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News & Reports
News & Reports Rcvs
Snapshot survey provides insight into bigger picture THE full results of this year’s RCVS surveys of the veterinary and veterinary nursing professions were published by the College on September 15. Among other things, they show that the veterinary profession continues to become increasingly populated by women and that the number of veterinary surgeons working in mixed practice continues to decline. The surveys, which are carried out every four years, took place in April and May this year; they were conducted by the Institute for Employment Studies on the RCVS’s behalf and provide a snapshot of the current state of both professions. They attracted 6988 responses from veterinary surgeons (representing 27 per cent of the profession) and 5496 responses from registered/listed and student veterinary nurses (representing 31 per cent of the profession). The majority of the veterinary surgeons responding to the survey – 72.3 per cent – were practising in the UK. Just over 10 per cent were practising outside of the UK and some 14 per cent of respondents were not working due to unemployment, a career break or retirement. Of the veterinary surgeons not currently practising, 43 per cent were retired. The survey results suggest that ‘feminisation’ of the veterinary profession is continuing with, for the first time, more responses (54 per cent) being received from women veterinary surgeons than men. As in previous surveys, approximately 49 per cent of the veterinary surgeons responding were
aged between 30 and 49, although the mean age of respondents was slightly lower in 2014 than 2010 (44.3 compared with 45.5). Also for the first time, the 2014 surveys included questions aimed at assessing the social mobility of respondents. Over half the veterinary surgeons responding said that their parents or guardians had been educated to degree level. Regarding the type of school attended between the ages of 11 and 16, 26 per cent had attended a non-selective statefunded school; 20 per cent had attended a selective state-funded school; and 24 per cent had attended an independent or fee-paying school. Some 30 per cent of veterinary surgeons had attended school outside of the UK. Eight per cent had lived in households that were in receipt of income support at some time during their school years and 10 per cent had received free school meals at some stage. Most of the veterinary surgeon respondents (65.4 per cent) were in full-time work, a similar proportion as in 2010. The number of respondents working part time was 19 per cent in 2014 compared with 16 per cent in 2010. The results show that, while women were more likely to be working part time, the proportion of men working part time has doubled from 5.5 per cent in 2010 to 11.2 per cent in 2014. Over half of the veterinary surgeons responding (54 per cent) worked in small animal/exotic practice; 16 per cent in mixed animal practice; and 8 per cent in referral practice or consultancy. In 2010, the figures
Key results for veterinary nurses Key findings of the RCVS survey of veterinary nurses included:
n A noticeable decrease in the proportion of veterinary nurses in fulltime employment – 67 per cent in 2014 compared with 74.7 per cent in 2010. Full-time work was less common among those under 20 (which includes students) and older veterinary nurses. n More positive feelings about the profession when compared with the
previous survey in 2010 – 60 per cent of respondents said they would choose to become a veterinary nurse again if they started their career over, compared with 54 per cent in 2010. Poor pay and stress were highlighted as issues. n A fall in the proportion of student veterinary nurses intending to remain employed at their training practice after qualification, from 61 per cent in 2010 to 52 per cent in 2014.
were 49 per cent for small animal/exotic practice, 22 per cent for mixed practice and 7 per cent for referral practice or consultancy. Vets in mixed practice, small animal/exotic practice and equine practice tended to work the longest average hours per week (41 hours), while vets in equine practice had the highest average on-call commitments (23.2 hours on-call away from the practice premises and 9.4 hours on the premises). The survey suggests that the balance of on-call on and off practice premises has changed between 2010 and 2014, with on-call on the premises increasing noticeably in every practice type except farm animal/production animal practice. On-call time off practice premises has decreased in every practice type. Regarding emergency cover, only 9 per cent of veterinary surgeons in clinical practice in the UK were based mainly at a dedicated out-of-hours service provider. Of the remainder, 56 per cent stated that their practice covered its own out-of-hours commitments (compared with 61 per cent in 2010). More respondents reported that their practice now used a dedicated out-of-hours provider – 34.7 per cent in 2014 compared with 25.6 per cent in 2010. The survey also found that over half of recently qualified veterinary surgeons went straight into practice after graduating, with the average time taken by a graduate to find their first position being three months after starting to look for a role. Over 17 per cent of recent graduates said they took some time out as they were unable to find a job. Almost 90 per cent of veterinary surgeons responding to the survey indicated that they found veterinary work stressful. However, a similar proportion said that it gave variety, and 80 per cent said that it gave them job satisfaction. That said, less than half (46 per cent) indicated that they would still opt for a career in the veterinary profession if they had the choice again. n Separate reports of the surveys of veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses, together with a combined synopsis, are available from the RCVS website, www.rcvs.org.uk/publications doi: 10.1136/vr.g5845 September 27, 2014 | Veterinary Record | 289
Downloaded from http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/ on May 28, 2015 - Published by group.bmj.com
Snapshot survey provides insight into bigger picture Veterinary Record 2014 175: 289
doi: 10.1136/vr.g5845 Updated information and services can be found at: http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/175/12/289
These include:
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To request permissions go to: http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions To order reprints go to: http://journals.bmj.com/cgi/reprintform To subscribe to BMJ go to: http://group.bmj.com/subscribe/
News & Reports
News & Reports Rcvs
