So I took my dog to the vet yesterday morning to be spayed, we (my dog and I) are called into the assessment room by this woman who introduces herself as the "RN" who will be taking care of my dog.
Ofcourse I am skeptical, I question her "You are a Registered Nurse?"
She replies, that yes she is a RN, the training is EXACTLY the same, except that it is for animals, and that she had to pass a board exam. She actually goes on about it for a couple of minutes.
At this point I am so stunned, that I decide not to say anything, as I am already in a highly irritated mood because I am sleep deprived, starving because I am fasting for blood work, and actively fighting with my insurance coverage to get any prescription filled anywhere, and I am afraid of over reacting. I make sure that I sound highly skeptical when I say "Oooookayyy"
I am usually not very political or sensitive to nursing slights. I am comfortable with who I am and happy with what I do. I laugh at slights to nurses on tv more often that not, but this just kept itching at me.
When I left they gave me a addressed envelope and a survey to fill out. I am considering using the envelope to write a letter to the vet to inform her that she has at least one tech that is calling herself a RN and that by allowing this to go on in her practice that she is opening herself up to potential liability.
First of all, Fuzzy, CVT has already pointed out how wrong this post is. I'm just so disappointed in those of us who feel the need to put down other professions like this.
I, for one, am not putting down someone in another profession. I just think it's sad she cannot be proud of her own profession and refer to herself as a vet tech or whatever and quit illegally using the term "RN". I'm proud of being an RN, I cannot imagine going around calling myself an NP or DR if it weren't true. Just ain't right.
I still want to know of those of you who think it's no big deal to call yourself an RN or a nurse if you're not, how many of you are in fact RN's? hum.......
Vet techs where I live is anyone hired off the street who loves working with animals for min. wage.
As Fuzzy has pointed out, those people may be referred to as vet techs by the staff at the clinic, but are not Registered/Licensed/Certified Veterinary Technicians, which requires at least an associate's degree from an accredited institution, not just experience at a vet clinic or a correspondence degree, and a passing score on a state exam.
I agree that the employee should not have referred to herself as an RN and I understand the OP's skepticism and anger completely. I imagine that Registered/Licensed/Certified Veterinary Technicians feel the same way when some high school kid who cleans kennels at a vet clinic refers to him or herself as a "vet tech". It's probably similar to how nrsnew and other posters feel about general aides or health care workers being referred to as "nurses".
I imagine that Registered/Licensed/Certified Veterinary Technicians feel the same way when some high school kid who cleans kennels at a vet clinic refers to him or herself as a "vet tech". It's probably similar to how nrsnew and other posters feel about general aides or health care workers being referred to as "nurses".
...I still want to know of those of you who think it's no big deal to call yourself an RN or a nurse if you're not, how many of you are in fact RN's? hum.......
No, I'm not a nurse, not even a nursing student. I have been accepted in to a BSN program and start in August 2006.
What is wrong with being a vet tech that makes her feel she has to claim to be something else entirely? RN's are certainly not trained nor qualified to take care of animals. She should be proud of what she is and not represent herself as something she is not (which is illegal as well as immoral). Perhaps she feels the need to explain her role, in which case she should say something to the effect that "I am like a nurse aide for animals".
Well, this was so interesting that I looked up some info. Vet techs have a pretty intense scope of practice! Can't imagine doing all of that to several different species.
Anyway, while a vet tech is a nurse for animals they are not "RN's", but I can see why the vet tech thinks of herself in this way. Although she is an animal nurse and is certified or licensed with a board exam(depending on her state), her title is not "RN". I don't think she meant any harm and probably doesn't realize the legal implications of using that title. SG
Well, this was so interesting that I looked up some info. Vet techs have a pretty intense scope of practice! Can't imagine doing all of that to several different species.
Anyway, while a vet tech is a nurse for animals they are not "RN's", but I can see why the vet tech thinks of herself in this way. Although she is an animal nurse and is certified or licensed with a board exam(depending on her state), her title is not "RN". I don't think she meant any harm and probably doesn't realize the legal implications of using that title. SG
The list of vet tech programs from this site are NOT AVMA accredited! This is another case where if a person were to spend their hard earned money for these courses they would NOT be allowed to sit for the VTNE and/or state exams in most states. I'm betting that if I were to take nursing school from an unaccredited program that I would not be allowed to sit for the nursing exam. DO YOUR HOMEWORK!
The list of vet tech programs from this site are NOT AVMA accredited! This is another case where if a person were to spend their hard earned money for these courses they would NOT be allowed to sit for the VTNE and/or state exams in most states. I'm betting that if I were to take nursing school from an unaccredited program that I would not be allowed to sit for the nursing exam. DO YOUR HOMEWORK!
But this is all really beside the point. A Veterinarian cannot call himself/herself an M.D. or D.O., and a Vet tech cannot call himself/herself an R.N. or L.P.N. These are LEGALLY protected titles that you cannot just appropriate. Doesn't mean that the education is inferior or that the job is inferior, it just is different. The reverse situation is also true. It is not just the nurses who would be upset about a situation like this. Go over to SDN and see how well they would take it if a D.V.M. just decided to take the title of M.D./D.O. I can tell you right now that it wouldn't go over very well.
Wow, such an interesting topic, and so many point of views! I love it!
Had I been in this situation, I probably would have just made a comment to the staff member right when she said that, what kind of comment I don't know.....
I wonder what would have provoked her to refer to herself this way... Did she know you were one? A lot of people who aren't in the medical field or familiar with it aren't even sure of the differences between a nurse/rn/lpn...etc... So I wonder what her motivation was to be so specific. Thats probably what I would have asked just from curiosity. I understand the seriousness of the professional/legal aspect but hey on a lighter note maybe she was just trying to impress you or relate to you. Imitation is the highest form of flattery. She should feel proud of her title whatever it may be.
Animal nurse, I would have been cool with but yeah OP you're not alone in feeling a little stange about this........
Maybe she didn't mean any harm, she was just BARKING up the wrong tree.
No, I'm not a nurse, not even a nursing student. I have been accepted in to a BSN program and start in August 2006.
What's your point?
I just don't see the point in caring if an animal caregiver calls herself a nurse or an RN. It makes RN's seem conceited or snobby to be so offended. It really seems to go beyond just being concerned about "title protection."
My point is that if you were an RN you would understand. After you've worked 4+ long years and pass the NCLEX I bet it will bother you too!
Maybe she didn't mean any harm, she was just BARKING up the wrong tree.
I'm sure she didn't mean any harm but that's the problem, lack of knowledge, she needs to be informed that it is illegal for her to call herself an RN.
nrsnew
4 Posts
What really yanks my chain is when an MA or CNA in a physicians office refers to themselves as the doc's "nurse". I see it happen all the time!