MelodyEm in Boston, Massachusetts. One of the major reasons I have not become a veterinarian which is what I originally intended to do was because of the cost of education and the instability of the job market. Veterinarians tend to stay in their positions until they can retire, making it hard for new vets to find jobs.

Because the status of animals in our society is that of being second class citizens--they are nothing more than legal property, much like a car or a tv you own--meaning that they have no legal standing and therefore laws governing their ownership are practically nonexistent--the idea that people have esp. My practice is seeing less appointments now than we were when I started 6 years ago and that's because the economy is down and animals are not viewed as anything more than a luxury by our collective consciousness and by government so, their care is on the back burner for most people.

For me, it's not practical to leave the profession because my skill set is high and it's not applicable elsewhere.

I don't know of a job that would pay me more than I get now with these skills and without schooling. That, and I don't want to do anything else, but work at an animal sanctuary and that's not possible yet. And yes, it pays less.

But that's not why I want to do it. I know what burn out and what boredom are when it comes to this job. I know what it's like to be underpaid. But I wouldn't do this still, if I wasn't passionate about it. Six years into it and I can still say that. I'm sorry that your debt and your exhaustion with it is so much so that you can't afford to leave.

I hope you find a solution that will make you feel happy and fulfilled. MYopinion in Richlands, North Carolina. Do some research online in nurse's forums and see what other nurses around the U. I don't know where the RNs you know work, but it's probably not in some tertiary care hospital. I laughed when the other techs complain about having to push, pull, squat, etc etc - what do you think nurses do? You have to move patients, boost patients, transfer patients, get them up into chairs after surgery, etc.

Obesity is a big problem in America. Then, you have to try and get them up to the ICU in a bariatric hospital bed. I won't even describe what it's like to do would care for these poor people. It's easy to love being a nurse when you're a school nurse or spend your time doing wellness clinics, but be prepared to make LVT money. When you work in a hospital for hours, you see a lot of interesting stuff, but you break your back and get a lot of abuse.

The money is very good, and it money is all you care about - you'll last. But if you're looking for peace of mind, think again. Thank you for posting a realistic view of your career! And for seeing truth behind Cindy's words. I agree anyone on the opposite side of the table from her opinion appears to just be wrong.

If one feels the need to argue there OPINION to the stressful, adamant point that she does, seems to me to be boasting nonsense. Maybe its too much schooling and sitting on the tech board seems is causing inflation: P Her points are valid as far as the stress of the job, but I don't feel as though I should bow down. Perhaps a little ego deflating is in order: I've been a Vet tech for 8 yrs. I never got into this for the money. Anyone that gets into this profession for the money is sadly mistaken and hasn't done their research!

Sad to read posts about RVT's whining about money. Get out and do something different! I left alot of clinics because of that. If its love of money, DON'T be a RVT!

Saving lives is worth the low pay.

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I don't make alot, but I make more than enough to satisfy my living needs. I have water taste on a beer budget. If you looking for alot of material stuff to show off your social status, don't be a tech. If you can set the whole "what I own makes me cool" highschool attitude aside, and you love animal and want to make a difference in lives, then sign up and get started!

Just realize that for every time your part of a lifesaving event , there's more situations that will just frustrate and sadden you. I dont do this job for the people or for my bank account. I do it because I actually care about the pets lives. Lisa in Sanford, Florida. As a whole most Veterinary professionals do not make and probably will never make what staff in the human field do. So if you're looking for the big bucks you should probably find a new profession. This kind of work isn't for everyone and I don't blame anyone for getting burt out.

Many of the clients are rude and ungrateful, some Dr. I've been bitten, scratched, beaten and brused by just about every species out there. I still love my job, I personally can't imagine doing anything else. I may not make the most money, live in the nicest house, or dive a fancy car, but for the most part I'm happy with what I'm doing with my life. And for me, I'd rather be happy then have the most money in the bank. I worked in the same progressive small animal practice in a Dallas suburb for 10 years as well.

And worked as the head technician in an equine hospital, have written continuing education articles for veterinary technicians, served on oversight committees for veterinary technicians, etc etc. Looking through everyones postings, I can see many people have many different opinions on this. Im a 19 year old, looking into going to school in the near future. Ive wanted to work with animals since Ive been a little girl, and I know its meant for me.

I'm still trying to decide to go in for school for a Tech or a full Vet. I wanted to know some of your opinions on it. I'm not in it for the money, I know that.

I'm worried about the euthanasia part of it all. I know for the most part, it is to the benefit of the animal , but I dont know how Id handle that emotionally, and Id rather have an idea of others experiences before going to school for it. Do Techs even have a part in euthanasia? Nosipho in Pretoria, South Africa. Martha in Harrison Township, Michigan said: So since Michigan requires a liscense does that mean it's regulated here or not necessarily?

