why i quit being a vet tech
oh hi, i’m back! life is crazy, guys, what can i say.
wow so many life changes, ya’ll. it has been a bittersweet end to an awesome chapter, but i am so excited to embrace what’s next!
have a wonderful week 🙂
xoxo, jalyn
oh hi, i’m back! life is crazy, guys, what can i say.
wow so many life changes, ya’ll. it has been a bittersweet end to an awesome chapter, but i am so excited to embrace what’s next!
have a wonderful week 🙂
xoxo, jalyn
Going from a stressful job to and extra stressful job
I’m in my second year of the vet tech program at my school and I’m thinking of switching over to nursing. Do you have any advice?
Welllll that’s discouraging lol..
I recently went back into the field again in a different type of animal role but still using my tech skills. I can safely say I already regret it and hate going to where I work every day. I just barely started and I get mad anxiety when a new shift approaches. I thought returning to this field was going to be the right thing for me and be fulfilling, but sadly, another let down. I’ve worked at two clinics and was a temp at an animal shelter before coming back again recently. I’ve managed to overcome odds in this field but this new role is just as overwhelming if not more. As well as the low pay, nobody talks about the toxicity and power complex a lot of techs seem to have and thrive on. It’s tragic. I’m going to try to last my probationary period because I owe it to myself to at least try. But, no job is worth your mental health, even if it means changing careers. Too bad this pandemic has made it impossible to just jump ship.
Loved this video! I’m currently feeling the exact same way but feel stuck because I went to school for this career
I just quit after 10.5 years of vet nursing.. I’m so broken. Glad I came across your video.. thank you for your positivity ! I’m so scared of this change
I took a year off after 9 years (3 in GP, 4 in emergency, 2 in internal medicine). I’m now working one day a week as an emergency vet nurse (in Australia) while finishing my nutrition and dietetics degree. Having the time off and putting myself as number 1 has really helped me jump back into the industry and enjoy my 10hours in the vet industry a week 🙂 luckily vet nurses can get paid very well in Australia! I hate that my American colleagues are paid so little.
So many jobs nowadays are grossly underpaid and it’s necessary to have a second job on the side.
In CT nursing grads make $25-$30 an hour starting out. Us vet techs are lucky if we get $15-$18! Ludicrous. We have to know so many different species, how do techs get paid less?
MORAL OF THE STORY: Vet techs need to have more money then their making- a partner working as well. Or 2 jobs. Or – live in a state that pays more. I know a vet tech making 21 dollars an hour + over time.
Not all states pay shit
It’s frustrating how people assume you’re a vet if you’re in the animal industry.
Your pay changes in different states depending on the cost of living there. My son is in New York and makes $25 an hour. Still not a whole lot of money so we’ll see if he stays with it.
With your degree, you can ALWAYS get into something else relating to animals if you find this new chapter is not what you wanted it to be. Either way, you’re in a great spot, and getting the opportunity to have a better work life balance is what it’s all about. Congratulations!!!!
I was an equine vet tech about 10 years ago. I was paid a whopping $9 an hour. Such a shame that this trade is so undervalued
Do you have advice for me as a pre vet student. I’m in undergrad and recently started my first job in the field as a tech to get experience and hours. I was quite miserable. I loved treating the animals and watching the surgeries and learning more. I really did. But the head doctor and other techs treated me horribly and like I was stupid. I’d get yelled at for simple mistakes. I was expected to know already how to do everything. The head doctor threw his stethoscope at me when a dog tried to bite him. It sucked. I even got met with clear annoyance when I voiced concern about a dog who was bleeding a lot after waking from a c section. Another girl (only 18) came in and was treated like crap too. She ended quitting shortly after starting. It wasn’t all bad as the two other doctors I shadowed were really patient with me and really wanted me to thrive. A few of the techs also were more patient with me. Eventually after a bit everyone grew to like me. I’ve talked with other students to make sure it wasn’t just that one clinic that was bad but it seems this is very common. I love veterinary medicine but I’m not sure I want to put up with this for the rest of my life.
