Three in four veterinary nurses close to quitting
The Irish Veterinary Nursing Association (IVNA) has warned of a growing retention crisis among the State’s approximately 1,200 registered veterinary nurses (RVNs), which it says could have implications for animal welfare and veterinary services.
Around three-quarters of veterinary nurses in Ireland are considering leaving the profession, amid concerns over pay, burnout and career progression, the Oireachtas heard this week.
The Irish Veterinary Nursing Association (IVNA) has warned of a growing retention crisis among the State’s approximately 1,200 registered veterinary nurses (RVNs), which it says could have implications for animal welfare and veterinary services.
Preliminary findings from the association’s soon-to-be-published 2026 survey show that almost 76% of respondents are considering leaving veterinary nursing.
The survey also found average annual pay among veterinary nurses was €36,800, despite the profession requiring degree-level qualifications and nurses carrying significant clinical responsibilities.
The IVNA recently raised its concerns before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food, where it also highlighted concerns around staffing and enforcement of veterinary nursing regulations.
Some 57% of respondents reported seeing unqualified individuals carrying out veterinary nursing duties, while 42% expressed concerns about declining standards of care linked to workforce shortages.
Under the Veterinary Practice Act 2005, veterinary nursing is a regulated profession, with nurses undertaking duties including anaesthesia monitoring, surgical assistance, diagnostics and client care.
IVNA chairperson Kellie Fagan said veterinary nurses were essential to the delivery of safe and effective animal healthcare, but many felt unable to sustain a long-term career in the sector.
“This is fundamentally a retention issue, with implications not just for the profession, but for animal welfare and public confidence,” she said.
Despite continued demand for veterinary nursing courses, the IVNA warned that losing experienced nurses could have a disproportionate impact on rural veterinary services.
The association is calling for stronger enforcement of title protection, structured pay and career progression, greater veterinary nurse representation on the Veterinary Council of Ireland and implementation of recommendations contained in the council’s 2024 workforce report.
“If current trends continue, the State risks training highly skilled professionals only to lose them from the workforce,” Ms Fagan said.
