I am a Licensed veterinary technician (LVT) in New York, I had to complete a 2 years of a specialized college curriculum and graduate with a B or better average to acquire an AAS: Associate of Applied science in veterinary medicine. that allowed me to sit for my board exam: the VTNE to obtain my state license to practice. I currently have to complete CE credits every year and am audited triennially by the state to make sure I have completed those hours. I am currently working on additional boards to become a VTS: ECC (Veterinary Technician Specialist: Emergency & Critical Care) witch will require 2 years of case studies, additional course work & another exam including a practical. My current job title in the busy 24/7 ER in which I work is ICU Nurse. I do everything that job implicates for a human nurse, but I am also the Radiology Technician, Lab technician, anesthesiologist, phlebotomist, Etc.
I tell you all this because I am aware that in the human nursing field there is little knowledge of who we are and what we do. What is our schooling like? what do we do in practice?
And now NAVTA has initiated conversations with global, national, and state organizations regarding implementing the term Veterinary Nurse for the veterinary technician profession, as well as establishing a national standard for credentialing and using Registered Veterinary Nurse, or RVN, as a unified title...
Among Veterinary technicians there are those for and against the change from Veterinary Technician to Veterinary Nurse, but how do you all feel about it? are you ok with sharing your 'protected' title with your veterinary counterparts?
Not really. Considering 80% of what I do is medical/surgical nursing. In addition, I also administer anesthesia and can perform minor surgical procedures. Also, I can also perform dental prophys. Plus I'm trained in clinical pathology and radiography. I started off in nursing (humans) and my scope of practice is much, much wider in vet med. Some of my colleagues prefer Registered Veterinary Technician instead of nurse because they think it somehow negates their extensive training and knowledge. I disagree since it's difficult for people to understand. Most people think of computer technicians or automotive technicians. From your response, it doesn't seem like you understand either. Veterinary Nurse is the legal title in the UK and parts of Europe. The only reason it's not at this time in North America is because the nursing associations literally own the word "nurse" and feel threatened somehow by the term Veterinary Nurse. Not sure why, you don't see MD's freak out because veterinarians are referred to as doctors. The title should actually be "Registered Veterinary Nurse Plus A Lot of Awesomeness"
The general public being so easily confused, I wouldn't think you would want to run the risk of being mistaken for a mere nurse. Perhaps it might be safer just to come up with your own title.
The practice of medicine and nursing care is not exclusive to humans only. By your logic, maybe we shouldn't have veterinary cardiologists, oncologists, ophthalmologists etc. Our own title would have Veterinary in front of it so no one, including mere human nurses should get confused. You don't have to feel threatened by this new initiative. We are doing the same job, except we have more training because animal hospitals are small and we wear many hats to provide the best care for our patients.
The practice of medicine and nursing care is not exclusive to humans only. By your logic, maybe we shouldn't have veterinary cardiologists, oncologists, ophthalmologists etc. Our own title would have Veterinary in front of it so no one, including mere human nurses should get confused. You don't have to feel threatened by this new initiative. We are doing the same job, except we have more training because animal hospitals are small and we wear many hats to provide the best care for our patients.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Not sure why, you don't see MD's freak out because veterinarians are referred to as doctors.
That's because, unlike "nurse," the term "doctor" is not a protected title reserved for a specific profession. It is a title for anyone who has earned a doctorate degree, and it's been that way for hundreds of years.
And you obviously have never been in conversations amongst physicians and DNPs. Because, yeah. Hackles get raised.
After reading PattiRVT's posts, I've gone from "Meh, don't really care" to "Hell, no."
I don't actually hate the idea of "RVN", but I do question why it would be more appropriate than "RVT" At the risk of seeming hypersensitive, it reads to me like a desire to adopt by changing one word a mantle of professionalism my predecessors worked for many decades to earn. It doesn't offend me in the way hearing a home health aide, for example, co-opt the title, nurse, but it's a lot like some arguments I've seen about replacing "nurse" with something less "feminine." I just don't see the need. And the statement, "we are doing the same job, except we have more training" makes it pretty hard not to see this as a move to cheapen the meaning of nurse. So, yeah--hell no.
The official definition of nurse per merriem-webster is "a person who takes care of sick people" or a baby nursing at the breast"
I hate to be a wet blanket, but no I dont think "nurse" should be used. I have dogs and horses, and appreciate my vets and techs but I think another term would be more beneficial, vet assistant, as I think your duties are more in line with a physician assistant, jmho.
The practice of medicine and nursing care is not exclusive to humans only. By your logic, maybe we shouldn't have veterinary cardiologists, oncologists, ophthalmologists etc. Our own title would have Veterinary in front of it so no one, including mere human nurses should get confused. You don't have to feel threatened by this new initiative. We are doing the same job, except we have more training because animal hospitals are small and we wear many hats to provide the best care for our patients.
Showed this to my Vet Tech sister and she thinks you're being a donkey.
So maybe I'm totally naive, but I had no clue that there was a difference between vet techs and vet assistants. I kinda assumed that they were one and the same, but I can see why. Before I became a nurse I didn't understand the difference between medical assistants and nurses- I thought everyone who checked me in at a doctors office was a nurse. I guess I understand the frustration and wanting recognition for your skill set. And good for you for being proud of your profession. But don't for a second even try to pretend that you have any clue how involved nursing care is and how diverse our skill set has to be pattiRVT. I have no clue what you do, and you have no clue what we do, clearly.
nursemike, ASN, RN
1 Article; 2,362 Posts
The general public being so easily confused, I wouldn't think you would want to run the risk of being mistaken for a mere nurse. Perhaps it might be safer just to come up with your own title.