I worked for a veterinarian many years ago and was trained on the job. I worked there for 5 years. The veterinarian I worked for encouraged me to go to nursing school because I would make more money. I’ve been an RN for 26 years now and hate it! Wish I had never left the vet field
The pay really is a problem in this field. I’m the only Veterinarian Assistant or Technician I know who is single – the fact is, you simply can’t afford this job unless you have a dual income. I was seriously considering going back to school to get licensed, but when I found out how much work I’d have to put in and how little more pay I would receive, I realized it wasn’t worth it for me. I’ve decided to go into another field. I’m still working part-time while I’m getting my master’s degree. Like you mentioned, many techs have to work another job in order to make ends meet (I know a few who work 50-60 hours a week regularly), but unless you’ve done this job, you have no idea how completely physically and emotionally exhausting it is, and you really don’t have the energy to keep up such a crazy schedule for long. It sucks to have to leave the field, but I realized realistically that not only would I not be able to afford it, I physically wouldn’t be able to do the job until retirement (and I would have no retirement money when I reached that age). I really don’t have a choice.
I know there are some vet techs who specialize and work at specialist clinics or zoos and make enough money to live on, but I’ve found that those positions are really hard to find because the turnover is so low – a tech job that pays a living wage is as good as a tech job gets, so anyone who gets that job isn’t going to want to leave. So you could do years of extra schooling and not be able to find that higher-paying job in your specialty for years, or you may have to move to find one. It’s really sad.
I’ve been a licensed tech for 7 years and have spent half of that trying to decide what else I can do where I’m not relying on my partner to have a roof over my head. I’m so frustrated bc I don’t know what else I would even do and don’t really want to go back to school. I have a chronic health issues so a second job is not really an option for me although I could really use it to pay for medical bills since my insurance is garbage.
I’ve decided to make the switch and go for my RN. In my area they are only paying licensed vet techs $11hr… um no way. While RNs start off at $30… I love people and animals so I’m going to be logical here and not take the $11hr job that I would have to go to school for… yikes 😳
People who work in animal healthcare need to valued more
I was a kennel worker for a long time…when they offered me a vet tech position for a dollar more than minimum wage which was what I was making, I said no thanks. Why deal with rude customers, constant stress and euthanasias for a dollar more an hour? It is a grossly underpaid career.
😱Sales is even more stressful at times. Any job/career..
I’m all for people for making their own decisions, and I know this is your own experience, but this isn’t what happens to everyone in the field. It’s not for everyone either. Even though I’m just starting my education in the field, I did my due diligence speaking for as many people as I could about their succession and work experiences. It’s a mix of pros and cons that I’ve heard, and I learned it’s not for everyone. If the deal breaker between pursuing it or not is the money, then no one would do it. I do feel what you went through, but one has to already go in knowing what to expect. By having honest conversations with those already in the field, I know what I’m in for and what I’m going to put myself through. I can handle the stress, I’ve been in stressful jobs before dealing with animals. But I want to do this for the animals, not for the pay and I couldn’t care less about all the other things that come along with it like office politics and dramas like gossiping or cliques. I’m able to detach my personal feelings from my work and just focus on helping an animals in need.
thats a waste if u quit
I feel like this is going to happen to me because I’m between vet tech and another career and I’m undecided at the moment 😢
I’m there now. Thank you for this.
I also quit being a veterinary nurse in 2019. I was abused by the veterinarians in the first clinic I worked at for nearly two years. When I transferred to a large animal hospital, I worked amazingly with the veterinarians, but the staff was toxic and gossiped about everyone. It caused one girl to sue and I ended up being called in as a witness. I want to go back into vet med… but honestly, I’m super scared.
I’ve been a vet tech for two years and I have been struggling mentally and financially, especially in the last 8ish months. Recently I’ve decided I want to pursue my dream of becoming a librarian. I’m still working as a vet tech and cry almost daily and I’m always overwhelmed. Hopefully I can start my next chapter soon like you did 💗
How many years were you working as a vet tech?
I’m a vet tech and we are sooooo grossly underpaid. I absolutely LOVE this job, but I know I deserve to be making more money as well. I’ve been considering going back to school to become an RN. I dont hate people so I know I would enjoy it and I LOVE medicine. I wish we could all be paid the amount of money we deserve!!
