Pet Nurse?!

[Mashira]

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?!

[LACA, BSN, LPN, RN]

I agree with the poster who said it's probably just their office's way of being cutesy. I don't find anything wrong with it, it's not really that big of a deal. It's not like she's out saying "I'm an RN" when she's not or something like that. She wouldn't be working there if she wasn't capable of doing her job. I would find something more substantial to worry about than the "PetNurse".

[Jules A, MSN]

FWIW the associate degree for RVT, and there is a Bachelors also, is nearly identical to the ADN. Vet tech courses were harder for me because there are such major differences in species as well as the fact that you get virtually no verbal feedback with regard to symptoms. Oh well in any event there have been millions of nurses and although I love my job I'm just not that protective of "what it took to become a nurse"

[missbutton]

Do it. Report them to the board. We fight enough for respect. Or you could just call/write the manager and let them know that 'nurse' is a protected title and what the consequences for using could be. That might just fix it. But please, please, say something.

[XingtheBBB, BSN, RN]

We just had to take our dog to the emergency vet (I didn't go along, just my DH) Apparently he was introduced to the "critical care nurse" Tag and all. Umm. That did bother me. And yes. I did work for a vet once. I did all the jobs of a vet tech but was not permitted to call myself such as it is a protected title. I guess that's why they don't title her as a vet tech but they didn't realize they can't call her a nurse, either.

I understand the complex challenging job a vet tech. Hey, there's a reason I didn't pursue the license... too much responsibility, too much school, for too little pay. But it is very different from being a nurse. In fact if I was a Vet Tech, I'd be insulted to be called a nurse... it underestimates their duties as a Xray Tech, Ultrasound Tech, Dental Hygienist, Groomer, Lab Tech, Receptionist, and Pharmacy Tech. Afterall, taking x-rays, doing ultrasounds, scraping teeth, dispensing prescription refills, centrifuging blood and calculating HCT, looking under the microscope to identify parasites or perform a CBC, and clipping toenails were all in my daily job. Wheww. (for $7.00/hr! back then that was equal to my CNA pay)

One problem is always image. People assume if their Pet Nurse was educated in a year, or could opt out, maybe their GrandpaNurse was too.

Maybe the aide could be a Vet tech Aide or a Technical Assistant? What does age have to do with it though? I was a CNA when I was 18.

[Zookeeper3]

to the above post imho, the problem was that this "pet nurse" was not even a trained vet tech, but an unskilled employee (dang all you don't shoot me for stating the obvious here).

but, just speaking personally to the op...... i face way too many issues while being a real nurse to even flinch, get an eye twitch or count to ten on your issue here.

i have my own important real world nursing battles that exhaust me, come home with me and affect my family... that what happens with my babies at my vet.......

.... is not my workplace and so unimportant in my real world of work. when i clock out, i leave it all there and i struggle to be done and just be a wonderful wife and mom. i wish i was lucky enough to have so few work issues to care what a name tag on my vet assistant said. it's sooo not my issue. consider yourself lucky if this is all you can complain about

[ZippyGBR, BSN, RN]

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

used for vet tech.

Their job title and registration ( with the royal college of veterinary surgeons - who also register the Vets ) is 'Veterinary Nurse' their role is very much a nursing role just with animal patients rather than people patients.

link to the RCVS pages about VNs

http://www.rcvs.org.uk/veterinarynurses

what the RCVS considers being a VN is about ...

http://www.rcvs.org.uk/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=96190&int1stParentNodeID=89831

TBH i have less issue with 'Vet Nurse' as a role title / job title than 'Nursery Nurse' for childcare staff , as the VN does practice Nursing albeit with animal patients

[sunflower777]

[JacknSweetpea]

I see nothing wrong with it....it's actually kinda cute!!! Pet nurse!!! Since I think most of the general population are ignorant gits....I think I may have found my "calling"!!!

[kakamegamama]

I don't think it's an issue....unless this person holds herself up to be a professional NURSE and implies through word or action that she is actually educated as a professional nurse. I think that was the crux of the OP's concern. And, did the OP really blast the vet techs who lovingly care for our pets? I don't think I read that either. So, it seems that some readers are rather testy, imo and need to step back & re read.

[ShannonRN2010, BSN, RN]

I think its kinda cute... *shrugs*

[caliotter3]

I think the title is rather juvenile. I prefer veterinary technician. At least there is a sense of professionalism.

[etaoinshrdluRN]

Sounds like "animal hospital" marketing to me. Heh. I've learned the hard way that what a vet does for 15 bucks a pet doc at an animal hospital will do for $1,500, without a drop of guilt.

And I am speaking of a real experience with euthanizing two elderly, sick pets.