while i have answered several discussions over the years this is my first thread. my question involves the use of the term "nurse". i thought that the term was protected by law in most states. my understanding was that only people who were rn's or lpn's could use the title nurse. am i wrong?
over the past few years, i have seen ads of a veterinary corporation (banfield) looking for "pet nurses". a typical ad looks like this: taken from the banfield website at http://www.banfield.net/careers/other_positions.asp.
description
general function the petnurse supports the veterinarians in ensuring quality veterinary care for all pets, advocates for pets, educates clients on all aspects of pet health, and ensures a safe and effective hospital environment. duties and responsibilities act as the extra eyes, ears and hands for the veterinarian to ensure the best quality pet care and to maximize the veterinarian's productivity. lead veterinarians and veterinary medical team through the cycle of service and communicate with the other team members to maintain the flow of patients. provide professional, efficient and exceptional service at all times. this includes performing procedures that do not require veterinarian assistance, completing preparatory work for other procedures, ensuring that clients and pets are comfortable in the hospital, and monitoring hospitalized or surgical pets. educate clients about optimum wellness plans, preventative care, pet health needs, any diagnosis or treatment, hospital services and other issues. obtain relevant information and history from clients and maintain proper and complete medical charts. ensure the safety of pets, clients and team members by utilizing safe restraining techniques, following standard protocols, and maintaining clean, sterile and organized treatment areas, exam rooms and labs. perform other duties as assigned. petnurse profile working condition: physical ability - ability to work with and around pets (and clients) with complete comfort, confidence and ease (i.e., dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, etc.). ability to regularly stand, and to reach and feel with hands and arms. ability to frequently walk, stoop, kneel, or crouch, and to lift or move up to 50 pounds. work schedule - ability and willingness to work a schedule that may include a variety of shifts, including evening, weekends and holidays, and may vary from week to week based on business needs. required capabilities: compassionate commitment to pet care - clearly, confidently and professionally presents the pet treatment recommendation as an advocate for the pet, gaining the client's agreement to proceed with the treatment best suited to the pet's current condition and long term health. communication skills - reads, writes and speaks fluent english, using appropriate grammar, style and vocabulary. correctly spells commonly used english words and medical terms. fluent in spanish in markets where local population is predominantly spanish speaking. ability to multi-task- manages multiple medical, diagnostic, service and/or administrative tasks at one time; quickly and accurately shifts attention among multiple tasks under distracting conditions without loss of accuracy or appearance of frustration. customer service skills - consistently provides clients and pets with attentive, courteous and informative service. gains and shows personal satisfaction from delivering good service, seeing pet health improve and satisfying clients. problem solving skills- quickly determines when subtle indicators of medical conditions can result in threats to pet health/longevity and questions clients to identify causes; transmits accurate and complete patient medical history and status to the veterinarian verbally and through petware. intellectual ability - accurately and consistently follows instructions delivered in an oral, written or diagram format. mathematical ability - ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide, and to compute rate, ratio and percent; ability to convert units of measurement. computer skills - comfortably and confidently uses a computer and specialized software to check clients in and out, update client and patient records, and conduct and balance daily transactions, among other things. required attitudes: integrity - firmly adheres to the values and ethics of banfield, the pet hospital®. exhibits honesty, discretion, and sound judgment. cooperativeness - willing to work with others, collaborating and compromising where necessary; promptly shares relevant information with others. initiative - shows willingness and aptitude to use own discretion in taking appropriate steps in finding solutions to problems; presents options and ideas to enhance current processes or procedures. takes on additional responsibility when both big and small tasks need to be done; seeks out the most valuable work to do during times when the hospital faces low client demand. tolerance for stress - maintains a positive "can do" outlook, rebounds quickly from frustrations and unpleasantness, maintains composure and friendly demeanor while dealing with stressful situations. flexibility - is open to