the term "animal nurse"

veteranRN · Apr 6, 2004

Well, where do I begin?????? I guess if they want to call themselves "animal nurses" then I don't care, however, what an arrogant bunch of people. I was shocked at the derogatory things they said. They were downright mean. I wouldn't want to get confused with people who say that. They certainly are not nonjudgemental are they???

SmilingBluEyes · Apr 6, 2004

I thought this might be of interest to some of us...
http://www.livejournal.com/community/vet_tech/201785.html

Hmmmm, there is a BIG HUGE DISCUSSION and DEBATE on this one already in another thread here at allnurses. I am too darn lazy to look it up but it's there in the archives. I do wonder if "vet tech" there is the same person as "vet tech" here is. They call nurses ignorant and stuck up among other things for "guarding" our title, but I see a whole heap of ignorant commentary there too. Yanno, It's so easy to talk this way in a forum set up somewhat homogenously like here (or there)........we can turn it all around and be the same way here at allnurses, and we were in that other thread. Opinions were overwhelmingly in favor of maintaining the title of "nurse" for human-nursing only. Not surprising. But I can't see us getting all hot and bothered over this one, AGAIN. Check the archives and happy reading. :)

Katnip, RN · Apr 6, 2004

Interesting...I don't know where they are, but I do know that this nurse can and does draw blood without requiring help from a phlebotimist...this nurse knows emergency drugs and actions....must be the country they're from. I have heard that in some areas of the world nurses are more the handmaiden types than we are in most western countries.

athomas91 · Apr 6, 2004

and - i don't know about you...but last time i checked my head was certainly not up my orifice....LOL

Ortho_RN · Apr 6, 2004

Ok, I was a veterinary technician before I went to nursing school... So I do understand there side of the debate.. They DO nursing care, just because the animals can't speak doesn't mean that they don't need hollistic care. And Vet Techs are the surgical nurse, recovery room nurse, radiology tech, lab person, anestesialogist (sp).... They do all those things... If they want to come up with a title that has nurse in it, I say go for it.... Not like you will get VN and RN confused... But they are very hateful in the way they are discussing it..

lady_jezebel · Apr 7, 2004

Most of the planet doesn't really understand what a nurse does on a daily basis, and how complex and "technical" our jobs are. If one of these techs could spend some time in a human ICU observing the nurses -- heck, even the med-surg floor where I work! -- they would be ashamed & quickly eat their words. I have a biology degree, have done countless animal dissections and worked in a genetics/molecular laboratory for several years -- none of which is as complex on so many levels as the job of a human nurse! People really don't understand until they or their loved ones are in a life-and-death situation & receive critical care from a nurse.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Apr 7, 2004

That link was a fine example of the pot calling the kettle black. I think i'll email them with my opinion about removing the stick that seems to be up their butt. :)

Mimi2RN, ASN, RN · Apr 7, 2004

Interesting...I don't know where they are, but I do know that this nurse can and does draw blood without requiring help from a phlebotimist...this nurse knows emergency drugs and actions....must be the country they're from. I have heard that in some areas of the world nurses are more the handmaiden types than we are in most western countries.

I think that they were mostly from the US, maybe a couple from the UK. Some people are never happy.

The staff at my vet's office don't wear name tags, I haven't a clue what they are. If they don't show what they are, or what kind of an education they have, it doesn't matter what they are called. I only care about how well they take care of my animals.

Kudra · Apr 7, 2004

here's my basic deal: if you're not licensed to use that title, you shouldn't be using it... i understand that, for convenience sake it's sometime easier to just say "i'm a nurse"... but that doesn't mean you are one...

i find it laughable that one of the comments made was "Veterinarians can call themselves Doctors, right? You don't see MDs getting their panties in a wad over that. WTF?"... guess what, chica! that vet may not be a "human" doctor, but he certain went through vetrinary medical school and allowed to call himself/herself a doctor because he/she is LICENSED to do so...

basically, i just see a lot of misinformation and uninformed opinions flying around in their comments... ah, to be blissfully ignorant and full of myself again!

beth

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Apr 7, 2004

Oh GEE the setting are for "friends only" to post messages. Probably afraid of the burns from the flames.

What a shame that those such people that think so little of human beings that are nurses, are taking care of animals. Animals deserve care from people that are a little more caring and heartfelt than THAT.

PedsNurse1981 · Apr 7, 2004

What a bunch of ignorant people! I'm talking about the comments I read on that link, not about you guys (just thought I'd clarify). It bothers me when people judge others with limited knowledge of the truth. I respect vet techs for the position that they hold. Being an animal lover and mother to 2 cats and 1 puppy, I want them to receive the best care from intelligent people. HOWEVER, while I don't have a major issue with vet techs being called nurses, I have wondered at times why they call themselves that. I have no idea what their job entails so I'm not going to act like I do. I know what MY job entails though and I know that for what I do, it requires a HUGE knowledge base. We have to know practically everything, especially when you work with first year residents who don't know their a** from a hole in the ground so if you want to keep your patient alive you've gotta know what to ask for and when to say "what the heck are you doing!". Anyway, I would have to see their job description before I can say that I have to do more than they do. However, I do draw my own labs and on my floor we can do art sticks if we've been signed off. It all depends in the institution you work in. I'm not all picky about my title of "nurse", but I do know how hard I worked to get it and the fact that, like someone said earlier, the majority of the planet doesn't know what we do, that bothers me. I wish somehow they could get a glimpse of one of my shifts and then maybe they'd think twice about thinking nurses don't do anything.