the term "animal nurse"

gypsyatheart · Apr 7, 2004

Wow! I had no idea there was such a debate. They sound like a bunch of very young people, very ignorant as to what nurses do. I had no idea there was such resentment however. Kind of makes me look at the techs in my Vets ofc in a different light...they seem so nice...but I don't think they know that I'm a nurse. Hmmmm.....

Idiopathik · 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?

Well, are you sure your chiropractors went to MED school, as in allopathic or osteopathic medical school? If they don't have M.D. or D.O. after their name, they most likely did not go to med school, but chiropractic school, with a D.C. after their name (doctor of chiropractic). Definitely not the same thing. Just like a podiatrist isn't a medical doctor, but a doctor of podiatry.

As for the nurses being the "worst pet owners", I never said that was true, just that it is a very common attitude among vet med people, don't exactly know the reason why, although I suspect it is because an RN will question things more and not just hand over the cash and say "do whatever"...

On a side note, I think you all should be aware of a "hot topic" in vet med currently - the use of yearly vaccinations for dogs and cats. Multiple studies have shown that immunizations given in the puppy or kitten series have long lasting immunity, and annual vaccinations are not necessary. There are also negative side effects from all this over-vaccination, namely, vaccination-induced sarcomas in cats, and hemolytic anemias in dogs, caused by immune hyperstimulation. Some vets are taking the high road now and telling their clients about this, though others are not and are continuing to promote and require annual vaccinations. It is the "bread and butter" of a regular vet practice so to speak, it gets people in the door where they can then diagnose other issues like ear infections (would need to be treated anyway, not a bad thing per se), and they can then try to sell shampoos, Rx pet food, dental cleanings, etc. Take away the annual vax and you remove a significant chunk of the clinic's daily appointments. Also, if your vet tries to tell you that the AVMA (vet equivalent of AMA) doesn't have any specific protocols established yet, and there is no harm done, or some other such nonsense, seek another vet for your pets, one with ethics! They all know this is the truth, none of the 30+ vets I have worked with have vax'ed their own animals yearly EVER. Think about it, do humans need vaccines every year for life? Of course not, and neither do your animals!

smk1, LPN · Apr 7, 2004

i guess i don't see why the vet techs are upset. i mean they knew what their title and education and job description entailed going into it. they had the option of going to nursing school (or at least trying to get in) if they wanted to be called a nurse so why didn't they? they would be much better off promoting and improving job conditions in their own field rather than trying to gain recognition through the use of the term "nurse" when they have not earned it. And this is not to say that they aren't well educated in their respective field but unless you go to nursing school (and pass the nclex) you just aren't a nurse. Same for MD DO DDS DVM etc.. yada yada yada

prairiegirl · Apr 7, 2004

Just to add.......I have researched vet tech and even applied to a program near me. I wanted to do it because it is less stressful than nursing, less technical, and better hours. I know in England they do call vet techs "vet nurses". Just the way they do it I guess. But I do think that nursing is much harder than vet tech. Some days I wonder why I am still in nursing school and not playing with puppies all day?????

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Apr 7, 2004

"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."

Maybe if that group of them on that journal website would drop that lousy attitude that they're taking out on the human nurses, maybe they'd have a better chance of respect.

bukko · Apr 7, 2004

I know in England they do call vet techs "vet nurses".

If a stranger came up to me and said she was a "vet nurse" I would wonder if she was someone with a German accent who got paid to suckle other womens' babies...

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Apr 7, 2004

If i heard someone say "vet nurse" i would think they work with Veterans.

Stitchie · Apr 8, 2004

I'm one of those nurses who takes my cats in and questions EVERYTHING the doc says, does, writes, prescribes, etc. I want to know what they are doing for my fur-children.

I pay the people at my vet's office tons of $$$ to take care of my fur-children and I expect them to do a good job. I always say please and thank you and am polite as possible, but they don't seem to respect the work I do as an ER nurse either.

My 13 lb kitty has a bad rep at the vet's office because he's easily upset without his "parents", especially "mommy" around, so if they're being rude to nurses I guess my babycat has my back! :chuckle

I really hope these few are not representative of vet techs in general. I want my "kids" to feel loved when they aren't at home...poor kitties.

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Apr 8, 2004

Vet techs calling themselves nurses is like janitorial services calling themselves sanitation engineers.

Nothing wrong with being a vet tech. Why can't people be proud of their own accomlishments, instead of trying to lift themselves up by riding on the coat-tails of another profession? A vet tech is not a nurse- in any way shape or form, IMO.

Sounds like some of the posters on that Live Journal board suffer from bad cases of nurse-envy.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Apr 8, 2004

And i hope that peopel are taking a notice of every single reply on this board. Nothing was generalized about all vet techs or anything like that. However, on their stings of put-downs, they referred to all human nurses. :)

Ahhphoey · Apr 8, 2004

I thought that was some kind of joke at first when reading the first few threads. It is unbelievable the amount of ignorance that exists on the board. I'm am truly offended and found myself getting very angry at some of the comments. Those people think they have it tough, try just shadowing a human nurse for one day and they'd eat their words.

Headhurt, ADN · Apr 8, 2004

You know how the saying goes: A fool will despise what he cannot get.