Also is the AAHA accredation a very good sign for that program? Sorry I have so many questions but I just want to get as much info as I can so if I do go into this profession I at least know I'm taking a step in the right direction.

I am doing my final year in Veterinary Technology and I can see that I cannot do this for the rest of my life. The only way you can earn serious money is if you have more experience and you are not recognized in the field. Veterinarians dont take you seriously. I am thinking of going and doing Veterinary Science. I am in South Africa.

I fully agree with AZ Vet Tech. Ive worked in hospitals and had screaming fits and objects thrown at me. Number one Im an adult, I have my B. S in Vet tech and I'm LICENSED. If you allow this type of treatment to happen, then guess what I've been in this career for 6 years and love every bit of it. Yes, there are days where I want to walk out or even hit someone, but my good days out weigh my bad.

I'm thankful for a career and not a JOB. Instead of telling people this job sucks, did you ever think that maybe this job wasnt for you. I'm active, I'm in organizations and on Boards. So Im making a difference for myself and yes, for future technicians. I feel bad that you didnt have a mentor to properly prepair you for this. And yes I know your going to say "not everyone had the oportunity to have a mentor". But with attitudes like this we will have a dying profession and DVM's will conitnue to hire any Joe Blow.

I advise other assistants and techs to stop complaining and do something. Its not the Doctors keeping us back its our poor attitudes. Ive watched techs at conferences and visited other practices and they all have chips on their shoulders. Were fighting a lossing battle with ourselves. Docotrs will have no chose but to respect and acknowledge us. And again if we stop making our jobs easy enough for unexperienced people off the street then hiring these people wouldnt be a first choice for practice owners.

I just needed to let that be heard and I'm not trying to join into an arguement. This is just my opinion. Its hard to mentor or educate us because we think we know everything and we can not be told what to do. Gues what Doctors see that. So how are they to respect us if we cant even respect each other? Dog lvr in Corning, New York. Whilst I fully appreciate the vetenary profession as with doctors for people ,out there there are other ways without calling for expertise help all the time ,In the olden days what did people do without the veternary profession then, I have and have done successfulllly ridden my very very poorly blck orienal cat of a mouth absess blue black and green with stench and the most obstrusive stench of liquid thruough his mouth,and numorous absesses and septesemia of his bloods,cured him with my own antibiotics in very small forms daily ,and cleanliness of the most strongest clinical anti disenfectant imaginable.

IF a vet could have seen him in his weakness palour ,stenching smell,thiness ,I honestly believe as a human being,they would have put him to sleep. IdontSuckButYouDo in Palm Bay, Florida. But I think the problem runs much deeper here.

You have no idea how badly I'd like to leave this profession, but because of the enormous debt I accumulated to become a veterinarian, it isn't practical to leave this profession.

Maybe you should ALL go back to school and take out some more huge loans and take Dolly Hugging. Sounds like almost everyone on this thread needs an attitude adjustment. If anyone came into my practice with the chips that are on you peoples' shoulders they'd be history. Just to all you who are thinking about this field should know that anytime you make money off something you love it looses its value to you and does burn you out now and then but its worth it.

I am aware that in this state there are no requirements to be a vet tech. Also i have worked as an LVT in both New York and Florida, and in BOTH states the poor treatment and pay rates are the SAME.

I have also worked in many clinics, all different shapes sizes and types. All i was trying to convey here was that people should be aware of the crappy situation they could get themselves into because this profession is NOT what you think it is.

I don't know how you guys do it, dealing with all those animals and the vets, who are paid well, we all know. TawnyMarie in Oakland, California said: I assure you that cleaning poo and having people scream or throw things at you doesn't change when you become an RN or LPN. I'm a former CNA who debated nursing school after my son was born but decided highly against it for many reasons.

Sure, nurses make good money but, many of those nurses ONLY do it for that purpose. There are many nurses out there who don't enjoy nursing and merely went into it to make a decent living. If you want to make a decent living and be miserable with what you do to earn that living then go for it unless ofcourse nursing is something you're truly passionate about then this doesn't apply to you If you've allowed yourself to stay somewhere where you're treated that way that's on you.

There are facilities out there that will recognize you for what you have to offer and treat you that way You just have to look Doesn't matter if you're an RVT or an RN both fields have a high turnover rate Do what you love Unless you're okay being miserable If the abuse is as bad as so many say it is then I'm surprised no one is reporting it to state labor law officials I don't work in this field, but I just wanted to mention that there is no legal protection in any U.

