RN in a Vet's office

Nurses Career Support

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Hi everyone,

I noticed here in Baltimore when I took my dog to a vet that they hired RN's to work in the clinic. I didn't get to ask about it but I distinctly remember that they advertised that RNs worked there. This was over two years ago and I have since moved and switched vets and have never heard of this situation again.

I was wondering if there are any nurses in this forum that work in a vet tech capacity or were hired as RN's in a veterinary hospital or clinic. Is a vet tech salary similar to that of a CNA or nursing tech I wonder?

I've always thought about how happy I would be to get out of the bed if I knew that I would be working with animals all day. Just thought I would ask if anyone else had heard of nurses working with animals. Thanks!

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Specializes in Intermediate care.

OOooo please respond!! I love animals more than people so i'd be gone in a blink of an eye if this were true!

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Right Jenni811 that's exactly my train of thought! Haha.

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Specializes in Family Medicine.
OOooo please respond!! I love animals more than people so i'd be gone in a blink of an eye if this were true!

Me too! I say this all the time! :)

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If this were true and I were a Vet Tech I would be fit to be tied. I cant imagine a Vet's office being able to afford a salary any self-respecting RN would work for. Any chance they were registered veterinary technicians, and not registered nurses?

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

I've always said that if we won the lottery and I wanted to get a "just because" job that wasn't dependent upon paying bills, I'd want to work as a vet tech.

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Veterinary Technician Salary | Indeed.com

The linky thingy won't work.

I was a vet tech in highschool, before there really was such. On the job training and minimum wage.

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Specializes in Peri-op/Sub-Acute ANP.
If this were true and I were a Vet Tech I would be fit to be tied. I cant imagine a Vet's office being able to afford a salary any self-respecting RN would work for. Any chance they were registered veterinary technicians, and not registered nurses?

I'm sorry, but a good many self-respecting RNs work for less than they are worth because they love what they are doing and their self value is not tied to the amount of money they take home at the end of the pay period. I say God bless 'um for what they do, whether it's working with animals or the needy.

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I'm sorry, but a good many self-respecting RNs work for less than they are worth because they love what they are doing and their self value is not tied to the amount of money they take home at the end of the pay period. I say God bless 'um for what they do, whether it's working with animals or the needy.

Yes, but why would one take the time and money to become a RN only to work as a vet tech? Why not just go get certified as a vet tech? I'm sure it's way easier and cheaper.

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Specializes in Nurse Scientist-Research.

I love animals and like so many imagined myself working with them when I was a kid.

And I so support people doing the work that makes them happy. . .

But it's so much less pay. I looked up the average pay for each profession in my State. RNs earn an average of $67,000 annually for RNs compared to $28,000 annually for a vet tech. That is a huge pay cut.

Also tempering my thought process is the fresh experience of manually expressing my cat's impacted anal sacs last night. :snurse:

Overshare?

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Specializes in Peri-op/Sub-Acute ANP.
Yes, but why would one take the time and money to become a RN only to work as a vet tech? Why not just go get certified as a vet tech? I'm sure it's way easier and cheaper.

You are only looking at this from the perspective of a new grad or newer nurse who is starting their career, in which case you would be correct. It would be an expensive way to get into a vet tech position. Personally, I can see a day in the not too distant future when a position like this would be right up my alley. I'm so tired of all the bs I've put up with over the years and am looking forward to retirement. Frankly, this would be a nice way to earn a few dollars at that stage in my life. I've paid my dues and this would be a nice transition for me along with the voluntary work I've already started to get involved with.

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