changing situations and opportunities within the hospital and is willing to perform all tasks as assigned. is available and willing to work all hours required to ensure hospital functions efficiently. willing to assist other area hospitals as needed. independence - able and willing to perform tasks and duties without constant supervision. education and/or experience high school graduate or equivalent. associate or bachelor degree, veterinary technician certification or licensure or one year of related experience preferred. benefits: pt team members enjoy the following benefits: competitive salary and bonuses 401(k) retirement savings plan employee assistance program basic wellness plans for one pet 20% discount off banfield® veterinary care not covered by wellness plans 15% discount off qualifying merchandise at petsmart superstores waltham pet food rebate program 15% discount off club rates for "rapid results platinum memberships" and above at most bally total fitness clubs ft team members enjoy the following benefits in addition to the benefits listed above: medical, prescription, dental and vision insurance life insurance for team members and dependents health and dependent care flexible spending accounts short and long-term disability insurance accidental death & dismemberment (ad&d) insurance up to 21 days of paid time off per year basic wellness plans for up to three pets we are a drug-free, smoke-free, equal opportunity employer. company policy, federal and state laws forbid discrimination because of age, color, race, religion, sex, disability, sexual orientation or national origin
i don't have a problem with banfield in general. in fact i don't know much about them. i just have a problem with the term "pet nurse" when we are/should be considered veterinary technicians. the other problem that i have is that the banfield "pet nurses" do not have to have any training in veterinary technology in order to be considered a "pet nurse" although it is preferred. several years ago the veterinary technician community wanted the change the title to veterinary nurse. the ana told our association (navta) that the terminology was illegal in many states. so i was wondering why banfield can use the term "nurse" and the veterinary community as a whole cannot. seems strange to me. oh and for the record, i prefer to be called a veterinary technician.
The fact that a vet tech / pet nurse or whatever can have "little more than a high school diploma" doesn't mean they don't know what they're doing. I work in an emergency animal hospital as a receptionist. The BEST techs we have are the high school graduates who started out cleaning kennels and slowly moved up over the years. The "educated" techs often seem pretty clueless in comparison although they often seem to THINK they know it all.
The tech programs around here seem to be geared towards preparing techs to work in animal research. Two of the girls in school to be vet techs told me they breed rats/mice at school just to practice cervical dislocation on. I guess you have to be skilled at killing the lab rats when you're done with them? There is no use for that kind of skill when working with companion animals. Anything you do need to know can be taught to you by the doctor or the more experienced techs. No one jumps in and does it all. They all start with the easy, most basic tasks and work up to the more complex ones. Our techs, along with the rest of the staff are also trained with videos, books, etc, and everyone gets tested and evaluated on their knowledge and skills. Our top techs are sent packing to continuing education seminars along with our doctors.
"Educated" techs can become very good techs, by the way, but not until AFTER they've worked for as many years as the uneducated ones. If you really want to work as a tech in an animal hospital, you're better off with experience. Vet tech pay doesn't pay enough to invest so much money in school, either.
That is a sad analysis of the situation and degrading to those of us who have taken the time and spent the money for the education. I would bet that any one of my counterparts, all of them EDUCATED paraprofessionals against any of your so called OJT assistants. There is no comparison.
I do NOT want the title Nurse, it is demeaning to the nurses who worked for their education. I would however like some recognition from them that we ARE equally educated professionals who deserve respect.
Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.
Vet techs are vet techs...not nurses. I'm sorry, but that is a fact. Yes, they are educated. Yes, they know alot about anatomy, surgical procedures, anesthesia, etc....on animals. Put them on a med/surg floor and they are just as lost as a first semester nursing student, if not more.
The problem is that a vet tech cannot transition into other areas of nursing without a significant amount of training. They would almost have to complete an entire RN program in order to be on par with their peers. However, if you take a real nurse on any floor(let's say med surg)...she can move to another area and be competent with a good orientation...L&D, ICU, Oncology, PACU, Home Health, School Nursing.
