Hey esteemed nurses! Please firgive typos, I'm using AN on my phone...So I would like y'all's thoughts on this... Long story short, the other day I managed to leave a bunch of my class notes in my favorite little neighborhood shoe shop (because who doesn't need a little shoe oogling fun after an afternoon of studying??)... I didn't realize I left them til almost home, so I called and they told me they were closing soon but they'd wait if I could hurry back (gotta l love small business!). So I got back there and they were finishing ringing up their last customer... They asked me when I came back "what in the he!! Are you in school for? You gone be a surgeon or something?" (they always tease me when i come in :-).) I said "no, I'm studying to be an RN." So the lady at the counter starts commiserating and saying "oh man, I know all about that, it's so hard! But good luck I'm sure you'll do great." We walked out to our cars together and I said "thanks! So you're a nurse, I take it?" She said "Yep," with no hesitation. Me: "oh neat, what is your specialty?"Her: "Oh, I'm a nurse for animals!"Silence...Ummmmmm does anyone else see a problem with this? I don't know her and I don't know about veterinary medicine... I thought there were vets and vet techs...and vet techs are like CNA+MA+RN+LPN, but I didn't think there was an actual term for vet nurses...I think what vet techs do is really important (Lord knows I don't mess around when it comes to getting good healthcare for my sweet pets!!) and I'm sure it's suuuuuper hard to start an IV on a squirmy puppy, but when I'm carrying a set of notes about interventions for PEs, aortic dissection, MIs, and unstable angina, it's really irks me that a vet tech called herself a nurse. I get how if you're explaining your job to a kid as a vet tech you might use a comparison of "nurse to people patients is the same as tech to animal patients"... But I'm not a kid, and I'm clearly not your average non-healthcare aware bear since I just said I'm in school to be an RN...I don't know. I didn't say anything because really, why bother with someone I'll probably never see again. But it really rubbed me the wrong way. What are your thoughts on this??
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
DWhen I say you vet techs don't have degrees in animal nursing, I mean that literally. Your degree title is veterinary technology, hence the name vet tech. I used my words selectively; vet tech title comes from veterinary technology degree. No less, no more than nurse, just different title. My degree is associate degree in nursing. Not human body healer, but nurse, as is implied by my degree.
Several of the following states have included the allowance of Vet Tech/Nurse included in the protection and licensure if they fullfill the proper education and licensure requirements.
Some are, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
How about we start in on how students claim to be RNs or LPNs in training? They are student nurses who fail to realize that the "R" or "L" in their designation only comes upon completeion of their education and final certification exam.
Again, I have tried to be respectful and maintain civility. I'm sorry that you seem to be upset about my username. I did not come here to rant, I came here to ask what people in the field of nursing thought of someone who is a nurse for animals referring to their self simply as "a nurse." At this point, if you'd like to start a thread about user names that don't meet your standards, please feel free. Otherwise, this thread was started to ask opinions on this specific situation. I don't even care if you agree with me or not, but at this point I'm asking a) for civility and b) for comments to please only address the question about what you think of a vet tech referring to herself only as nurse and not specifying that she is a nurse for animals. Thank you.
Several of the following states have included the allowance of Vet Tech/Nurse included in the protection and licensure if they fullfill the proper education and licensure requirements.Some are, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. E-petition to protect the title 'Veterinary Nurse" - British Veterinary Nursing Association News - Vet Nursenurse/nərs/[TABLE=class: ts][TR][TD]Noun:[/TD][TD][TABLE=class: ts][TR][TD]A person trained to care for the sick or infirm, esp. in a hospital.[/TD][/TR][/TABLE][/TD][/TR][TR][TD]Verb:[/TD][TD][TABLE=class: ts][TR][TD]Give medical and other attention to the ill or infirm.[/TD][/TR][/TABLE][/TD][/TR][/TABLE]
This is why I gave a "limited knowledge on the field" disclaimer... I know a few vet techs and their degrees are vet tech degrees, and they'd never heard of a vet tech degree with nurse in the title. That is my limited citation for this topic. The point I meant to be making is that in my head, a person's professional title results from their degree and qualifying examination/certification, and to my limited knowledge the degree is usually called veterinary technology... Thanks for at least giving your opinion and not assuming things about me or personally attacking me like several others have done. *sigh*
Please guys, if you don't want to address the question I asked about your thoughts on a vet tech referring to herself simply as "nurse" without specifying she's an "animal nurse," feel free to start a different thread about how ignorant I am about veterinary medicine or how stupid my username is. I came here holding high respect for nurses, which is why I was interested in your thoughts on this particular scenario. I highly regard vet techs and I'm well aware that they have a vast amount of experience and huge body of knowledge. I just wanted your opinions on vet techs referring to theirselves only as nurse, without specifying. Please, if you want to personally attack me at this point, please start a separate thread or PM someone about it. I respect all of you and whether or not you respect me, I am asking for civility.
Sticking more closely to your topic. (I responded with the Vet Tech question in mind, and having been a Vet tech, I am a bit sensitive to it.) I can understand your irritation at people referring to themselves as Nurses when they are not actually RN or LPN's.
