the term "animal nurse"

Idiopathik · Apr 7, 2004

OK have to put in my two cents on this one, as I am still a licensed vet tech (have been for 12 years) and am 2 semesters away from my BSN. The techs posting those messages have absolutely NO IDEA what human nurses do on a daily basis. They complained that they have to do it all, i.e. radiology, OR tech, phlebotomy, etc etc. That is because, generally speaking, vet med is way lower tech than human med is. They can do more things because each tasks is much less involved. Example - the techs said they functioned as "anesthesiologist", among other things. This is true to a point, as the tech will start the IV, take the pre-op vitals/bloodwork,EKG/, etc. administer the induction (ketamine/valium, propofol, whatever), insert endotrach tube, hook up to anesthesia machine, hook up to monitoring equipment (may vary from just pulse ox to BP/EKG/ end-tidal CO2, depending on quality of hospital) prep and scrub for surgery, position and tie-down, open packs, perhaps scrub in and assist with procedure, monitor anesthesia and adjust level of inhalant prn, recover animal, extubate, monitor for post-op complications.

Now, that seems like a lot, but like I mentioned, things are much less complicated. Take intubation for example. It is much easier to intubate a dog or a cat than it is a person. You don't even need a laryngoscope, once they are induced and relaxed you just open the mouth, pull the tongue, visualize the epiglottis, pull that down with the end of the tube, you can (usually) easily see the cords, and slip the tube in. Cats may require some lidocaine for laryngospam, but that about sums it up. Much easier than in people. Yes, they monitor anesthesia to a point, but the DVM is right there in the OR, and has the say on the level of anesthesia. If the doc wants it turned up or down they say so, the tech just does it. The tech may notice the animal is too deep while the doc is busy doing the surgery and make minor adjustments, but again, the doc is right there and has the final say on everything, so it's not like the tech is really an "anesthesiologist", as they love to say...

I can say this b/c I have much experience in the field, and have worked my a** off in busy emergency clinics with "ICU" settings as well as regular day practices. Having a critical care veterinary patient is NOWHERE NEAR as involved as a human one, and if you put the best vet tech ever into a busy human ICU their head would spin. I am not trying to brag here, but I am excellent at what I do in vet med, and I am constantly educating myself about new and different protocols and therapies. Just the number of drips alone on some human ICU patients is enough to keep me busy for an hour, trying to sort everything out. To be sure, my vet experience has helped tremendously in nursing school, most of the meds we use are the same with a few exceptions. However, there are waaaay more meds that are used in human medicine that aren't used with animals, and there are many more side effects that one has to watch for in people. Another good example of things a human nurse is educated in is the whole psychosocial aspect of patient care, one that is never dealt with in vet med, as you can see from the content of the postings on the tech message board. I am also tired of hearing about how "much more" a tech has to know because they deal with different species. So what, you learn what you need to know for the test in school, then you basically forget everything you don't use on a routine basis anyway, just like a nurse, just like an MD or DVM, etc. Yes, you know where to draw blood on different species, different methods of restraint, where to give injections, etc. It's not brain surgery by any means, so what if you know not to give a turtle abx in the hind leg d/t the renal portal system. I know that too, doesn't make me a genius or allow me to degrade the human nursing profession.There are TONS of things a human RN knows about caring for people that vet techs don't have the slightest idea of. As for the title of "nurse", who cares if they want to be called "vet nurse" or something like that. No big deal to me, I honestly would hope people (general public) would realize that they are working in an animal clinic and are therefore not human nurses. Then again, that is probably giving too much credit to the public =). And, as far as them saying that human nurses are "the worst clients / worst pet owners", I can vouch for that being prevelant throughout vet medicine. Not that it is true, but that most vets and tech I have worked with have rolled their eyes when the receptionist tells them that "heads up, Mrs. so and so in room one is an RN."