The commonality among nurses is that our nursing license qualifies us to work in any of the areas of nursing for which we desire. The only barriers to that are a higher nursing degree and/or experience in nursing. Calling a vet tech a nurse is just silly at the least. It is an entirely separate profession.
Their practice is not regulated nor licensed by a board of nursing. They do not take the same licensing exam. And they cannot transfer into other areas of nursing. They are not nurses. These are the few things that are a commonality among us all that set our professional standards apart from others. Let's embrace that.
******disclaimer*******In no way am I implying that nursing is superior or more desireable than vet science. I am not disputing the skill or level of education it takes to become a vet technician
be assured that that in no way shape or form will you be allowed to "play surgeon" on any human... no matter if it's your mom, pop or kid.
the line in human health care is VERY clear, as you will someday find out.
Please believe me when I say ... no self respecting educated VT would perform surgery on a patient. They would understand the ramifications of their actions. We (as in the students I went through school with and the coworkers I currently work with) understand our role clearly and would not deviate from it. I personally am appalled that someone in this day and age would perform surgery without the legal right to do so.
Vet techs are vet techs...not nurses. I'm sorry, but that is a fact. Yes, they are educated. Yes, they know alot about anatomy, surgical procedures, anesthesia, etc....on animals. Put them on a med/surg floor and they are just as lost as a first semester nursing student, if not more.
The problem is that a vet tech cannot transition into other areas of nursing without a significant amount of training. They would almost have to complete an entire RN program in order to be on par with their peers. However, if you take a real nurse on any floor(let's say med surg)...she can move to another area and be competent with a good orientation...L&D, ICU, Oncology, PACU, Home Health, School Nursing.
The commonality among nurses is that our nursing license qualifies us to work in any of the areas of nursing for which we desire. The only barriers to that are a higher nursing degree and/or experience in nursing. Calling a vet tech a nurse is just silly at the least. It is an entirely separate profession.
Their practice is not regulated nor licensed by a board of nursing. They do not take the same licensing exam. And they cannot transfer into other areas of nursing. They are not nurses. These are the few things that are a commonality among us all that set our professional standards apart from others. Let's embrace that.
******disclaimer*******In no way am I implying that nursing is superior or more desireable than vet science. I am not disputing the skill or level of education it takes to become a vet technician
I understand where you are coming from. I respect your title and followed initial threads (some time ago) from our own forums to this site. I have been active on some threads and lurking for the majority.
I do have to say that the attitude of superiority that is displayed is sometimes sad. I know I have asked our own state organization (for Nurses) for some help. I do NOT want them to back us, I do NOT want to use the title, heck I do NOT even want to use their name in any way shape or form. All I wanted was to speak with representatives in an effort to discover the different levels of nursing recognized by our state and the responsibilities for each. I also wanted to be educated on the history of nursing without having to go back to school to do it. I already have 9 years of college education {VT (AVT), working on VT (BVT), management, marketing} under my belt and no wish to add another minimum of 2 just to find out some of the efforts nurses used when fighting for recognition some 200 years ago when the profession was first starting in its infancy.
Do you know what my response was? A snotty email and phone conversation that said "We are not vet techs, we suggest you contact your state group, other state groups, your national group or perhaps the vets that regulate you." Well heck, why didn't I think of that before. Perhaps, I already had and truly wanted info from their group about what worked and the different steps etc so I as the President of my state organization, GVTAA, could work on a strategy to improve our efforts and set up some realistic expectations.
Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.
I understand where you are coming from. I respect your title and followed initial threads (some time ago) from our own forums to this site. I have been active on some threads and lurking for the majority.
