Veterinary Technician or RN? - Page 5

Because some people get bored.
Not sure what you mean by this, are you trying to be rude or ?

Not a ton of upward mobility for a vet tech, lower pay..although a greater scope of practice. I will miss that...Im finding out how limited a nurse is in scope compared to vet techs and that's why Im going the grad school route...so I will need to get a phd now to "relearn" how to intubate, admin, and monitor anesthesia...bummer....but the salary will be better!
I was surprised by how limited a nurses scope was when I started nursing school, there are so many things that I am going to miss doing that made me feel more in charge of my patients care. I am also interested in grad school and although I loved surgery and all that went with it, anesthesia can get so booooring! I have to be on the move, juggling multiple patients, etc. I would like to go on to peds/neonatal NP. I am so going to miss that connection I would get with my furry patients that would come in so scared and stressed and ready to rip anyones face off that came near them....give me a little time with them and they would be my new best friend. Some would let me give them their injections, meds, blood draws etc without any assistance (maintaining complete safety of course). I couldn't believe that I wouldn't get to do blood draws as a nurse, and I have heard some places don't even allow you to do IV cath's!

I once worked with a licensed vet tech who was also a licensed nurse. She did both part time and loved it.
Lol, I worked with a nurse who came over to our side, basically came running, screaming from hospital work. She said she loved working as a vet asst and would never go back to nursing because she hated it so bad. I think she was a nurse for ten plus years or more. She made a great assistant. I can definately see going back and either working part time or volunteering at a vet clinic, I don't thing I can stay away forever, it's just part of my blood.

I sometimes worry about this too, which is why Im not completely sold on CRNA (especially since its headed toward the PhD route and not just MSN.)

Tell me about it! no iv's or blood draws?! I will have to find some avenue where I can do this...there's got to be someplace where a nurse can work and needs these skills on a daily basis.

Where did you get the idea of no IV's..I have done probably a thousand in my career and many, many blood draws as well...from sticks and countless central line draws...? Not sure who is telling you this??? And as far as the CRNA route goes, you know you actually have to work as a RN in critical care for at least 2 years...(that's the usual amt of time..I know it varies) and yes, you can still go to CRNA schools with master's preparation.

I wouldn't worry about the PhD thing until it's for sure. I consider education to be a lifelong thing and I don't mind if I am in school for the rest of my life (just not full-time). I know I do not want to stay a floor nurse for very long, basically just as long as it takes to get me into and through NP school because the experiance will be absolutely vital, but in truth I have been a "beside (pet) nurse" for over ten years and I am ready for taking on a higher leverl of care. But as an NP we will do even less bedside care! That's why I will have to go back and volunteer at a vet clinic, so I can get my fix, lol. Even as a volunteer and with an expired license, if I develope a good relationship with my vet I can do all the fuzzy patient care I want.
Cat's were my favorite, especially the evil ones, but my allergies have gotten so bad I cannot even have a cat in the house, it makes me very depressed to thing about going my whole life without a cat!

Evil cats are GREAT!!!..they have clueless dogs beat!

( I love dogs, too, but evil cats are so funny...they plot against us!)

divarn, several nurses that are clinical instructors at my school gave me the impression that a lot of areas in nursing you do not get much opportunity to place ivs due to iv teams and specialized departments that come in to do it all.
I guess it depends on where you work.

I know that you need critical care ICU experience to get into a CRNA program. Though Im not sure why you brought that up. And, here in MI, the CRNA programs are already beginning the switch to PhD instead of MSN. By the time I get my BSN (around 2016), no schools in my area will offer MSN programs for CRNAs anymore.

Actually, it just bothered me that you were so obviously, totally wrong about so many aspects of DVM schooling - acted like an authority on the subject until it was obvious that I'd been there, done that -- and your only reply was to restate what I'd already stated several posts ago.

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!

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