and actually one practice increased what they were offering substantially when i told them that.

There are practices out there who will pay decent livable salaries, ok they will always be on the low side, were never going to be rich doing this job!! But VNs need to stand up and say no i wont work for that, this is what im worth and fight for better pay otherwise practices will keep on doing it and pay will never improve

Re: Wages

Sue Cox — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 22:01:06 GMT

[quote user="Phrin SVN"]

I am a 30 year old single mum, full time SVN L3, and am paid just above minimum wage.

I struggle to cope, but do cope, and a lot of that is due to the fact that the gov are pushing single parents to work, so I get help with nursery fees etc.

Its no fun though! We live hand to mouth every month! The thought of savings or pensions is laughable at the moment!

[/quote]

Its so frustrating!! And you have had years of varied experience Phrin!

I just so want to move out of home, I am fed up of being nearly 25 years old and still living with Mum, yes Im saving money as my mum only expects a little rent, but saving it for what? When I finally save up a house deposit, how the hell do I afford a mortage?! Need lottery win I think (though I don't play...) or tall, dark, (rich), handsome stranger (....anyone?....echo...echo...)

Re: Wages

Phrin Vernon RVN — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 21:33:20 GMT

I am a 30 year old single mum, full time SVN L3, and am paid just above minimum wage.

I struggle to cope, but do cope, and a lot of that is due to the fact that the gov are pushing single parents to work, so I get help with nursery fees etc.

Its no fun though! We live hand to mouth every month! The thought of savings or pensions is laughable at the moment!

Re: Wages

Sally Seddon — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 13:22:04 GMT

I was gutted, still am if im honest. i worked in that practice on reception and was told i couldnt nurse because i had no experience, i moved to a branch surgery gained 2 years experience and then they hire someone with no experience! I cried on the phone when i called to ask if i had been sucessful

I could move to another area but the problem i have is that i cant afford to rent anywhere, i have car loans etc to pay off so i have very little spare money when im paid. If we knew what was happening with regards to the new traning then it would be easier to make a decision about my career

Re: Wages

hissycat — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 12:38:09 GMT

icklesal thats awful! must have been pretty frustrating for you. I'm 26 now and am pretty happy with my new course, so if its something you are seriously considering then just go for it. I did it all in about two weeks.. only rang the uni to casually enquire about the course because i was going to work for another year to save money.. but within 2 weeks i'd spent time in a hospital, had an interview, sorted bursary forms, discussed with family and handed in my notice! I think if i'd thought about it more I may never have done it. It was so annoying to think I worked so hard and even earning a QVNs wage couldn't afford to rent or buy a house alone. Don't really wanna marry or live with someone out of necessity (not saying anybody else has, but thats what it would be for me, and the marriage proposals from tall dark handsome and rich aren't exactly flooding in ) Good luck whatever you decide, if you decide to stay in nursing could you move areas or something if a trainee position came up? I know a lot of people who have had to do this (myself included). It might be worth it in the end x

Re: Wages

Sally Seddon — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 08:43:56 GMT

This is why im seriously thinking of finding a different career.

Im 26, still live at home and my boyfriend of nearly 3 years lives with us because we cant even afford to rent a place nevermind buy one. Kev is a postman who is working approx 55 hours a week just to keep us afloat. I earn 11k, we both work our a***s off but still cant afford to get engaged, married or even rent a home. Its hard to deal with and it does get me down especially when i ask for a payrise for taking on extra responsibility in work and it gets refused.

I applied for a trainee nurse postition about a year ago within our group, i didnt get the job. My boss is pretty convinced that because im over 22 they didnt want to pay me a higher wage (how £6 is a higher wage i will never know!!), they hired a 18 year old girl with absolutly no experience. They actually advertised for someone with experience only.

Re: Wages

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 23:10:13 GMT

I was no school leaver when I started either.. I think I am lucky that Hubby has a decent job and pay, or I would definitely have had to look for something else, especially years ago when I started out! now I am happy and content with my Job and my wage.. I know a lot cant say that.. but I had already had my kids before I started and they were at school... now they are 18 and 16 respectively.

I love my job... lost my way a bit a few years back.. and gave up for 6 months and had some ME time, but have not looked back!

This is defintely a profession for either you school leavers ( until they WAKE UP) or peeps with hubbys on a good wage or kids that have grown up, or no kids ever!.... otherwise.... well we know the otherwise!

Re: Wages

LoveCat — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 22:48:54 GMT

[quote user="selt"]I am not a scool leaver and have financial responsibilities so unfortunatly money has to be a consideration but not the only one.[/quote]

Same here, I was 24 when I started nursing (luckily for me I was able to get a job in a practice that started my training straight away but obviously for the first two years while I was studying I was on student wage). I had just married and we were just looking at buying our first house. We were able to do this - but only because my partner earns considerably more than I do. I often wonder how a VN would be able to buy their own house etc - I don't think they could.

