vettech

To be honest, as I'm giving serious consideration to leaving this area after grad (tired of living in a metropolis) I've not seriously looked into salaries here. However, I know the Harris County Hospital District starts at $21/hr and I know a newgrad (a client at my clinic) who started at $21.50/hr in a major hospital in the Med Center. To be honest, combining that with our low cost of living, it makes it hard to leave.

This may seem a silly question but, are you comparing apples to apples? I just checked and $1 US = $1.34 Canadian. ($1 Canadian = $0.74 US) So, your $30 Candian is equivalent to about $22.25 US. Starting pay in my area (Houston, TX) is pretty close to that.

I've read dozens - try http://www.medicalmnemonics.com

As was said, it is a skill. I'm working on improving it. I'm thinking, in retrospect, that maybe I was a bit hasty when I started this thread. None of my clients have ever accused me of being cold. In fact, most really like me. However, those outside of work have accused me of being a bit of a cold fish. Perhaps I am better at wearing the mask than I asuumed. I'm going through a lot of changes lately. I've suffered from depression for half my life and now it is finally going away. For the first time I'm becoming more interrested in my fellow humans. I think maybe I was asking the question based on the "old me". The "old me" loved working ICU overnights alone because I didn't have to put up with those pesky humans. The new me hates it (usually) but still won't give it up because it gives me lots of study time. Maybe its just cold feet about the career change. Maybe I needa book some time with a shrink. Thanks to everyone who posted replies. Y'all have given me a lot to think about. I believe I will make a great RN. I know I am smart enough and compassionate enough. My worry is mostly that the patients won't see it. Ah well, we can't all be Mother Teresa.

I want to make the transition for the greater challenge primarily. I've hit a plateu in my skill level. I am fortunate in that I work for a specilty group. I get to do a lot of things most vet techs never get to do like telemetry, pace makers, PEG tubes, etc. However, it has been quite a while since I saw or did anythng new. I need variety and to constantly feel like my skills are improving. I will be honest and say that, yes, there is the economic element as well. RVTs doen't make much, usually less than your average LPN even though I too have an Assoc Degree (which was WAY harder to get than I'd assumed it would be) plus I've sat state and national boards. Its simple economics - Vets make on average 1/3 to 1/2 what a MD makes so their nursing staff will probably make about the same fraction of our human counterparts. There is also a career advancement element. In my line of work, I'm at a point where I'll either have to coast where I am (as far as responsibiity level) or sit in a management chair. No thanks. I still enjoy working with the patients too much to be ready to push a pencil for a living. I see no reason to assume my level of care will change because I change species. A sick/injured patient deserves my best effort, period. Although I will admit that (good or bad) and injured human does not cause me any greater feeling of compassion than a dog with the same injury. Some might say that means I value humans less than most, but I think it simply means I value dogs more than most. As I said, a patient that needs my help will get it no matter if they are covered in skin, fur, feathers or scales.

Don't be shocked, check out my handle. I'm a veterinary nurse at current but also an ADN student nurse.

Yeah, I'm assuming I'll end up in a specialty where either my patients are too ill to be chatty or where they rotate through quickly. Incidentally, I do ICU work now. My 4 patients last night were a back Sx (rearleg paralysis), a pelvic fracture repair Sx, a severe pancreatitis and an IMHA (dunno if this is seen in humans - Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia). I really enjoy ICU work. I like the responsibility level and the wide array of interresting cases I get to see. I've read you can be excusively pre/post op... I think I'd like that too. I get too figety to be an OR nurse but prep and recovery might be interresting.

Hmmmm, maybe I should charify. While what I'm about to say may sound like a contradiction, well, ummm, maybe it is actually. I'm a chatty introvert. I will sit and bs with anyone about anything but, generally, I'd rather be somewhere else doing my own thing. I'm not adept at putting on the mask that hides this fact. I hope, as some others have said, its a skill like any other that can be learned and improved. However, I have suffered from depression since my teens (I'm 33 now) and I think that is a big part of it. Since I started working out 6 months ago, the majority of the symptoms have gone away. Lately I find I DO care more about my fellow humans than I used to, but still not as much as many I read here. I assume that, as time goes on, this too will improve. Also, you pointed out, simply being a nurse will help draw that out. Certain jobs force you into certain personality modes IMHO.

Heya Folks, After replaying to a thread a few minutes ago, I realized I may be making a poor choice in changing careers and I'd like some honest advice. I am worried that I may not do well as a nurse as I am not really a "people person". I am a compassionate caregiver to my patients (animal) and feel I can be so for my human patients but I am rather introverted. I'm not one who is adept at the social skills required for nursing. I don't know if I can smile at every patient and make them feel like they're my most important case of the day. I know I will be able to perform the necessary medical skills, its the people skills I lack most of all and that concerns me. Am I just being silly and worrying over nothing?

I've been debating that one myself. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it, after I do Microbiology in 7 weeks and see how bad that hurts.