25 per cent of veterinary assistants in the UK are considering leaving the profession
A quarter of veterinary assistants (VNs) are considering leaving the profession due to low pay and lack of career advancement opportunities. The findings come from the VN Futures 2021 Interim Report, a joint initiative of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) and the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA), following five years of research into the veterinary nursing profession.
Insufficient salary and lack of recognition and conciliation
The report shows that 24.8% of VNs surveyed declared their intention to leave the veterinary sector in the next five years, citing reasons ranging from salary to poor work-life balance. About 80% of those planning to leave the profession cited salary as their top reason, while the second most common reason (60%) was feeling unrewarded or unvalued. Other reasons cited include dissatisfaction with career opportunities, around 40%, closely followed by long working hours and chronic stress (around 30%).
The VN Futures 2021 Interim Report aims to help address many of the issues plaguing the profession and improve the standards and well-being of the profession as a whole. The report finds that many VNs don't feel valued at work, struggle to have a good work-life balance, and don't always see a clear career structure. Despite the challenges VNs face, the profession is moving forward and there are signs that it has a bright future ahead of it.
As the report, itself notes: "It's not just about looking for problems, it's about looking for solutions. Much of what we've covered over the last five years has shaped part of what we're going to focus on in the next phase of VN." Futures."
Lack of professionals
Alex Taylor, President of the BVNA, acknowledges that national staff shortages are a huge problem in the UK: "It's no secret that the veterinary profession is under a lot of pressure right now, with the pandemic, Brexit and the increased of the number of pets obtained during the lockdown." "VNs are key members of staff in practice, but sometimes their skills are not put to good use; how valuable we are.
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