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?!

[oldbean]

Hi all,

We have vet nurses in the UK they have to complete specific approved training programmes, register with a professional body, have a defined scope of practice, undertake continuing education, programmes consist of practice and theory devided between a registered training practice and a college, their title RVN (reg vet nurse)/LVN (listed vet nurse) is legally protected. They study at a variety of levels some holding honours degrees, they have specialist post reg training programmes i.e equine, small animal, surgical etc.

Thanks

Oldbean

[SharonH, RN]

What do you guys make of this?!

This is not an issue. There are a lot of things that cheapen our profession namely multiple points of entry and the insistence of many that they would rather only do "tasks" rather than be equal contributors to the care of our patients but the term pet nurse is not a problem.

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

I wonder if the Pet Nurses complain about their patient ratios...

[samirish]

Speaking of others using the term "nurse", I know at my doctors office all the girls there refer to each other and themselves as "nurse". It wasn't until I actually looked at their name tags that I noticed they actually say "MA" which I since learned means "Medical Assistant".

So...its okay for medical asssistants to call themselves nurses? I found this curious. (Im not a nurse myself, just doing my prereqs for the nursing program in my area.)

[Scrubby]

In Australia we have veterinary nurses but I'm confused as to whether or not the term is legitimate now the title 'nurse' is protected under National Law. I'm curious about this and will be ringing APHRA today to ask them.

[SleepyE]

Ugh, my friend is trying to get into Vet Tech school (yes there is a school..you dont have to go though haha). She LOVES to compare what she does to what I do in actual nursing school. So annoying.

Once she gets in to vet tech school, she won't have time to complain. Don't worry. Quite honestly, vet tech school was harder than nursing school has been for me. Granted, having the vet tech degree under my belt and a decade of experience in vet med, has helped tremendously with nursing school. Either way, give her a break. Vet tech school is NOT easy. They cram everything from radiology, pharmacology, anethesia, lab, surgical assisting, dentistry, vaccination protocols, parasitology, animal disease, including zoonosis, etc. You must know the in's and out's of all of this and I didn't even mention all of it. Oh, and this is including learning it on dogs, cats, birds, cows, horses, sheep, goat, turtles, lizards, small pocket pets.....Oh and don't forget you must know the lab values and vitals for all the species and they are ALL different. Then you must learn this all in 2 years and sit for your national and/or state boards. It's an experience and all for pay that could not help support yourself, let alone a family. Now with all that said, nursing school is NOT easy. It's been rough.

The animal hospital that uses "PetNurse" is probably Banfield. They are notorious for using this title. It annoys me as well. If she doesn't have a degree, her title should be "technician assistant" or "veterinary assistant", not "petnurse" or "vet tech." Yes, I'm one of those that thinks vet techs should go to school and I hope one day it's the law. I don't care how much experience you have at an animal hospital (or human hospital)....if you didn't go to school and pass your boards, I don't want you being my pet's vet tech (or my nurse.) Having someone give medicine, IV's, etc on a human or pet with out understanding the how's and why's scares me tons!

I'm sorry if this offended anyone, but until you walk in both shoes, it's really hard to understand both sides.

[WoosahRN, MSN, RN]

I usually don't mention the area that I work in unless asked because people tend to focus on the sad part. But was at dinner at one point and was asked about what I do and what area I worked in (RN, PICU). Was asked some questions about it and mentioned a few situations that I had recently experienced, etc.

Then conversation shifted when someone asked another guest how she was doing. I'm not sure if she took my conversation to be a challenge but she said that she too was busy at work. She was a vet tech and was currently taking care of some kittens in the "Kitty ICU". She made sure to elaborate on how she was nursing the kitties back to health and trying to get them to bottle feed and that she worried about them constantly.

It was just an odd and awkward transition/comparison in conversation. And I was picturing my ICU with Kittens instead of Kids.

P.S. I am an animal lover and not putting down animals or those in the animal science department (My cousin is in vet school right now and I will certainly be seeking her advice with my critters). This was just a particularly amusing situation and individual. :)

[newstudent2010]

Once she gets in to vet tech school, she won't have time to complain. Don't worry. Quite honestly, vet tech school was harder than nursing school has been for me. Granted, having the vet tech degree under my belt and a decade of experience in vet med, has helped tremendously with nursing school. Either way, give her a break. Vet tech school is NOT easy. They cram everything from radiology, pharmacology, anethesia, lab, surgical assisting, dentistry, vaccination protocols, parasitology, animal disease, including zoonosis, etc. You must know the in's and out's of all of this and I didn't even mention all of it. Oh, and this is including learning it on dogs, cats, birds, cows, horses, sheep, goat, turtles, lizards, small pocket pets.....Oh and don't forget you must know the lab values and vitals for all the species and they are ALL different. Then you must learn this all in 2 years and sit for your national and/or state boards. It's an experience and all for pay that could not help support yourself, let alone a family. Now with all that said, nursing school is NOT easy. It's been rough.

.

- I never said it was easy. I'm sure it is very hard and stressful and alot of information. I just don't think the two should be compared. That's all. I don't compare myself to a Vet Tech program student. I admire Vet Techs..I couldn't do it! I love animals :)