vet techs using the term nurse

Nurses General Nursing

Published

what do you guys think of the growing controversy of vet techs calling themselves nurses?

Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

?

Ive neither seen nor heard of this. Most vet techs I know are proud to be called just that.

Yeh, I've always had a bit of a problem with techs, CNA'S, etc. referring to themselves as "nurses." We work very hard to be professionals, not to mention what we go through to become nurses that it isn't easy to be lumped together with everyone who wears a uniform and keep some autonomy/respect. travel2lv:uhoh21:

Nurse is just a term and V.broad in definition,don't get hang up about it.Personally I like my Pts./Co-Worker call me by my name.

Here they are vet nurses, & always have been. Same as dental nurse, etc - I don't have a problem with it as long as the qualifier is always added before the "nurse" part.

Specializes in LDRP; Education.

We had a dicussion about this not too long ago.

Vet Nurse Thread

Seems alot of nurses don't have a problem with giving the "nurse" designation away.

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Originally posted by bmwcvt

what do you guys think of the growing controversy of vet techs calling themselves nurses?

See the several other thread about this. It is UNETHICAL and ought to be ILLEGAL....you are not a nurse unless you graduate nursing school and pass an exam to be licensed as such. They need to be corrected on this. Nothing wrong w/being a tech...be proud, but don't dare call yourself a NURSE unless licensed to practice as one. *off soapbox now.

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Originally posted by Rohb

Nurse is just a term and V.broad in definition,don't get hang up about it.Personally I like my Pts./Co-Worker call me by my name.

See this is a good reason why nurses can't get respect. Do you think DOCTORS would appreciate just anyone calling themselves a doctor despite not being licensed to practice medicine. It is WRONG and NOT just a term....IT IS A RESPONSIBLITY, a SCOPE of PRACTICE and a set of VALUES you don't assign to just anyone. If I am unpopular for this, so be it. I worked HARD to earn the title of "nurse" and am NOT willing to just give it away that easily. These people are not nurses any more than I AM A VETERINARIAN!:(

Specializes in LDRP; Education.

Deb, you rock! ;)

It's not about just a title, either folks. It's about what a "nurse" is. If we constantly keep saying a "nurse" is anything under the sun from a teacher who applies a bandaid to a scrapped knee to a wife who stays home to care for her sick hubby, then we're basically stating that we carry no special meaning, no special education and no special service.

Nursing literature defines nursing in the context of care to humans - not animals. And for god's sake there is nothing wrong with the title "tech." Therefore why change it?

Arrrghh. This is my biggest pet peeve of our profession.

I am a veterinary technician, and I've rarely heard any tech call themself a 'nurse'. But licensed vet techs go through a 2 year associate degree program and have to pass national and state boards. It's no less education than a 2 year RN or LPN. Don't get me wrong, I understand the difference, but I hear a lot of nurses talk about getting no respect. Well, we go to school and have a responsibility, too, but we really do not get ANY respect. And we do provide 'nursing care' to animals. I can draw blood, place IV and urinary caths, take x-rays, medicate, do all lab work. So please do be offended if some of the techs feel they are 'nurses' to animals, but I do agree that the term should not be used as that is not the title. I am going to nursing school for RN this fall, so I can see both sides, I hope.

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Originally posted by Lisa DaS

I It's no less education than a 2 year RN or LPN. Don't get me wrong, I understand the difference, but I hear a lot of nurses talk about getting no respect. Well, we go to school and have a responsibility, too, but we really do not get ANY respect. And we do provide 'nursing care' to animals. I can draw blood, place IV and urinary caths, take x-rays, medicate, do all lab work. So please do be offended if some of the techs feel they are 'nurses' to animals, but I do agree that the term should not be used as that is not the title. I am going to nursing school for RN this fall, so I can see both sides, I hope.

I did not say techs must not be respected, (actually I respect you tremendously). However, if you are not licensed as a nurse, you are not a nurse. It's not meant to be an issue of who has the most education. But I am not willing to surrender the title of nurse to anyone who is not one. Sorry.

Correction; I meant to say, please don't be offended if some vet techs use the term as we do provide nursing care in our field. We don't have all the various caregivers. We have techs and vet assistants and that's it. If animals are getting nursing care, and the techs are the only ones providing it, than I would say we are not called 'nurses' because our work is not respected, not because we aren't providing nursing care. That right there is 30% of why I'm switching to human medicine.

+ Add a Comment