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So I took my dog to the vet yesterday morning to be spayed, we (my dog and I) are called into the assessment room by this woman who introduces herself as the "RN" who will be taking care of my dog.
Ofcourse I am skeptical, I question her "You are a Registered Nurse?"
She replies, that yes she is a RN, the training is EXACTLY the same, except that it is for animals, and that she had to pass a board exam. She actually goes on about it for a couple of minutes.
At this point I am so stunned, that I decide not to say anything, as I am already in a highly irritated mood because I am sleep deprived, starving because I am fasting for blood work, and actively fighting with my insurance coverage to get any prescription filled anywhere, and I am afraid of over reacting. I make sure that I sound highly skeptical when I say "Oooookayyy"
I am usually not very political or sensitive to nursing slights. I am comfortable with who I am and happy with what I do. I laugh at slights to nurses on tv more often that not, but this just kept itching at me.
When I left they gave me a addressed envelope and a survey to fill out. I am considering using the envelope to write a letter to the vet to inform her that she has at least one tech that is calling herself a RN and that by allowing this to go on in her practice that she is opening herself up to potential liability.
If i were to write a letter to the vet about this, i would provide wirtten proof that this tech calling herself an RN is illegal. That info should be under the state board of nursing laws for your state.
This is illegal and not a good representation of the vet who is responsible for all who work in his/her office. If the tech is calling herself an RN (illegal) then is the vet a Chef? HMMMM
Up here a trained, certified vet. tech is a full time college diploma, that takes at least two years. So they are "registered" nurses for animals.
Get over yourself, she didn't claim to be a RN for humans and apply at the local human hospital, just like I wouldn't apply to work for my vet. I am just too amazed at the animal body and where they could find all the parts. I mean when my girl had surgery the other month, I watched over her like a mum and had to get out my animal health book just to check her pulse and figure out where the pulses where. Can you imagine being able to do that on dogs, cats, birds, reptiles. Hell, I even took a hamster to the vets once and the tech there knew what to do to him. I mean the little guy was in hypoglycemic shock and she knew how to treat him, how much glucose to give, etc., the tech practically ran a code on a hamster!
I value animal nurses and yup in some countries they are referred to as nurses! I couldn't do her/his job.
Up here a trained, certified vet. tech is a full time college diploma, that takes at least two years. So they are "registered" nurses for animals.
Get over yourself, she didn't claim to be a RN for humans and apply at the local human hospital, just like I wouldn't apply to work for my vet. I am just too amazed at the animal body and where they could find all the parts. I mean when my girl had surgery the other month, I watched over her like a mum and had to get out my animal health book just to check her pulse and figure out where the pulses where. Can you imagine being able to do that on dogs, cats, birds, reptiles. Hell, I even took a hamster to the vets once and the tech there knew what to do to him. I mean the little guy was in hypoglycemic shock and she knew how to treat him, how much glucose to give, etc., the tech practically ran a code on a hamster!
I value animal nurses and yup in some countries they are referred to as nurses! I couldn't do her/his job.
This is interesting! I never heard of a registered nurse for animals. Where does one get this training? And how does one differentiate the difference between an RN for people & one for animals when talking about one's profession?
The license of a tech is vastly different from the license of a registered nurse. The exams are two completely different things and the only way to obtain the Registered Nurse title is to take the NCLEX-RN. Vet techs do not take the NCLEX-RN and are not entitled to use that title. It is illegal to do so.
In some countries they may be referred to as nurses, but not in this one.
I have a lot of respect for the vet techs who take care of my furry family, and I have a lot of respect for their knowledge base. However, that does not make them RNs.
I can see how this is upsetting in a HUMAN environment (hospital, clinic, etc.), but at a Vet's office? I think the real problem would be if she claimed to be an RN and actually treated HUMANS, which, of course, she isn't doing. I really can't fathom getting so bent out of shape over things like this.
Up here a trained, certified vet. tech is a full time college diploma, that takes at least two years. So they are "registered" nurses for animals.
Get over yourself, she didn't claim to be a RN for humans and apply at the local human hospital, just like I wouldn't apply to work for my vet. I am just too amazed at the animal body and where they could find all the parts. I mean when my girl had surgery the other month, I watched over her like a mum and had to get out my animal health book just to check her pulse and figure out where the pulses where. Can you imagine being able to do that on dogs, cats, birds, reptiles. Hell, I even took a hamster to the vets once and the tech there knew what to do to him. I mean the little guy was in hypoglycemic shock and she knew how to treat him, how much glucose to give, etc., the tech practically ran a code on a hamster!
I value animal nurses and yup in some countries they are referred to as nurses! I couldn't do her/his job.
Similar thoughts have crossed my mind. About ten years ago, I looked into being a vet myself and went to talk to the people at the vet school. They told me that the training is very similar to human medicine, the chief difference being that vet students get through school faster (I think they told me it takes about 6-7 years, whereas human med school including pre-med takes 9 with the one-year internship). What blows my mind is that MDs have ONE species for which they are responsible for treating; vets have dozens! Like your post said, I wouldn't have the first clue what normal lab ranges would be for hamsters, lizards, and the like.
Up here a trained, certified vet. tech is a full time college diploma, that takes at least two years. So they are "registered" nurses for animals.
Get over yourself, she didn't claim to be a RN for humans and apply at the local human hospital, just like I wouldn't apply to work for my vet. I am just too amazed at the animal body and where they could find all the parts. I mean when my girl had surgery the other month, I watched over her like a mum and had to get out my animal health book just to check her pulse and figure out where the pulses where. Can you imagine being able to do that on dogs, cats, birds, reptiles. Hell, I even took a hamster to the vets once and the tech there knew what to do to him. I mean the little guy was in hypoglycemic shock and she knew how to treat him, how much glucose to give, etc., the tech practically ran a code on a hamster!
I value animal nurses and yup in some countries they are referred to as nurses! I couldn't do her/his job.
Fiona, you seem to be very knowledgable on this. Is there a difference between a 'vet tech' and an 'RN for animals', each clinic having both such positions? Just curious, this is interesting and I've never heard of this before.
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Vet tech calling herself RN
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