The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) has published its Surveys of the Veterinary and Veterinary Nursing Professions 2014.

As a snapshot of the current state of the veterinary and veterinary nursing professions, the results provide information on a number of different areas such as demographics; work status; job satisfaction and well-being. Furthermore, the results gauge individual views on the current state of the profession. This information is important for informing future RCVS policy and activities across a wide range of areas.

The four-yearly survey, carried out by the Institute for Employment Studies, was principally available online only this year, although hard copies were supplied on request.

This year’s surveys also included a set of questions about 24-hour emergency cover, which contributed to the recent review of RCVS guidance in this area, and, for the first time, questions from the government-backed Social Mobility Toolkit, which aim to assess the social background of members of the profession.

Some of the key results for veterinary nurses:

• There was a noticeable decrease in the proportion of veterinary nurses who are employed full-time – from 74.7% in 2010 to 67% this year. Full time work is less common amongst those under 20 (which includes students) and older VNs.
• Veterinary nurses are generally more positive about the profession this year compared to the 2010 survey. For example, 60% said they would choose to become a VN again if they started their career over, compared to 54% in 2010. However, poor pay and stress were highlighted as issues.
• There was a significant shift away from employer-funded CPD to free provision. In 2010, 57% of CPD provision was employer-funded (and in 2008 this stood at 84%), while this year, it was 43%. The proportion of free CPD has increased from 29% in 2010 to 41% this year.
• For student veterinary nurses, the proportion intending to remain employed at their Training Practice after qualification has fallen from 61% in 2010 to 52% this year.

Some of the key results for veterinary surgeons:

• For the first time, this year more than half (53.8%) of the respondents were women – in line with the long-term trend towards the ‘feminisation’ of the profession.
• Since the 2010 survey the share of respondents employed in mixed animal practices has declined from 22.1% to 15.8%, while the proportion of respondents employed in small animal/exotic practices has increased from 48.9% to 53.6% in the same period.
• The proportion of respondents in part-time work is currently at 19%, compared to 16% in 2010 and 14% in 2006. Female veterinary surgeons accounted for 73.2% of those in part-time work.
• Although over half (52%) of recently qualified veterinary surgeons went straight into practice work, some 17.8% reported they were unable to find employment after graduation – compared to 13.6% in 2010.
• Although almost 90% of respondents stated that veterinary work is stressful, a similar proportion said that veterinary work gives variety and over 80% said it provides job satisfaction. Other issues highlighted by respondents included the need for better pay and remuneration and the high demands placed on them by clients.

Both the Survey of the Veterinary Profession and the Survey of the Veterinary Nursing Profession, together with a report that brings together common themes, can be downloaded from the RCVS website.

RCVS Knowledge library is asking veterinary professionals to complete an online survey which will help to improve the way it supports their information needs. Library members and non-members alike are encouraged to complete the survey, and completed surveys can enter into a prize draw to win a £50 Amazon voucher.

Head of Library and Information Services, Clare Boulton, explains: “veterinary professionals are being asked to take into account a bigger pool of information than ever before. We are the dedicated library for the profession, so we want to make sure the services we provide are evidence-based – that they are what the profession actually needs. She adds, “The profession is diverse, so we want to hear from veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses, technicians and consultants – everyone who has veterinary information needs.”

For more information and a link to the survey click here

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) has published new guidance for veterinary surgeons on 24-hour emergency first aid and pain relief, providing greater definition of the professional and legal responsibilities of veterinary surgeons in the provision of emergency care, as well as owners’ responsibilities for their animals.

Although veterinary surgeons are professionally obliged to take steps to provide 24-hour emergency first aid and pain relief, the new supporting guidance clarifies situations where delaying or declining attendance to an animal may be appropriate. It is hoped this will assist and empower vets to decline to attend an animal away from practice where they feel it is unnecessary or unsafe.

The changes are the culmination of an evidence-gathering process with both members of the profession and animal owners about each group’s expectations around the provision of 24-hour emergency care.

After a thorough review of the evidence the Standards Committee developed the new supporting guidance, which was agreed in principle by RCVS Council in its June meeting.

Gordon Hockey, RCVS Registrar, welcomed the new supporting guidance, saying: “Following the considerable disquiet within the profession following the Disciplinary Committee’s decision on the Chikosi hearing in June 2013, we decided that only a thorough evidence-gathering process with all parties could resolve the apparent gap between the expectation of the public regarding 24-hour emergency care and the profession’s ability to meet this.

 “We are very happy with the way that this process was carried out and would like to thank the many individual veterinary surgeons and animal owners, as well as representative organisations, who have contributed to this outcome.

 “By making the legal and professional obligations of veterinary surgeons and the welfare obligations of animal owners clearer we hope that this new guidance should allay some of the frustrations and concerns of the profession.”

To read the new supporting guidance click here:
Chapter 3 ’24-hour emergency first aid and pain relief’
Chapter 2 ‘Veterinary care’