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!

Perhaps a silly question, but could a RN working in a veterinary hospital be held accountable as a nurse for the care he provides? Could he be charged with neglect? Brought up before the board for pt abondonment?

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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.

My guess is that they were idealistic like many of us were, and now just flat can't take nursing anymore.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical Orthopedic.

I've worked as a vet tech before becoming a nurse. I loved it, but there is a huge difference in pay. The role, at least in small animal practices, is more like that of an medical assistant. The doctor is always there, directing, and there's not much you do independently.

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I couldn't do it. I love animals more than people, can "hurt" people to help them, makes me too sad to hurt animals to help them. When I helped out at an animal shelter, I could force myself to give the animals vaccinations but could NOT microchip them because the needle was just too big. But I'd stick a human with that sucker any old day.

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Specializes in Emergency, Med-Surg, Progressive Care.

It seems like a meaningless credential to have to work in a veterinary clinic. Unless they are employed as nurses in other environments as well, they would be unable to renew their licenses because they are not 'practicing nursing' and would not meet the hour requirements for renewal. Even though these people may hold the RN title, they are not practicing as nurses and probably shouldn't be advertised as such.

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Thanks everyone for making very good points. I still wish I could switch it up and just take care of animals for a few years instead of people! And thanks especially to those of you who cited numbers and real experience instead of expressing disdain for the prospect of making less but enjoying life a little more.

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Specializes in Nurse Scientist-Research.

mgngal;

I'm sorry if you perceived some of us not respecting a desire to enjoy life more for less pay. I totally get that. When I worked with adults, I used to say that I would be happy to take a 25% cut in pay to take care of 25% less patients, but that is not an option. I just don't know that if at my stage of life I could take a more than 50% cut in pay. I'm spoiled to it. And, I have really found a job I really love in NICU. NICU by the way has many correlations to caring for pets, in that the patients are non-verbal, don't play mind games (well, I think some pets do) and usually come with often finicky adults (parents/owners).

As a compromise I would suggest you volunteer for several hours a week to increase your enjoyment of life. I know several nurses that volunteer at animal shelters and in animal rescue. They usually scour our unit for discarded sheepskins and take them for the shelter animals.

I encourage you to explore ways to increase your life enjoyment.

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Specializes in ED.

I was a vet tech before I became an RN. You make beans, especially for me, because my vet tech degree was a bachelors. I made $12 an hour with zero benefits. To become a LVT, you have to have a minimum of an associates degree, so it isn't really easier or cheaper. It doesn't make much sense to me, as the jobs are so different. As a vet tech, I did a lot more lab work, and the two just aren't the same at all.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

I say research your area. Vet nurses in the vet hospitals that have worked on my cats have made at least 22-24/hr, and I've made that in home care, and as a LPN, so, for me, it wouldn't be as "staggering" to me...And I have a mortgage and pay back student loans, take trips, and save money, and went back to school to get my BSN, and still maintained that budget. I budget my money, and have my own formula in doing so. It is relative to the situation.

I thought about being a vet nurse because you are prepping for surgery, giving IV fluids, injections, managing pts in cages. I had a nurse give me emotional support when I had to make arrangements for my fiancée's cat who had died of a respiratory illness. There is a place in nursing for us to take care of the fuzzy animals, just like we do for the less fuzzy ones. :)

Here are some resources to gather more info. Less years of experience pay less, however once you have more experience, you are able to still make a living and enjoy your life, just like in any other position in nursing:

http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2010/10/23/veterinary-nurse-salary/ (This one is dated over 3 years ago)

This link is more updated:

http://www.simplyhired.com/a/salary/search/q-veterinary+nurse

You can find out what Vet RNs make in your area. Good Luck!!!

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Specializes in Med/Surg & Hospice & Dialysis.

There is a particular chain of vets that call their techs "pet nurse" or something to that egfect

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This is my dream to work with animals as an RN. I've even asked my vet about it, but she said she doesn't know of any vet clinics that hire RN's . How about we all get together and open our own! I would love to go to work everyday!

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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.

Wow, really?! Guess I shouldn't have wasted all that time in chemistry, biology, microbiology, etc and two years of school and $15,000+ on student loans to get my license to work as a Veterinary Technician since it's sooo easy :madface: There needs to be a smiley with flames shooting out of it's eyes lol.

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