Veterinary Technician or RN?

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I'm having trouble deciding between the two careers and I'm wondering if someone else was ever, or is, in the same spot. On one hand, I love animals and working with them (my first job was at a kennel and I LOVED it) and I imagine being a vet tech would be something I'd really enjoy. On the other, I like the idea of working as an RN also; I like the idea of all the different specialties and things you get to do as an RN, plus I like the idea of helping people and taking care of them. Although, I know as far as money goes RN is definitely where it's at; it's often hard to make decent money working as a vet tech. My school offers Associate's programs for both RN and vet tech, so...

I did not go through other people's comments, so I hope I am not repeating anyone!

I am a RVT (Registered Veterinary Technician for those who don't know) and have been for over 3 years and have been working in the animal healthcare field for over 7 years. As an experienced person in this field, I would advise you to choose carefully. Do your research!

Being a vet tech is hard work for little pay. Not only do you have to master the basics (restraint, client communication, ect.) you must be able to do the work of a dental hygienist, anesthesiologist, phlebotomist, pharmacy technician, veterinary assistant, groomer, receptionist, and everything else we have to do rolled into one person....you have to be able to do it with multiple species!

There are good tech schools out there and there are very bad tech schools out there. I would recommend an internship at a vet clinic where you can see first hand the job requirements and get recommendations on a local vet tech program. There were a lot of people that dropped out of my class because they couldn't handle the work load...and they thought they would be playing with puppies and kittens all day.

What we do is tiring, frustrating and many times disgusting (you can't be afraid of urine, feces, vomit, pus, anal glands, saliva, and other forms of goo that you will come into contact with on a daily basis). I will say though the pay sucks (i know recent nurse grads that make double what I do) it is a rewarding career that, if you are cut out for it, you wouldn't trade for anything.

I would be happy to answer any questions you may have!

Good luck!

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Is the OP still out there? Curious about what you decided...

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Hello! Just saw this, and have some random thoughts to offer. So......... I have been a CVT for 13 years now, and just two years ago earned my BSN in nursing. At the time I went to vet tech school, I already had a Masters in another field, so opted for a two year program instead of a 4 year (to avoid too much duplication). First of all: don't think that just because a program is only two years that it means it is "easier" or less of an accomplishment. Truth be told, I learned a lot more about science (and medicine in general) in vet tech school than I did nursing school............ The program I went through was very challenging, probably more so than my graduate degree because it was both academic and skill-based. And it was a lot more interesting than my nursing program as well, as we were required to take coursework in parasitology, zoonotic diseases, pathophysiology, hematology, urinalysis, small and large animal nursing procedures, radiography, dentistry, yaddah yaddah yaddah. Just an aside here, btw: vet techs ARE nurses, and our scope of practice is actually broader than that of a human nurse. In human medicine, there is a person for every role. Nurse anesthetists, phlebotomists, radiographic technicians......... med surge nurses, ICU nurses, emergency room nurses........ and don't forget about dentistry. Dental hygienists are the perfect example of nursing in that environment. Guess what? The average licensed veterinary technician who is being fully utilized in their training and scope of practice does ALL of these. Other roles we must fill include triage, client education, pharmacy.......... I mean, how many RNs are intubating patients, placing IVs, scrubbing in to assist, then skipping off to the lab to spin down a fecal and look for parasites under the microscope? Veterinary nursing is still a misunderstood and undervalued profession, and most people don't know what we do or they lump us in the same category as unlicensed assistants. But the truth is, it is highly skilled work and very rewarding in the right environment. The only reason why I added an RN degree to my resume was to broaden my options, as the pay in most environments sucks. I still do the CEUs to keep my vet tech license active, and it is the area of medicine about which I am the most passionate. I work PT in human nursing (and yes, I care about people and am good at my job), and I also have my own business as a veterinary home health nurse! I love having both qualifications, but am really hoping to see the day when licensed veterinary technicians get the respect and compensation they deserve. This will only happen when programs insist on excellence, when clinics make the role distinct from that of the off-the-street, on-the-job-trained personnel, and the public becomes more educated about what we actually do and the importance of the nursing role in veterinary hospitals. Nursing is nursing, no matter who the patient is.

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WRONG. I've been a credentialed vet tech for the last 13 years, and we are the RNs of the veterinary world. Our scope of practice is way broader. See my new post below in this thread. They are NOT completely different..... and, as someone who holds a license in both areas of nursing, I can honestly say that, despite the lack of recognition and low pay, veterinary nursing is way more interesting (just my opinion). Again, check out my newest post for a reality check on what course work I had to take.......... and I had to pass state and national boards, just like a human nurse. Sad, really, that anyone would think so little of this role. But it's pretty common, I have found.