I do have to say that the attitude of superiority that is displayed is sometimes sad. I know I have asked our own state organization (for Nurses) for some help. I do NOT want them to back us, I do NOT want to use the title, heck I do NOT even want to use their name in any way shape or form. All I wanted was to speak with representatives in an effort to discover the different levels of nursing recognized by our state and the responsibilities for each. I also wanted to be educated on the history of nursing without having to go back to school to do it. I already have 9 years of college education {VT (AVT), working on VT (BVT), management, marketing} under my belt and no wish to add another minimum of 2 just to find out some of the efforts nurses used when fighting for recognition some 200 years ago when the profession was first starting in its infancy.
Do you know what my response was? A snotty email and phone conversation that said "We are not vet techs, we suggest you contact your state group, other state groups, your national group or perhaps the vets that regulate you." Well heck, why didn't I think of that before. Perhaps, I already had and truly wanted info from their group about what worked and the different steps etc so I as the President of my state organization, GVTAA, could work on a strategy to improve our efforts and set up some realistic expectations.
I am sorry that you were treated with a superior attitude during your phonecall. But let me assure you, the board does not descriminate when dishing out this attitude...I had a similar experience with my state board when I was trying to get some info and I am a nurse.
And the reality of the matter is...you do need to contact your state group. Like you said, even you know that. And you acknowledge that nursing has come very far as a profession, but it took a very long time, and we still have such a long way to go. We had to do it on our own. And part of that journey has been to establish standards and regulations within the profession. Therefore, I hope you understand why some nurses do not support using the term nurse for a vet tech.
My suggestion for you is to get involved in your organization, but don't expect immediate change. And don't expect other non-related professional organizations that have their own mountains of issues to deal with, to be willing to help you...nursing or otherwise. Good luck and I wish you the very best in your efforts
And the reality of the matter is...you do need to contact your state group. Like you said, even you know that. And you acknowledge that nursing has come very far as a profession, but it took a very long time, and we still have such a long way to go. We had to do it on our own. And part of that journey has been to establish standards and regulations within the profession. Therefore, I hope you understand why some nurses do not support using the term nurse for a vet tech.
My suggestion for you is to get involved in your organization, but don't expect immediate change. And don't expect other non-related professional organizations that have their own mountains of issues to deal with, to be willing to help you...nursing or otherwise. Good luck and I wish you the very best in your efforts
I am the PRESIDENT of my state organization. I sit on the advisory board for a local college's VT program. We have a member who acts as a liasion for the GVMA. We have numerous members attend the state board meetings. All I wanted was some history of what steps were taken by the nurses .... some info on the changes and when they took place, NOT help.
If they want to call vet techs vet nurses, I see no harm or foul played there.
It doesnt hurt us
It doesnt humiliate us
I see them as kind caring compassionate
I see no harm in this.
It certainly does not affect me, or how I percieve myself, or how people see me for that matter. I am very comfortable with they way I am percieved to be.
Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.
I am the PRESIDENT of my state organization. I sit on the advisory board for a local college's VT program. We have a member who acts as a liasion for the GVMA. We have numerous members attend the state board meetings. All I wanted was some history of what steps were taken by the nurses .... some info on the changes and when they took place, NOT help.
Then perhaps you should contact another board of nursing. As president, you have all the available resources for your organization at the tips of your fingers. If they are failing you, it's not because the board of nursing is not offering you help. There isn't much they can do other than offering some suggestions anyway. Have you written your legislators? That's the only options I see that they would be able to offer you anyhow.