I find it frustrating that I seem to work considerably more hours than most of my friends and have a lot more resposibility but earn a lot less money in most cases. My friends in other jobs also get a lot more perks - more holiday time, more sick pay, a pension scheme etc.

That said - I moved to nursing as a career as it was something I had always wanted to do. I made the move from corporate banking where I was earning over £10k what I dropped to when I started training as a nurse - but I was also clinically depressed.

I absolutely love my job - I have no problems getting out of bed in the morining and I have a great time each day with a team I love - surrounded by animals! I would not swap it for anything but I would love our role and our skills to be recognised and rewarded more.

Re: Wages

selt — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 22:21:11 GMT

A survey was done to see what the average wage was for VNs does anyone have a copy they could post as I cant seem to find mine?

As with most VNs I love my job and do it more for the satisfaction than the pay, I used to earn a lot more doing a lot less! I am not a scool leaver and have financial responsibilities so unfortunatly money has to be a consideration but not the only one.

Re: Wages

loopylou711 — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:04:53 GMT

Least your heading for a better job now hisscat!

I got hlf way through the VNdegree left because it was sooo bad and looked for a training practice for a bit and now finishing off the rest of a customised degree which I hope to go into teaching afterwards! I see now that being a VN money wise could never really work! Starting wage for a teacher is something like 21 grand a year! Teaching also means I can travel around doing my job and not have to worry about getting crap money else where

Am gutted like you that the job i dreamed of as I grew up will never happen, if it ever changes i would be back in a flash tho!!

Re: Wages

hissycat — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 02:50:09 GMT

I was in practice for six years, qualified for nearly three.. not exactly a lifetime, but long enough for me to realise a home, car , holidays etc would not be possible in the job I had dreamed of doing since I was a child like I said, I don't think money can make you happy in a job, but I just felt frustrated that there was no where else for me to go after qualifying, unless I moved to a referral practice far far away...there were other problems with 'management' too, I guess I was very down at the time I left...so i'm now doing a degree which if I complete, will allow me to work in human lung function. its early days but I can't imagine I would go back to practice permanently even if it doesn't work out. my life is totally different now, I just hope the profession gets better for the people still in it, as I have lots of friends who are VNs or training.

Re: Wages

loopylou711 — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 01:00:38 GMT

[quote user="hissycat"]I never thought money was the most important thing to look for in a job, but you need enough to live and have a work/life balance, and I wasn't getting it so left nursing. [/quote]

Which is why have gave up on being a vet nurse! What do you do now hissy cat? how long were you a VN?

Re: Wages

Sal the 1st — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:33:08 GMT

a comment i have never ever forgotten from an ex employer ' I dont care how much experience you have or what you think you are worth at the end of the day you only get as much as I want to give you - and if you arent happy you can walk' and thats exactly what we did!

Re: Wages

hissycat — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:13:50 GMT

I was just your 'average' nurse TBH the pay is very good for the area and not as much cleaning as I have done elsewhere, but there were still a lot of staffing problems, rota changes at last minute, 70 hr weeks on occasion, as I said somewhere else we were sometimes working 19 days in a row or a month with only one full day off. there is only so long you can cope, no matter how much you are paid..I think the owners knew that they could treat us like crap because the money would keep us from leaving. I never thought money was the most important thing to look for in a job, but you need enough to live and have a work/life balance, and I wasn't getting it so left nursing. The problem is I wouldn't mind if there was chance of the wage going up with experience but it was never gonna go up that much.. the opportunities for progression just aren't there in your average practice.

Re: Wages

Stuart McQueen RVN MBVNA — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 23:25:54 GMT

[quote user="hissycat"]

[quote user="Lovemyjob1"]

Interesting that out of all of these replies, not one person has said EXACTLY what their take home is every month/ year .... Does this mean that we are not sure whether what we earn IS really low OR that we are mortally ashamed of our pitance ? Interesting.........................................................

[/quote]

I was on £8.50 per hour. average yearly pay was around £17.500 before tax, depending how many hours I had worked. I think you have to take conditions into account also though. I worked nights, evenings and lots of weekends on basic rate.

[/quote]

I'm on £17.750 as a dept head...

Re: Wages

hissycat — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 23:13:52 GMT

[quote user="Lovemyjob1"]

[/quote]

Re: Wages

Alex Brotherston — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:31:34 GMT

I got paid more per hour doing a cleaning job than I do now. Granted I am only a student, but doubt even when I qualify that my wages will reach what I was earning as a cleaner.

Considering the responsibilities we hold as VN's, I see that as slightly wrong - or is that just me?