VetStaff Vet Sector State of the Nation Survey 2022 - findings overview

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This VetStaff survey was run over four weeks - promoted via FB, Insta, LI and this podcast.

Respondents were guaranteed anonymity.   However, if they wanted their clinic to go in the draw to win lunch they needed to complete contact info so we could organise the delivery if their name was pulled out of the hat.

Fifteen respondents chose to remain totally anonymous.  

Random lucky dip draw from all respondents.  

Vet Farm Pet Clinic - Warkworth
Animal Referral Centre – Snapper Rock, Auckland
Carevets Beach Rd – Pahurehure, Papakura
The Strand Veterinarian - Parnell
First Vets – Whanganui

There were 124 respondents.:
43% veterinarians
43% veterinary nurses
6% veterinary technicians
6% non-clinical support staff
4% Practice Managers

by clinic type:
49%  GP Companion Animal clinics
32%  Mixed Animal clinics
5%  Equine only
5% Dairy only
balance  exotics, referral and after hours emergency clinics.

Qualifications:
85% NZ tertiary qualification
15% overseas tertiary qualification

Financial / Remuneration
Equal 33% split of:
not earning enough to live on - no contribution to rainy-day savings
earning just enough but not enough to contribute to rainy-day savings
earning enough and contributing to rainy-day savings
 
Some solutions to current veterinary shortage include:

·       To extra time to be allocated for admin and case notes – so vets don’t have to take this paperwork home with them or stay late, because not enough time has been scheduled in-clinic for this to happen.   This was offered up a few times so perhaps if you’re listening now and you have input into schedules, you could look at making this happen at your clinic.   If you’ve no idea how you’re going to do it – either you’ve got HO breathing down your neck or screaming down the phone – then brainstorm among your team – there’ll be great answers already on your team if you just ask the right questions.

·       For vets to utlise their nurses’ skills more.   This one came through loud and clear from most – maybe all the nurses – I need to dive a bit deeper with the data.   However, there were enough comments for me to think that in many – obviously not all – clinics, that vets in some cases, are adding to their own stress by not giving credit and responsibility where it’s due to the nurses.   So maybe have a team meeting and see what you can do to appreciate the training, skills and education that nurses have at your clinic.   Doing this means the vets will have more time to do what only vets can do.    Some nurses replied that they feel like they’re glorified cleaners.   

·       Hire dedicated receptionists so nurses can be nurses – another comment that came through loud and clear – and it ties in with vets utilising nurses as nurses – is for management to recognise nurses are nurses and not receptionist.   If clinics hired dedicated non-nursing staff – but trained in elementary triage – it would free up nurses to be nurses – and to then also be charged-out and generate income for the clinic.

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