i am so glad that there are skilled people for four-foots out there
however some of the info you get from the helpers, i don't know what was their title and i really didn't know then the right questions to ask
my little poodle was about 13 y/o then and she ran around in a tight circle constantly, had to force her to lie down and sleep...at the vet office they
told me it was because she was losing her sight and she was running toward what little light she could see/// sons gf said that her aunt had a scotty who did that and that he had ear mites...i went to wal-mart bought some meds for that and she lived out the rest of her life without the circles
when the kids were growing up i could go and get rabies and all injectables and give them myself.. gave them a bone to chew on for thier teeth
now they have to fixed, given teeth cleaning and implants, checked for over weight checked for worms...i couldn't afford a dog now no wonder my son doesn't have kids,,,poor soul can't support himself and a dog and cat too
it is a good thing though that he doesn't have to have to walk dog with a little plastic bag in hand...he fusses about cleaning up the lawn
i am so glad that there are skilled people for four-foots out there however some of the info you get from the helpers, i don't know what was their title and i really didn't know then the right questions to ask
my little poodle was about 13 y/o then and she ran around in a tight circle constantly, had to force her to lie down and sleep...at the vet office they
told me it was because she was losing her sight and she was running toward what little light she could see/// sons gf said that her aunt had a scotty who did that and that he had ear mites...i went to wal-mart bought some meds for that and she lived out the rest of her life without the circles
when the kids were growing up i could go and get rabies and all injectables and give them myself.. gave them a bone to chew on for thier teeth
now they have to fixed, given teeth cleaning and implants, checked for over weight checked for worms...i couldn't afford a dog now no wonder my son doesn't have kids,,,poor soul can't support himself and a dog and cat too
it is a good thing though that he doesn't have to have to walk dog with a little plastic bag in hand...he fusses about cleaning up the lawn
"Diagnosing" over the phone is still a problem in some areas. Many veterinary offices have gotten away from that because of liability. At our office, we would have set up an appointment to see your dog. We would have swabbed the ears and prescribed treatment accordingly. However, many people refuse to come in and get angry at us for not answering their questions. Since animals are still considered property, that's the owner's choice. The vet still cannot "see" the animal over the phone line although some practices do have access to telemedicine. Funny I can't get the nurse to diagnose the kids' problems over the phone either. I have to drag the sick kids to the doctor's office where we wait in a room full of sick people to have the doctor tell me that it's viral. Sorry for the rant.:angryfire
In some states the rabies vaccine is still available at feed and drug stores. However in most states now it must be given by a veterinarian again because of liablity. Since rabies is a potential zoonotic disease the laws have been tightened up in most areas. This is a good thing since people have a tendency to lie about the vaccine status when their pet bites someone. The vaccines for the other dog, cat, horse, cattle, sheep, etc. diseases are still available over the counter and through mail order. Wish I could order vaccines for my kids that way. Penicillin injectable is also available in many feedstores also. I know that there are some people who use it themselves also.
Times change. Veterinary medicine, like human medicine has progressed. That progression has caused a definate increase in price. As a kid the family doctor would come to the house to treat us. My dad would change the oil in his car as payment. Twenty years ago, pet dentals were rarely done. Animal chemotherapy consisted of prednisone and euthanasia after the decision was made by the family. Now, CT scans, MRI's, chemotherapy (using many of the same medications that are used on people) are being done on animals outside the university setting as is specialized surgery and other diagnostic/treatment options. This costs money but it is still cheaper for me to get an MRI on my dog than it is for me to receive an MRI. The dog has to be anesthetized and I don't and it's still cheaper for the dog. Pet insurance is becoming more of an option. Hopefully, veterinary medicine doesn't become as insurance based as human medicine. It is my opinion that the insurance companies have ruined human healthcare but that's a whole other thread.
Lastly because of these advances, we are seeing animals live longer healthier lives. It is not uncommon to see a cat live 20+ years with very few problems. Likewise dogs that used to be old and sick at 8 years old are now healthy at 16. Horses are still working well into their 30's. Like in human medicine, advancement does come at a price.
Penicillin injectable is also available in many feedstores also. I know that there are some people who use it themselves also.
mrparhamrvt
37 Posts
That is a sad analysis of the situation and degrading to those of us who have taken the time and spent the money for the education. I would bet that any one of my counterparts, all of them EDUCATED paraprofessionals against any of your so called OJT assistants. There is no comparison.
I do NOT want the title Nurse, it is demeaning to the nurses who worked for their education. I would however like some recognition from them that we ARE equally educated professionals who deserve respect.