Veterinary Nurse

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello allnurses I have a question for you all. What do you think about the term Veterinary nurse. I came across a user on social media using that term and stating that she was a veterinary nurse and it was told to her that the title of "nurse" was a protected term and the correct term was actually veterinary technician.

The nurse told the OP that she wasn't trying to be disrespectful but wanted to clarify due to there being so many myths and a great deal of miscommunication about the nursing profession. The person gave an excerpt of the nurse practice act where it states pretty much what the nurse stated and it discussed being licensed to use the title.

So what do you all think? Do you think it is okay for Veterinary technicians to call themselves vet nurses. I think it minimizes what we do and how hard we worked in school and for this profession. I actually went and looked up the definition of nurse and the definition falls under promotion and wellness of the human kind and I am paraphrasing. I agree with the OP that vet techs care mimics that of a nurse but only to animals but I disagree with her using the title nurse and I agree with the poster that corrected her.

The original poster stated that some states are going to start changing vet tech in its postings to vet nurse and I wonder how the ANA will feel about that. Will they actually stand up for us as the AMA would? I know that the AMA is a powerful organization but at the same time considering the majority of the US has nursing listed as protected in their practice act, it may not come to fruition.

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Specializes in ER.

I think it's OK. It's the term I use because they start IVs, monitor their patient, give meds, give teaching, but for animals. It's fine with me.

What the ANA thinks is irrelevant to me. They are constantly sending annoying emails about their political agenda, so I've learned to ignore them.

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

I don't think it minimizes what we do. I don't really care if they want to call themselves nurses. Hell, veterinarians call themselves DOCTORS all the time.

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

And five...four...three...

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I don't think it minimizes what we do. I don't really care if they want to call themselves nurses. Hell, veterinarians call themselves DOCTORS all the time.

I don't think it minimizes what we do. I don't really care if they want to call themselves nurses. Hell, veterinarians call themselves DOCTORS all the time.

Technically Vets are doctors. They become a (DVM) doctor of [COLOR=#000000]veterinary medicine and they start off in the same undergrad as doctors, nurses and dentist. I know my BSC is the same degree that in undergrad my vet, doctor and dental friends all have. We all took the same courses and then went our separate ways after that.

The vets know almost just as much about medicine as a human doctor and they also went for training in internal medicine. Vet techs now in recent years are finally receiving a formal education, but for the most part I am not totally sure, but from what I researched after seeing this topic they still don't have to go and get and undergrad degree.

Our profession already deals with people callously throwing around the title nurse, which is why I feel it minimizes what we do. I have seen so many doctors and even at my own facility the physicians call the CNA's their nurse. I work with one physician who stated to me that our job was so easy even a high schooler with a GED could do what we do!! He decided that he no longer needed a nurse and asked for the CNA to act in the role of Navigator. Lets just say his patient population began to suffer because they were not receiving the education they needed while undergoing treatment. [/COLOR]

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What the ANA thinks is irrelevant to me. They are constantly sending annoying emails about their political agenda, so I've learned to ignore them.

The individual states and BON are the ones with the practice act. My [COLOR=#000000]comment about ANA is the hope that they would actually stand up for us like the AMA does and protect our Nurse practice act. I am not a member but with issues such as these it often makes me wish I was more involved. I think this is why the medical community has been able to flourish. Thanks for your feedback.[/COLOR]

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Specializes in ER.

I hate it when people try to jazz up their posts with fancy fonts and colors, mess it up, then don't fix it. That's more annoying than the term 'vet nurse'.

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So I am not trying to "jazz" up my post with fonts and colors!! I was trying to use the quote button because I am new to this site and didn't quote and reply correctly so I am not sure what happened after I hit submit. No need to be rude because I was in no way rude or disrespectful to you.

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This is funny to me. "Vet nurse" is fine. Who cares???

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Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

Well as a RN since, 1972, one of the most fun jobs I had was working for a Vet....., he actually enjoyed saying I have a RN working for me.........it was back in mid late 80s.....

i know npa, does not include working under DVMs, But they are physicians all be it to animals....... And my care and interventions were to animals.......so maybe was not working as a "nurse"...... But a lot of skill set was transferable, in what I did......

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

Technically Vets are doctors.

Vets are not "technically" doctors. They are doctors.

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

I think it's fine. My vet has some awesome "vet nurses" who have taken wonderful care of my beloved furry family members.

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