Nonclinical Questions - Recent Threads

What is the realistic next step for an RVN who feels underpaid?

Ben Jamieson — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 16:47:08 GMT

How many RVNs are feeling like this? I'm guessing, not many.

40 hours per week on minimum wage can currently get you around £26,500 per year.

Average RVN salaries are:
• Greater London: £32,963–£32,976
• North West: £31,051
• Wales: £30,168
• Scotland: £29,318

Head RVN positions:
• Nationally: £40,000.

For the average RVN, the pension position after a full career is likely to be modest at best. In many cases, retirement income will depend heavily on the State Pension, with workplace pension savings often limited unless contributions have gone well beyond the minimum.

You will have read loads of conversations around RVN pay, and for good reason. We have all heard the RCVS reports about pay and chronic stress were among the top reasons given for leaving the industry.

So what is the realistic next step for an RVN who feels underpaid, but still cares about the profession and doesn’t necessarily want to walk away from it altogether?

The obvious routes people tend to mention are things like becoming a head nurse, moving into referral, locuming, teaching, industry, practice management, or leaving clinical work entirely. Some of those may absolutely be the right fit for the right person, but I do wonder whether many RVNs still end up feeling as though they hit a ceiling too early in terms of both earnings and progression. The profession survey also pointed to weak perceptions around career progression and leadership development, which probably adds to that feeling for some people.

I’ve also seen first-hand that there can be other routes which are talked about less often. Setting up my wife Louise in a mobile RVN-led role worked really well for her, and it opened our eyes to the fact that there may be more possibilities for experienced nurses than the usual options people list. I’m not saying it is for everyone, and I’m not trying to turn this into a sales post, but it did make me wonder whether more flexible, community-based or self-employed models should be part of this conversation too. We are starting to explore that more seriously and would be genuinely interested in hearing from other RVNs who have considered something similar. Link for anyone interested.

Have you considered any of the usual routes, or gone down one of them already? Has it improved things financially, professionally, or both? And is there a route you think gets overlooked when people talk about RVN career progression?

RE: What is the realistic next step for an RVN who feels underpaid?

Oldgal — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 10:59:30 GMT

I left clinical practice to work in university research. I have an MSc. After a good few years of relatively good wages and decent hours, funding has dried up. I was made redundant. I've applied for countless jobs since and no-one will take me on. I am restricted as to what I can do now because I have physical disabilities. I will shortly deregister because despite being a VN since the 1990s I can no longer afford the CPD without work.

It was great while it lasted.

RE: Novel about Vet Nurse

Rachel Woodcock — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 17:31:22 GMT

How cool to be a published author!

Novel about Vet Nurse

frances gaudiano — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 19:06:57 GMT

Has anyone read, Love You, Fleas and All? It's about a veterinary nurse, not a vet. Finally a book about us!

Anyone used Innovet for cpd?

Rachel Woodcock — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 21:53:42 GMT

I've been browsing for cpd courses and some interesting looking ones through Innovet - has anyone done any of their courses? It's such a gamble spending my cpd allowance on a provider I've not used before.

Thanks [emoticon:33306c418930400bac28808410f8ac8b]

RE: Anyone used Innovet for cpd?

Rachel Woodcock — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 17:29:47 GMT

Yeah me too. I did a free course with Innovet and decided against paying for anymore

RE: Novel about Vet Nurse

Claire Huxtable — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 16:06:45 GMT

No havn't heard of it but I'm gonna look on Amazon tonight x

RE: Anyone used Innovet for cpd?

Claire Huxtable — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 16:04:13 GMT

Sorry i've not heard of this company,I am a member of the BVNA and they do loads of CPD X

RE: sample locum contract

Francoise Daniels — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 23:17:02 GMT

Hello

I would be very interested in RVN Locum T & C if you can help me.

fdeavin@icloud.com

sample locum contract

Claire Coulthard RVN — Tue, 18 Apr 2017 13:47:08 GMT

hi everyone,

i'm a locum and just changing from umbrella to Ltd - does anyone have a copy of a contract that they would be happy to send over? or a link to somewhere online?

thanks

Claire

How the law doesn't protect animals from over-treatment

Arlo Guthrie — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 12:39:33 GMT

Posted my latest film based on the book Veterinary Controversies and Ethical Dilemmas on YouTube, and I've created a new gallery for them here on VetNurse too: https://www.vetnurse.co.uk/m/veterinary-controversies-ethical-dilemmas

In this film Peter Fordyce, RCVS Specialist in Animal Welfare, Ethics and The Law explains some of the human factors which might cause both owners and vets to over-treat animals, sometimes at the cost of their welfare and in spite of the law.

