Where did everybody go?

It’s no secret that the veterinary profession is under huge strain right now. Both vets and vet nurses seem to be in short supply. Veterinary professionals are diversifying, or even leaving the profession entirely which is putting a strain on the staff left in clinic. In fact, research carried out by CVS revealed that 16.9% of nurses, totalling 278 out of 1,642, resigned from their practices in 2021.

And when staff have stepped out of practice for a long period of time or perhaps for parental leave, many feel reluctant to step back in, largely down to a lack of confidence or fear of being thrown in at the deep end with limited support.

So how do we support and encourage veterinary professionals to return to clinical practice? The RCVS suggests a ‘return to practice’ refresher to help guide nurses back to professional practice, with an emphasis on lifelong learning. This is something we are passionate about here at Central CPD, and the results of the CVS study concur. Lack of career progression was the most frequently cited reason for nurses resigning (36.7%), which shows the importance of growth and development.

We wholeheartedly agree with the RCVS that supporting and investing in vet nurses through lifelong learning is essential. Our Vet Nurse Refresh Academy online learning series and attendance days focus on clinical skills and updates in the field, and help make getting back into  practice less daunting. We believe that by providing vet nurses with a framework to return with, you are far more likely to fill that job vacancy and, more importantly, retain those valued staff members.