Pet Nurse?!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in Adult Acute Psych Inpatient.

Mmmkay, so I have a little vent.

I went with FI to the vet today, and the Vet Tech comes in, looks at the pup, and does her thing. Then says, the nurse will be in shortly. Um, kay?

'Nurse' comes in. I read her badge and it says, "Jane Doe, PetNurse"

We talk about the pups issues, and then I ask her, "So, what do you have to do to become a PetNurse"

and she replies, "Oh well, (Vet Hospital Name) will send you to school for a year or something and you take some classes. You don't have to do it though. I never did, I don't have the time, it's like five days a week. Why were you interested in becoming a PetNurse?"

I try to keep from slapping her and laughing at the same time, and say. "Oh no, just wondering."

OMG! I am tempted to report this to the Texas BON. We have a Title Protection law that does not allow anyone to call themselves "nurse" or any form of anything that implies "nurse" unless they are licensed LVN/LPN/RN's. I think that is more for 'impostors' though and I don't know if this applies.

To add insult to injury, at the front the girl that rings up the bill (and is all of 17 years old) has a badge that states, "PetNurse Aid"!

What do you guys make of this?!

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I thought there was an actual title: veterinary technician. It doesn't make sense that they would give a title like 'PetNurse'...

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Specializes in Post Anesthesia.

I wonder if you can take "petnurse" boards with a BSN- I bet the patients poop less, and bite softer. Plus, you can apply restraints without jumping through a hundred hoops. I'll take fleas over C.Diff any day. I may have found my new specialty!!!

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Specializes in ICU, ED, PACU.

I think this is pretty cute. I'd love to take my puppy to see the pet nurse!

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Specializes in LTC, MDS, Education.

That is what I should have done 35 years ago. Be a cat nurse. I would probably be in a better place mentally right now.......

Seriously, though, you are right. Not just anybody should use the title of nurse. Vet Tech sounds impressive enough to me......

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Home health.

Sounds like its just that company's cutesy name for vet tech. Why are people getting so upset about it? Relax, don't take everything so seriously.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical Orthopedic.

I worked in a an animal hospital before I became a nurse (as a tech and as a receptionist). Unfortunately, nurses had a pretty horrible reputation as clients, because they often came across as condescending "witches" who thought they knew everything. They knew "better" than the techs who had 10+ years of experience working with animals. They knew "better" than the doctors who went to veterinary school. They were often wrong.

A "pet nurse" is not likely to be confused with an RN or an LVN, and I'm not sure the BON would be very interested in hearing from you. You might have to settle for slapping/laughing/venting instead of throwing the pet nurse out of "your" ivory tower.;)

I'm just a little offended. Juuust a little.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

This one doesn't really bother me, but it might bother a Petnurse if the CPNA went around telling all the furry (or not, if birds, fish, reptiles,cephalopods and mollusks are part of the clientele) pet patients "I will be your petnurse today". Or the vet points to the CPNA or the VA and says, "go ask the petnurse". Sorry, I'm just funnin' with you . . .:p

But if you really think about it, having to take a board exam and being licensed to do skilled nursing procedures on animals isn't that far-fetched an idea. Patient education would be quite a hurdle, but you could find one of those new age-y NANDA diagnoses to justify the expense of consulting with a specialized Something Whisperer.

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Specializes in PACU, OR.

I don't have a problem with it; in fact, I think only the person wearing such a badge should have a problem with it.

I'm sure she comes across men who take the message literally....:D

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Well, having in the last month my sweet Old English Sheepdog

take ill suddenly, I have been in and out my vet office and vet specialty

hospitals. He spent 4 days in the vet ICU. He received excellent care

from the vets and their staff. Their dedication and professionalism

was top notch. Along the way, the vets/staff also supported us

in making decisions.

I am sorry to say he lost his fight on this Monday, and I was present

when the Vet and vet tech put him to sleep. He was very aware and

present of his surroundings (our home) and passed peacefully.

Petnurse may be one term. But, please respect the enormous amount

of work and care vets and their staff give pets on a daily basis and

the intensity is increased when the pet is admitted in a critical situation.

This was an unexpected illness as he was running an playing and

doing well one month prior to getting ill.

Please know that the specialty vet are board certified in their area,

so please have respect that this new option for many pet owners is

a blessing when a pet is in a emergency.

Please respect that I am grieving and it is possible another

member is facing a critical situation with their pet.

If you ask our UK members, I believe, equine nurse, etc are the terms

used for vet tech.

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I think it's ok because it's all one word "petnurse" not "pet nurse." So, they aren't really using the word "nurse". I really don't care though, either way.

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Oh, IDK Mashira. Just depends on my mood. I might have tried to tag 'em too.

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