Really interested to hear your thoughts, in particular which factors which Peter raises are the most important.

PS, in case you havent heard of the book, I think it's one of the most important books for veterinary professionals that I've seen in 30 years. It's quite spenny, hence why I'm making the films to make it accessible to a wider audience: https://amzn.to/4aHNOPu

[embed:b99cc4af-f990-4d68-b98f-dd11f41cb350:b19c9f8f-3d6a-45dc-96d6-a63109241edc:service=youtube&embedCode=%3Ciframe%20width%3D%221644%22%20height%3D%22951%22%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2F6Ynnw6gcOKg%22%20title%3D%22How%20the%20law%20doesn%26%2339%3Bt%20protect%20pets%20against%20over-treatment%22%20frameborder%3D%220%22%20allow%3D%22accelerometer%3B%20autoplay%3B%20clipboard-write%3B%20encrypted-media%3B%20gyroscope%3B%20picture-in-picture%3B%20web-share%22%20referrerpolicy%3D%22strict-origin-when-cross-origin%22%20allowfullscreen%3E%3C%2Fiframe%3E&scriptProperty=]

RE: How the law doesn't protect animals from over-treatment

Arlo Guthrie — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 09:03:14 GMT

Someone made an interesting comment over on VetSurgeon.org ... which is that vet nurses are ideally placed to perform the role of patient advocate ... challenging both vets and owners if patient welfare might be compromised. But I wonder .... would anyone actually want to put themselves in that potentially difficult situation. Any thoughts anyone?

RE: Veterinary Ramblings: the cost of vet care, communicating, AI, controversies ...

Selena Carnell — Sat, 08 Nov 2025 09:36:35 GMT

i always forget about podcasts, but there is some interesting stuff out there. plus an hours cpd...bonus!

Veterinary Ramblings: the cost of vet care, communicating, AI, controversies ...

Arlo Guthrie — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 16:11:30 GMT

Just in case anyone is interested, I did an interview with Veterinary Ramblings the other day, where we talked about the increasing costs of vet care, tips for communicating in the modern age, AI and the new book, Veterinary Controversies and Ethical Dilemmas.

It was fun doing it, but if you can think of a better way to spend an hour of your life than listening to me - I wouldn't blame you! - there is the secondary benefit that it is CPD.

https://veterinaryramblings.com/episode/building-better-veterinary-conversations-with-arlo-guthrie/

Would be lovely to hear any of your thoughts about the points raised in the discussion (esp on the costs of veterinary care, and the greater importance of vet nurses)

RE: Veterinary Ramblings: the cost of vet care, communicating, AI, controversies ...

Arlo Guthrie — Sat, 08 Nov 2025 09:12:00 GMT

Selena Carnell - gosh, that's a really kind thing to say, thank you!

RE: Veterinary Ramblings: the cost of vet care, communicating, AI, controversies ...

Selena Carnell — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 19:47:40 GMT

i listened today, whilst waiting for my bf to come out of a job interview.

I found it interesting, learning about your back history and ongoing, entertaining in places, really enjoyed listening to it. Well done.

RE: Novel about Vet Nurse

Selena Carnell — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 21:37:05 GMT

never heard of it. ill go look for it.

RE: Am I underpaid?

Rebecca Rowan — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 17:49:20 GMT

Hi Spicy Kittens, this a bit of a tricky one as it seems to be based not just how long someone is qualified for anymore. Where you’re based, additional qualifications and any extra responsibilities (eg being a clinical coach or RPS) play a part too.

I’ve only worked in clinical practice for 17 years. I’m a Clinical Coach, RPS and share HVN duties (including health and safety stuff) with a colleague working in the South East. I earn approximately what you do for a 34 hour week.

While any of us could potentially earn more, there are other benefits that it’s difficult to put a monetary value on. I love the team I work with, have a good manager and the ethos of the practice is one I wholeheartedly agree with.

