The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food has heard of a looming retention crisis for veterinary nurses.
Kelly Fagan, president of the Irish Veterinary Nurses Association (IVNA), said a recent study found that nearly 76% of veterinary nurses were either “contemplating leaving the profession, unsure of staying, or planning to leave the profession altogether”.
“The main reasons are low wages, burnout, poor work-life balance, and limited career progression,” she said.
IVNA is the representative body for veterinary nurses in Ireland.
Despite being “highly skilled and organized healthcare professionals with significant responsibility for patient care,” veterinary nurses earn an average salary of just €36,800 a year, Egan said.
“Many report unpaid overtime, insufficient rest periods, and difficulties in balancing family and professional life.
“Nurses tell us over and over again that they love their work, but they can’t build a sustainable life around it,” she said.
Veterinary nurses
The committee heard that the profession is “overwhelmingly female”, with 97% of registered veterinary nurses in Ireland being women aged between 20 and 30 years.
“This is not just a workforce issue. This is a female workforce issue.
“When a female-dominated profession requires third-level qualifications, comes with significant responsibility, but does not provide sufficient financial security or work-life balance to sustain a long-term career, we must ask serious questions about how that profession is valued,” Egan said.
The committee heard the Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) workforce report which highlighted the need to improve the recruitment, retention, recognition and use of veterinary nurses.
“Almost two years later, many nurses feel that little has changed,” Egan said.
Systems
Committee members were told that the level of trust in the organization was “worryingly low”.
“Only 24% of participants felt comfortable reporting potential breaches of veterinary legislation, while 73% expressed concerns about approaching the Veterinary Council.
“Only 6% believe the Council effectively protects the interests of veterinary nurses.
“We also found significant compliance concerns, with 39% reporting breaches of veterinary legislation and 66% reporting unregistered individuals performing veterinary nursing duties,” Egan said.
The committee heard that 42% of participants reported concerns about standards of care.
representation
Egan said there were more than 1,200 veterinary nurses in Ireland.
But she said the profession only has one seat on the Irish Veterinary Council, while veterinary surgeons have nine.
“If we are serious about creating a sustainable veterinary workforce, veterinary nurses must have a stronger voice in the organizational structures that govern them,” Egan said.
IVNA is calling for “stronger and more proportionate” veterinary nurse representation on the VCI Council.
“We demand meaningful enforcement and education about property right protection and scope of practice.
“We call for confidential reporting mechanisms that allow professionals to raise concerns without fear of retaliation.
“We are demanding transparent career paths, better utilization of veterinary nursing skills and meaningful advancement opportunities,” Egan said.
“We are not facing a recruitment crisis. We are facing a retention crisis.
“Students are enrolling. Graduates are qualified. The commitment is there. What is missing is a profession within which veterinary nurses can build a sustainable future.
“If we fail to address this now, we will continue to train highly skilled professionals and watch them leave,” she added.
