As a RVN I have watched many of my colleagues struggle to buy homes, rely upon partner salary or simply leave the profession  because pay and work load is so imbalanced.

To become a registered nurse requires higher education consisting of at least 2 years at college and the fact of the matter is I could earn more working in a supermarket or a pub.

I currently earn £10 an hour doing occasional bat shifts which is more than some of my very qualified and competent colleagues earn as a vet nurse.

We often hear about vets getting compassion fatigue or attempting suicide. Why do we not consider this for nurses?

When you take your pet to the vets and they are hospitalised, after an initial work up from the vet they are cared for by a nurse. The nurse takes repeat bloods, places the fluids, takes them for walks, bathes them when they poo on themselves... the list goes on.

Veterinary practices and professionals will say nurses do it for the love and not the pay. Unfortunately love does not pay the bills. Let's stop bosses having that excuse and start demanding more from them. There is a nationwide shortage of nurses so now is the time!