There was a survey done last year (possibly by SPVS) might be worth having a look on the internet or asking BVNA if they have any information to help you with your question.

Am I underpaid?

Spicy Kittens — Sun, 02 Nov 2025 17:44:28 GMT

Hi everyone, I recently have realized I am being underpaid possibly. I have always know this profession is a low paid career and the place I work with as whispers that we are slightly lower paid than some other pracrices, but I didn't realize how much until the last year.

I don't know if I have high expectations and I am comparing to the wrong people

It seems the average starting wage is around £28,000 (when I look at other job adverts too), which is what around my salary per year is.

I have been qualified for 13 years.

Is this about right?

What is everyone else sitting at?

How far should we go in the treatment of animals?

Arlo Guthrie — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 16:08:03 GMT

I thought this new book, Veterinary Controversies and Ethical Dilemmas is so important, I decided to make a film about each chapter and the questions they raise.

Here's the first.

What do you think?!

If you think it would be good thing for more people to think about the ethical issues raised by treatment, or rather the degree of treatment, please do share the film more widely (and or give it a like, or a comment on Youtube).

It's also on TikTok, Linkedin, and Facebook (where quite a few of you have already share it, so thanks for that!)

[embed:b99cc4af-f990-4d68-b98f-dd11f41cb350:0d5d2e82-b8c0-4be3-8c58-d6910da1a101:service=youtube&embedCode=%3Ciframe%20width%3D%221266%22%20height%3D%22807%22%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2F-X3zXv_QaPo%22%20title%3D%22Animal%20Sentience.%20How%20far%20should%20we%20go%20in%20the%20treatment%20of%20animals%3F%22%20frameborder%3D%220%22%20allow%3D%22accelerometer%3B%20autoplay%3B%20clipboard-write%3B%20encrypted-media%3B%20gyroscope%3B%20picture-in-picture%3B%20web-share%22%20referrerpolicy%3D%22strict-origin-when-cross-origin%22%20allowfullscreen%3E%3C%2Fiframe%3E&scriptProperty=]

RE: How far should we go in the treatment of animals?

Arlo Guthrie — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 11:32:54 GMT

Deena Townsend Couldn't agree more. I think John Webster makes SUCH an important point in this film about the risk of things being weighted in favour of treatment, which is not necessarily best for the animal. And I've thought for some time that perhaps the focus should be less on fancy treatments and more on good quality nursing care.

RE: How far should we go in the treatment of animals?

Deena Townsend — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 11:15:25 GMT

I think it's so important to be discussing these ethical issues now more than ever, with the recent CMA reports, we need to re focus on the animals themselves and what is best for them.

Is there a place I can get a free or cheap 2nd hand CD cupboard?

S Waters — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 06:52:42 GMT

As title says.

Do any wholesalers etc give out free CD cupboards or are there any 2nd hand veterinary marketplaces etc to get cheaper things?

Thanks in advance

Have you made a mistake?

Arlo Guthrie — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 13:35:50 GMT

www.vetnurse.co.uk/.../vet-nurse-suspended-for-falling-asleep-on-the-job

After this recent disciplinary result, which I think is very backward-looking, I'd like to hear from RVNS about their experience of making a mistake at work, and how it was handled.

What was the mistake? How was it handled? Was it in an unjudgemental way, looking at what factors led to the mistake, so that everyone can learn from it?

Or did you just face a punishment of some sort or a disciplinary?

I'd love to get a better sense of how mistakes are handled, and whether you feel able to admit to errors and whether you'd be more inclined to hide them, for fear of, I dunno, losing your job.

If you want to share actual examples, best if you do so anonymously. Log out, and log back in using:

pwd: anonymous

Then even I have no idea who you are!

What are the most common veterinary falsehoods?

Arlo Guthrie — Sun, 02 Mar 2025 18:55:43 GMT

Hi all

Apart from 'vets are all in it for the money' - what are the biggest myths / falsehoods / bullshit you hear being peddled about anything veterinary? Could be about animals themselves (things breeders told the owner?). Or about drugs (for example wrongly blamed for something)? Or about the way vets or nurses work. Anything really.

(I am thinking about making some films to set the record straight, and very grateful for any suggestions).