Don’t cry🥺❤️
Thank you for being HONEST! And you are SMART for seeing that and making a change so soon!! I’ve been an LVT for 10 years so I feel you girl!! I’m changing careers as well!
Hey girl. I was a vet tech for 3 years. I recently quit due to the fact I was still getting paid minimum wage and I was dealing with things (I think) are worth way more money then that. Blood draws, radiographs, vaccines, monitoring anesthesia and worst of all euthanasia’s. I didn’t realize how much stress I was under until I had a complete psychological burnout. Months after quitting, I still have vivid flashbacks of the traumatic things I’d see during euthanasia’s. I don’t think people realize how much work (physically and mentally) goes into being a tech. Worst of all when you have a euth, you most likely will have to go into another room with new people right after so you don’t have time to process everything. Everyone remember to thank your techs! It’s truly a labor of love
Anyone else experience bullying and abuse from co-workers and veterinarians? I’ve worked with some terrific people but I honestly think there are some who simply do not leave when they should. It’s such a high stress job especially when dealing with emergencies I often found that negativity and stress would collide. I’d wake up at 3am with full on anxiety over stupid things like if I gave fluffy his medication or gave the night tech the full rundown on all the patients. Going from full on tears over a dog thats been euthanized especially in a room with kids, to new puppies getting their first vaccine. Going from x-ray gear, to parvo gown, to nail clips, angry UTI cat, then diabetic dog, I never could just take in my emotions because it would slow me down. Vet techs do not get paid enough. Although it’s such a wonderful field to be in, I really understand how burnout is so common. After four years, I quit simply to have my mental health back.
Going into my 7th year of being a vet tech. I’m coming close to the end of it. I’m emotionally and physically tired.
Not being judgey at all just wanna spread a positive message for the people in the comments. I truly believe that when you go into the field, when you’re going to school for it, you have to be okay with the underpayment. You have to know what the average rate of pay is and say "I’m okay with this". Truthfully, I can’t see myself doing anything else than working with animals and I want to specialize in exotic animals (usually that pays a bit more) but the job isn’t for someone who’s doing it just for the money. You aren’t going to get paid as much as you should but if you love what you do and you truly love animals etc. I think you’ll be okay. (obviously not for the creator of this video but to the people who are commenting about being scared to go into the field now or are saying the video is discouraging.) You HAVE to have a burning desire and love for the job and what you do if you wanna last in the industry although very underpaid and some of you may get lucky and get a job that pays 18-20 or more an hour (as you should be). You just have to stick it out sometimes. Wait for that promotion to come or look elsewhere! You don’t have to work in a clinic or an animal hospital. You can work for a zoo or a shelter. There are options. You just have to look but truly be prepared. If this video discourages you so much to the point you decide not to become a vet tech (especially based off someone else’s experience) you probably shouldn’t do it, don’t waste the time and money on schooling just to quit, follow a different path. Thank you for being honest in this video! I hope you’re doing well.
I’ve been working at a clinic now for almost 3 months and I truly love it but I agree with youso much. This job can just be so hard mentally and yeah It really does pay horrible . I truly think for we all do we should be paid more -_-
I’m very sorry to downvote your video but I think that your video title was very misleading. Good luck with your new job!
When you started to cry it broke my heart. I graduated from an avma school back in 2015 and im ready to move on. I hope you are doing well <3
Isn’t a vet tech a registered nurse for the animals?
I’m a dental assistant right now and I don’t know whether to pursue vet tech or dental hygiene. I don’t like my dental assistant job.
I’m looking for good techs and we pay better than many hospitals. We’re in southern Maine. Any Techs reading this who are looking should drop me a line eli@kbunkvet.com
It’s ridiculous how little vet techs get paid
Thanks for being honest. I am thinking about becoming a vet tech. How involved were you in putting pets down? What did you have to do?
Thanks for your honesty, even though I’m discouraged now about being a vet tech
I’m a RVT, how much was you getting paid??
Vet assistants should definitely get paid more !!
I am in vet tech school. I have honestly considered dropping out for the same reasons you have mentioned in your video. I love what I do, but Im weighing the pros and cons. The only problem is I’m not sure what career I would take up after. I have nothing but respect for vet techs, but I don’t know if I want that to be my life.