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You do need a degree and licensure to be employed as a vet tech. Unfortunately, many hospitals, especially the little rinky-dink mom and pop places, like to save money, so they will hire someone, train them to do a few things, then let them call themselves "vet techs." Kind of like "Kleenix" being the commonly used term for tissue.......... even unlicensed assistants call themselves vet techs. They are not. Luckily, many state veterinary boards are putting their foot down about this. I don't know any RNs (and I am one as well) who have the scope of practice I have as a licensed vet tech.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ICU.

Wish I could find the time to work with animals again - any OT I put in needs to be for RN wages, lol! I worked as a vet assistant for a number of years before becoming a RN. In fact, if money weren't a concern, I would love to go back to school to become a RVT. I was an OJT vet assistant and really enjoyed the work but wanted the education too (certification/licensure was not required in my state), so I enrolled in the only program available in the state which happened to be a for profit college. I remained for less than a year before dropping out and switching to nursing. $30k for an associates degree in a career where I would only likely make $10-$11 starting was not something I could afford, even though I genuinely enjoyed each course I took. I never had *quite* the same enjoyment with my RN classes. I really do miss the variety of skills I utilized as a vet assistant - and the patients too ;)

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Hi dirtyhippiegirl,

I'm in the EXACT same boat as you were (it looks like, maybe 8 or so years ago?). My undergrad degree was in Pre-Vet, but I felt so burned out after undergrad that I decided to take some time off and work as a vet tech before applying to vet school. While I was a tech in a general practice (granted, in a very low-income area where nearly every appointment involved a long discussion as to why we needed to do every single thing to every pet we saw, how much it would cost, how long a pet could go without one thing or another, etc.) I felt that there was absolutely no way I could do what those vets did on a daily basis. So, I pursued my masters in biology, thinking that I might enjoy research. Nope.

So now I'm torn, do I look into vet school again, hoping that I can land a job in emergency or something on the other end of the spectrum from what I witnessed day-to-day, and take the risk that it's not where the majority of the job market is? In addition, I'm VERY burned out after 7 years of school (it took me 5 to do undergrad after transferring colleges) and from everything I hear from my former classmates who are now in vet school, I don't know if I have the energy to do it without being miserable for 4 years (I know I could get through it grade-wise, but I'm more worried about my mental state). OR Do I go for my RN, which would be much quicker, I could work at the same time, and allows for a lot of specialization (with job markets more in-demand than a lot of vet specialties)? I also don't hate the idea that if I continued on for an NP or CNM that the pay would be great.

I've never given working with human patients much thought before, so I'm going to work as CNA to make sure I like it first. But I'd really like to know HOW you made your decision.. did something in particular sway you toward nursing? Do you have any regrets or what-if moments? Did you specialize after getting your RN?

Also, I would have PM'd you, but I don't have that advanced of an account yet! Sorry!

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I kind of had the same dilemma, although it was vet school versus RN.

Hi dirtyhippiegirl,

I'm in the EXACT same boat as you were (it looks like, maybe 8 or so years ago?). My undergrad degree was in Pre-Vet, but I felt so burned out after undergrad that I decided to take some time off and work as a vet tech before applying to vet school. While I was a tech in a general practice (granted, in a very low-income area where nearly every appointment involved a long discussion as to why we needed to do every single thing to every pet we saw, how much it would cost, how long a pet could go without one thing or another, etc.) I felt that there was absolutely no way I could do what those vets did on a daily basis. So, I pursued my masters in biology, thinking that I might enjoy research. Nope.

So now I'm torn, do I look into vet school again, hoping that I can land a job in emergency or something on the other end of the spectrum from what I witnessed day-to-day, and take the risk that it's not where the majority of the job market is? In addition, I'm VERY burned out after 7 years of school (it took me 5 to do undergrad after transferring colleges) and from everything I hear from my former classmates who are now in vet school, I don't know if I have the energy to do it without being miserable for 4 years (I know I could get through it grade-wise, but I'm more worried about my mental state). OR Do I go for my RN, which would be much quicker, I could work at the same time, and allows for a lot of specialization (with job markets more in-demand than a lot of vet specialties)? I also don't hate the idea that if I continued on for an NP or CNM that the pay would be great.

I've never given working with human patients much thought before, so I'm going to work as CNA to make sure I like it first. But I'd really like to know HOW you made your decision.. did something in particular sway you toward nursing? Do you have any regrets or what-if moments? Did you specialize after getting your RN?

Also, I would have PM'd you, but I don't have that advanced of an account yet! Sorry!

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I don’t know what that first post is talking about the two careers are the same . You will take all the same core classes except you also have to take lab techniques, radiology, receptionist , dental hygienist and kennel cleaners. Everyone is overwhelmed and under paid. The animals are also stressed and bite

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