Vet techs work very hard for no recognition and pitiful pay, often with little or non-existant benefits. These are the reasons why I left the field. There is no way you can survive on a tech's salary and have a decent house and car, I'm not talking about anything fancy either. Sorry this got so long, but techs really get on my nerves when they say they know so much more and do so much more, when they actually have no clue what human nursing involves on a daily basis. I think there is always a level of intimidation in a vet hosp as well when a human healthcare provider is the pet owner, especially M.D.'s - I've seen it many times.

sharann, BSN, RN · Apr 7, 2004

After seeing the rejects that tend to go into nursing school (they aren't expected to have to know NEARLY the amount of crap that we are), I think it's an insult to call ourselves nurses. As students, we tend to be a LOT more knowledgable about drugs, interactions, emergency care and general nutrition for *multiple* species and the majority of the people I had my general and microbiology courses with were lucky to be able to tell you the functional and organizational compartments of a living *cell*. Being in school for this field has terrified me of what human nurses need to know and typically know.

Quite frankly, a human nurse that says it's off base for veterinary technicians to be refered to as 'veterinary nurses' is completely ignorant of the expected and defined role that they and we take. They claim that the reason we shouldn't be referring to ourselves as nurses is because people might get confused and think we can provide care to humans as well (nevermind the fact that WE are responsible for knowing what we can and cannot legally do and that we have nice nifty little letters at the end of our names that tell what KIND of nurse we are, much like doctors do - besides the fact, why are they so uptight about this, but chiropractors can call themselves doctors and offer medical consultations WITH NO MEDICAL BACKGROUND?). It also sounds like the majority of these ignorants need to get laid and get over a title.

rant>

*goes off to find Japanese gummies and ice cream*

(Reply to this)

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Well, being such an ignorant loser who needs to "get laid" I am dumbfounded over this. I don't really care what they call themselves. Just wait until they go through the 2 yr vs 3 yr vs 4 yr debates and then there is a DVN (Doctorate of Vet nursing) degree...or is there already, being ignorant and all

PedsNurse1981 · Apr 7, 2004

1. My chiropractors are graduates of medical school which would make them...DOCTORS!

2. Why are nurses the worst pet owners? Do we treat our pets badly or do we make you uncomfortable???

*Side note on this issue...I had a HORRIBLE experience at my previous vet's office with the vet herself and the techs. Being as young as I am, I'm usually treated like a 12 year old, and at the vets office was no exception. Never in this whole experience did I let them know that I was a nurse. They treated my cats horribly and didn't explain to me anything they were doing to him while he was sick. The vet expected me to restrain my 15 pound cat while she gave him fluids. All I expect is to be treated with respect because I certainly gave them the respect they deserved. I treat my pets wonderfully and they now receive excellent vet care. Why do you say nurses are the worst pet owners?

PedsNurse1981 · Apr 7, 2004

After seeing the rejects that tend to go into nursing school (they aren't expected to have to know NEARLY the amount of crap that we are), I think it's an insult to call ourselves nurses. As students, we tend to be a LOT more knowledgable about drugs, interactions, emergency care and general nutrition for *multiple* species and the majority of the people I had my general and microbiology courses with were lucky to be able to tell you the functional and organizational compartments of a living *cell*. Being in school for this field has terrified me of what human nurses need to know and typically know.
Quite frankly, a human nurse that says it's off base for veterinary technicians to be refered to as 'veterinary nurses' is completely ignorant of the expected and defined role that they and we take. They claim that the reason we shouldn't be referring to ourselves as nurses is because people might get confused and think we can provide care to humans as well (nevermind the fact that WE are responsible for knowing what we can and cannot legally do and that we have nice nifty little letters at the end of our names that tell what KIND of nurse we are, much like doctors do - besides the fact, why are they so uptight about this, but chiropractors can call themselves doctors and offer medical consultations WITH NO MEDICAL BACKGROUND?). It also sounds like the majority of these ignorants need to get laid and get over a title.
rant>
*goes off to find Japanese gummies and ice cream*
(Reply to this)
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Well, being such an ignorant loser who needs to "get laid" I am dumbfounded over this. I don't really care what they call themselves. Just wait until they go through the 2 yr vs 3 yr vs 4 yr debates and then there is a DVN (Doctorate of Vet nursing) degree...or is there already, being ignorant and all

I hope you are healthy and never require medical care because according to you, you'd basically have to have a vet tech to take care of you because us human nurses aren't competent.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Apr 7, 2004

I hope you are healthy and never require medical care because according to you, you'd basically have to have a vet tech to take care of you because us human nurses aren't competent.