Snapshot survey provides insight into bigger picture THE full results of this year’s RCVS surveys of the veterinary and veterinary nursing professions were published by the College on September 15. Among other things, they show that the veterinary profession continues to become increasingly populated by women and that the number of veterinary surgeons working in mixed practice continues to decline. The surveys, which are carried out every four years, took place in April and May this year; they were conducted by the Institute for Employment Studies on the RCVS’s behalf and provide a snapshot of the current state of both professions. They attracted 6988 responses from veterinary surgeons (representing 27 per cent of the profession) and 5496 responses from registered/listed and student veterinary nurses (representing 31 per cent of the profession). The majority of the veterinary surgeons responding to the survey – 72.3 per cent – were practising in the UK. Just over 10 per cent were practising outside of the UK and some 14 per cent of respondents were not working due to unemployment, a career break or retirement. Of the veterinary surgeons not currently practising, 43 per cent were retired. The survey results suggest that ‘feminisation’ of the veterinary profession is continuing with, for the first time, more responses (54 per cent) being received from women veterinary surgeons than men. As in previous surveys, approximately 49 per cent of the veterinary surgeons responding were
aged between 30 and 49, although the mean age of respondents was slightly lower in 2014 than 2010 (44.3 compared with 45.5). Also for the first time, the 2014 surveys included questions aimed at assessing the social mobility of respondents. Over half the veterinary surgeons responding said that their parents or guardians had been educated to degree level. Regarding the type of school attended between the ages of 11 and 16, 26 per cent had attended a non-selective statefunded school; 20 per cent had attended a selective state-funded school; and 24 per cent had attended an independent or fee-paying school. Some 30 per cent of veterinary surgeons had attended school outside of the UK. Eight per cent had lived in households that were in receipt of income support at some time during their school years and 10 per cent had received free school meals at some stage. Most of the veterinary surgeon respondents (65.4 per cent) were in full-time work, a similar proportion as in 2010. The number of respondents working part time was 19 per cent in 2014 compared with 16 per cent in 2010. The results show that, while women were more likely to be working part time, the proportion of men working part time has doubled from 5.5 per cent in 2010 to 11.2 per cent in 2014. Over half of the veterinary surgeons responding (54 per cent) worked in small animal/exotic practice; 16 per cent in mixed animal practice; and 8 per cent in referral practice or consultancy. In 2010, the figures
Key results for veterinary nurses Key findings of the RCVS survey of veterinary nurses included:
n A noticeable decrease in the proportion of veterinary nurses in fulltime employment – 67 per cent in 2014 compared with 74.7 per cent in 2010. Full-time work was less common among those under 20 (which includes students) and older veterinary nurses. n More positive feelings about the profession when compared with the
previous survey in 2010 – 60 per cent of respondents said they would choose to become a veterinary nurse again if they started their career over, compared with 54 per cent in 2010. Poor pay and stress were highlighted as issues. n A fall in the proportion of student veterinary nurses intending to remain employed at their training practice after qualification, from 61 per cent in 2010 to 52 per cent in 2014.
were 49 per cent for small animal/exotic practice, 22 per cent for mixed practice and 7 per cent for referral practice or consultancy. Vets in mixed practice, small animal/exotic practice and equine practice tended to work the longest average hours per week (41 hours), while vets in equine practice had the highest average on-call commitments (23.2 hours on-call away from the practice premises and 9.4 hours on the premises). The survey suggests that the balance of on-call on and off practice premises has changed between 2010 and 2014, with on-call on the premises increasing noticeably in every practice type except farm animal/production animal practice. On-call time off practice premises has decreased in every practice type. Regarding emergency cover, only 9 per cent of veterinary surgeons in clinical practice in the UK were based mainly at a dedicated out-of-hours service provider. Of the remainder, 56 per cent stated that their practice covered its own out-of-hours commitments (compared with 61 per cent in 2010). More respondents reported that their practice now used a dedicated out-of-hours provider – 34.7 per cent in 2014 compared with 25.6 per cent in 2010. The survey also found that over half of recently qualified veterinary surgeons went straight into practice after graduating, with the average time taken by a graduate to find their first position being three months after starting to look for a role. Over 17 per cent of recent graduates said they took some time out as they were unable to find a job. Almost 90 per cent of veterinary surgeons responding to the survey indicated that they found veterinary work stressful. However, a similar proportion said that it gave variety, and 80 per cent said that it gave them job satisfaction. That said, less than half (46 per cent) indicated that they would still opt for a career in the veterinary profession if they had the choice again. n Separate reports of the surveys of veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses, together with a combined synopsis, are available from the RCVS website, www.rcvs.org.uk/publications doi: 10.1136/vr.g5845 September 27, 2014 | Veterinary Record | 289
Downloaded from http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/ on May 28, 2015 - Published by group.bmj.com
Snapshot survey provides insight into bigger picture Veterinary Record 2014 175: 289
doi: 10.1136/vr.g5845 Updated information and services can be found at: http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/175/12/289
These include:
Email alerting service
Receive free email alerts when new articles cite this article. Sign up in the box at the top right corner of the online article.
Notes
To request permissions go to: http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions To order reprints go to: http://journals.bmj.com/cgi/reprintform To subscribe to BMJ go to: http://group.bmj.com/subscribe/