Josh Z in New York, New York. Sometimes it just sucks to work where you already live. I received my bachelors in veterinary technology and received my license. I started, fresh out of college , making 16 an hour.

I left there after 6 months and went to a different practice making 18 an hour. A few months later, I left there to work in research and got 25 an hour starting, and thats only 1 year out of college. You need to work to get what you want. Make impressions, its who you know too.

Being a nice person and happy with your career choice will get you further than being bitter and getting paid crap. Meig in Fox Lake, Illinois. Where you are, yes. In middle America, probably not.

Remona51 in Williston, Florida. My problem with vet techs?

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Out of all the techs I know, only a small handful are sincerely nice. They are the nastiest, most hateful people I have ever met and the bullying runs rampant. I had my heart set on tech school but I can't work with hateful coworkers.

I don't have enough bail money. Sharon in Foley, Alabama. Remona,I am so sorry you've experienced behaviors that have wounded you. There is such a thing called lateral violence. The nursing profession is well aware of its existence.

Lateral violence occurs in all work settings or home settings anywhere there are toxic personalities. In human nursing, the joint commission has required hospital human resource departments to map out a plan where nurses who are victims of lateral violence can have a safe haven and neutral zone where the issues of injury can be discussed.

The major problem in veterinary clinics is that so many of them are family-owned, have no Human Resources department, and they simply cannot afford to hire qualified people. Just like real estate, doing well in veterinary medicine requires that the clinic is smart about three things: The problem with lateral violence is that, like a virus, it spreads among employees.

Resolving your own painful insult will allow you to become what is known as the wounded healer.

We veterinary nurses are healers. We are guardians of animal well-fare. When you have "bitten" by lateral violence you are infected with it, become the wounded walking and are a vector to spread the disease. Until real teeth and bite into the problem of lateral violence is handled similarly as it is in human medicine, veterinary nurses will continue to struggle with toxic personalities and no where to run for safe haven and find ways to heal.

When Techs Hurt Techs: Bullying and Horizontal Violence in Veterinary Medicine—David Liss, BA, RVT, VTS ECC and Brandy Sprunger, CVT, RVT References 1. What is causing horizontal violence between nurses and what steps can individuals take to bring it to an end? When Nurses Hurt Nurses: Recognizing and Overcoming the Cycle of Bullying. Dellasega C— Indianapolis, Sigma Theta Tau International , Why Nurses Eat Their Young and Each Other.

Bartholomew K—Marblehead, HCPro, Inc. The Role of Management Managers have a responsibility to prevent horizontal violence and stop it as soon as it becomes an issue. As managers, we can make sure that our staff has many opportunities for CE, whether through in-house product lectures and demonstrations or by providing an education allowance so staff can choose lectures they want to attend.

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Providing all staff with equal opportunity for learning and growth can quiet the information hogs. Developing comprehensive training programs and establishing strict performance and qualification guidelines can help.

When everyone shares the same information, no one is better than anyone else and everyone is both replaceable and indispensable at the same time. Work protocols that allow a certain level of autonomy in the workplace can go a long way in removing the feeling of powerlessness. Why NOT to choose this profession.

Get new comments by email My Email You can cancel email alerts at anytime. MelodyEm in Boston, Massachusetts 63 months ago dvmjill -- I totally hear what you're saying. Chris in Levittown, New York said: Cindy, You just want to argue and find excuses to leave your profession, well I wish you good luck.

Chris Thank you for posting a realistic view of your career! Top Cities for Veterinary Technician Jobs New York, NY 64 San Antonio, TX 64 Houston, TX 60 Seattle, WA 57 San Diego, CA 57 Find Veterinary Technician Jobs by City, State, or ZIP.

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For jobs in France, visit Indeed France. Comments 51 to 71 of MelodyEm in Boston, Massachusetts 63 months ago. MYopinion in Richlands, North Carolina 62 months ago. Lisa in Sanford, Florida 62 months ago. Nosipho in Pretoria, South Africa 62 months ago. Dog lvr in Corning, New York 61 months ago. Guess I'm going reconsider the VT career change. IdontSuckButYouDo in Palm Bay, Florida 59 months ago. Josh Z in New York, New York 53 months ago. Meig in Fox Lake, Illinois 53 months ago.

Remona51 in Williston, Florida 18 months ago. Sharon in Foley, Alabama 17 months ago. Top Cities for Veterinary Technician Jobs New York, NY 64 San Antonio, TX 64 Houston, TX 60 Seattle, WA 57 San Diego, CA 57 Find Veterinary Technician Jobs by City, State, or ZIP View Veterinary Technician salaries.