I was irritated at my OB/GYN's office when the MD said "I'll get my nurse to XYZ." I knew he was referring to his MA. I said something to him. His MA happens to be pretty unprofessional, and I actually switched GYN offices after 2 experiences with her. I told him I did not think he was doing anyone any favors by calling that woman a Nurse.
Unfortunately people do refer to themselves as Nurses ALL the time. Not just Vet techs (who really can be a Nurse for animals), but also Medical assistants, CNAs, Nannies, random people who have taken a first aid class. I've learned to let it roll off my back, and when it does bother me, I say something. But...I try to evaluate if it is worth it or not. I thought it was worth it with the MD, but when a patients kid tells me, "Oh I'm a nurse" and I can tell they really are not a nurse, I let it slide, it is not worth getting my panties all in a wad...
That is very strange. I have a friend who graduated with her Vet Tech degree (a 2-year thing) and I can totally see her commiserating with an RN about being an "animal
Nurse" because it's kind of the same role in the veterinary medical world. However, as others said, there's a difference between calling yourself as an animal nurse and calling yourself a nurse in a context that wouldn't even suggest you have a thing to do with animals.
I don't think it's a terrible crime against humanity, but kind of weird and annoying. You chose what you want to do, be proud of it. And don't have me walking around thinking I can talk to you about nursing school struggles and human ailments when you primarily work on pets.
Anyone who has a pet knows that's a super important job, too, but not exactly interchangeable.
That is very strange. I have a friend who graduated with her Vet Tech degree (a 2-year thing) and I can totally see her commiserating with an RN about being an "animalNurse" because it's kind of the same role in the veterinary medical world. However, as others said, there's a difference between calling yourself as an animal nurse and calling yourself a nurse in a context that wouldn't even suggest you have a thing to do with animals. I don't think it's a terrible crime against humanity, but kind of weird and annoying. You chose what you want to do, be proud of it. And don't have me walking around thinking I can talk to you about nursing school struggles and human ailments when you primarily work on pets.Anyone who has a pet knows that's a super important job, too, but not exactly interchangeable.
I think you just put my feelings into words! Both jobs are exceedingly important but def not interchangeable.
Have you ever seen what a vet nurse does? The jobs might not be interchangeable, but the principles are the same and I think the similarities are greater than the differences.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
All this back & forth arguing aside, you know what I was thinking? How in the world does a vet tech (animal nurse, etc, etc) start an IV on a furry animal??? Seeing how hard it is to start IVs on some people, can you imagine having to find a decent vein an a being covered in fur???
Have you ever seen what a vet nurse does? The jobs might not be interchangeable, but the principles are the same and I think the similarities are greater than the differences.
But that in no way,shape, or form is the point. This whole thread is one giant straw man. Good job...you beat her at an argument she wasn't even making. ::applause:::
The college I'm attending has a vet tech program and the classes are vet nursing I, II, III, etc. Plus they have to learn radiology, hematology, etc. Their scope of practice in some ways exceeds the scope of an RN. I see no issue with them calling themselves vet nurses. They have very similar duties. The pets need nurses too! :redbeathe
This is why I gave a "limited knowledge on the field" disclaimer... I know a few vet techs and their degrees are vet tech degrees, and they'd never heard of a vet tech degree with nurse in the title. That is my limited citation for this topic. The point I meant to be making is that in my head, a person's professional title results from their degree and qualifying examination/certification, and to my limited knowledge the degree is usually called veterinary technology... Thanks for at least giving your opinion and not assuming things about me or personally attacking me like several others have done. *sigh*
Sure, in many fields the title is determined by the degree or licensure, but many professions are not regulated in that way. In those cases, the job title is what the person does, ie chef or banker. In the literal sense, a vet tech nurses animals (sometimes even in the 'feeding newborns' sense :)). Maybe her particular employer really does call them nurses. I don't think any [reasonable] nannies titled "baby nurses" think they are anything other than a nanny just because they use a different term.
Do I think it was weird for her to simply call herself a nurse? Yes. Offensive? No, I'm sure she didn't mean it that way, especially if that's how her position is referred to at her job. I don't think there's anything wrong with feeling a little irked instinctively, as long as you don't dwell on it too long or hold a grudge.
Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN
20,908 Posts
Several of the following states have included the allowance of Vet Tech/Nurse included in the protection and licensure if they fullfill the proper education and licensure requirements.
Some are, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
http://www.vetnurse.co.uk/blogs/bvna/archive/2011/10/17/e-petition-to-protect-the-title-veterinary-nurse-quot.aspx
nurse/nərs/
[TABLE=class: ts]
[TR]
[TD]Noun:
[/TD]
[TD]
[TABLE=class: ts]
[TR]
[TD]A person trained to care for the sick or infirm, esp. in a hospital.
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Verb:
[/TD]
[TD]
[TABLE=class: ts]
[TR]
[TD]Give medical and other attention to the ill or infirm.
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]