Um, who are you directing this at, the vet techs, or human nurses?

PedsNurse1981 · Apr 7, 2004

Um, who are you directing this at, the vet techs, or human nurses?

Vet techs of course. Why would I direct such a statement at human nurses?

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Apr 7, 2004

Vet techs of course. Why would I direct such a statement at human nurses?

Just wondering, sometimes things run together. :)

RNPATL, DNP, RN · Apr 7, 2004

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

I am certain that every nurse on this forum sacrificed a great deal to achieve their degree, whether it be an ADN, BSN or MSN. I completely support nurses protecting and defending their title. We have earned that right! There are far to many "wanna bes" out there that use the title of nurse illegally. The use of the title nurse is trusted by the public and should be reserved and protected for those that are duly licensed to use it. I for one am amazed at the protest from the vet techs and how insulting they are to nurses. I am certain this group of people represent a very, very small precentage of vet teach, but what a shame that their nasty message about nurses could be so far reaching.

I agree with some of the other posters ..... they will see once their loved one's life is hanging by a string, the EXACT role an function of a real nurse. However, it is a real shame that it is going to take that type of life experience for some of these people to grow up. Shame

PedsNurse1981 · Apr 7, 2004

I am certain that every nurse on this forum sacrificed a great deal to achieve their degree, whether it be an ADN, BSN or MSN. I completely support nurses protecting and defending their title. We have earned that right! There are far to many "wanna bes" out there that use the title of nurse illegally. The use of the title nurse is trusted by the public and should be reserved and protected for those that are duly licensed to use it. I for one am amazed at the protest from the vet techs and how insulting they are to nurses. I am certain this group of people represent a very, very small precentage of vet teach, but what a shame that their nasty message about nurses could be so far reaching.
I agree with some of the other posters ..... they will see once their loved one's life is hanging by a string, the EXACT role an function of a real nurse. However, it is a real shame that it is going to take that type of life experience for some of these people to grow up. Shame

Very well said

KMSRN · Apr 7, 2004

Nuring is legally defined by the state boards of nursing. Anyone can't just decide to call themselves a nurse any more than they can just decide to call themselves a doctor. I don't know what the education level of a vet tech is, but if it is comparable to nurses and they want to be called veterinary nurses or some such name, that is fine with me. :rolleyes:

Ortho_RN · Apr 7, 2004

Nuring is legally defined by the state boards of nursing. Anyone can't just decide to call themselves a nurse any more than they can just decide to call themselves a doctor. I don't know what the education level of a vet tech is, but if it is comparable to nurses and they want to be called veterinary nurses or some such name, that is fine with me.

Yeah MOST techs do have a degree, and associates degree... I have one, and I had to sit for a state board exam to get my "license" to practice as a Registered Vet. Tech, so all in all they do go through the education... Trust me I actually thought nursing school was easier than vet tech school... At least in nursing school you only need to know one species, whereas in Vet Tech school you have to learn every species and breed, cause alot of breeds have their own special problems...

I think honestly most vet techs get upset b/c they (most) do work their butts off to help save everyones furry children... And usually get NO respect for it or gratitude. I have stayed at the clinic all night laying on a blanket on the floor outside of the cage of a Rottweiler who needed fluids constantly and was about to die.. The family didn't want the dog to be alone, so I stayed... Did I get paid.. NOPE.. The vet said it was my choice... And everyone who has animals needs to realize that usually the person fighting for your pet is the Vet Tech, just as we as nurses are advocates of our patients... So if they have gone to school taken an exam and want to call themselves a Vet Nurse.. Then more power to them...

sharann, BSN, RN · Apr 7, 2004

Erm, PEDSNURSE1981, you realize that I copied the thread from the other forum to lay it out? That I am a nurse and my comments were BELOW the dotted line? Just checking:)