Vet tech calling herself RN

[Nightcrawler]

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.

Or should I just let it go?

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

I agree about not using RN for a vet tech or vet nurse. I have dogs and the vet techs refer to themselves as just that. I too would not approve of a vet tech or vet nurse addressing themselves as an RN. Saying you are an RN brings to mind a Registered Nurse. This is a title which you earn by taking the NCLEX-RN, not by attending a vet nurse or vet tech school.

[Nightcrawler, BSN, RN]

get over yourself, she didn't claim to be a rn for humans and apply at the local human hospital, just like i wouldn't apply to work for my vet.

of course she is not claiming to be a human nurse, but think of it this way, lawyers hold doctorate degrees, but most don't use the title. psychiatrists will often get testy about doctorally prepared psychologists, and they treat the same population, though in different ways. the fact is that it is illegal for her to use the term nurse if she isn't either a lvn or a rn, and it is illegal for her to call herself a rn or registered nurse unless she holds the appropriate licensure. before i took my boards i was working under an interim permit, but it was illegal for me to call myself a nurse or sign as an rn, even though i had the appropriate training.

i value animal nurses and yup in some countries they are referred to as nurses! i couldn't do her/his job.

you couldn't do her job because you haven't been trained to do her job, just as she hasn't been trained to be an rn.

you tell me to get over myself. she is just using the title because it makes her feel more important. while there may be some parallels between the professiion, they are not the same. she does not have the same level of legal accountability or responsibility that a practicing rn carries. if one of her patients dies because of her actions, she can not be charged with murder.

[jennyga]

I would let i go, I also took my dog yesterday to get his shots and annual check up and when the vet went to give my little charlie his shot i said let me hold him, she said "I ll get one of my NURSES to hold him" I also was suprised but then i thought about it and they are nurses to the animals and are trained and also so an excellent job! So is it that big a deal? No i dont think so, and if it worries you that much then dont take you animals to that vet!!!

[SmilingBluEyes]

Moderator Note:

I will remind people to remain friendly and keep responses in TOS. This one has been "done" before, so before we lose our cool yet again, please, see this thread:

https://allnurses.com/forums/f130/vet-nurses-25512.html?highlight=veterinary+tech

[Princess74]

Wow, a Vet Tech/RN. Ya...Whatever. So do real nurses that work with human call them self vets? This is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. What about animal groomers, is that like the same as a CNA?

On a more serious note, no I do not think that anyone should be called an Rn unless they are REALLY licenced as a Registered Nurse. A vet tech is not a RN (hello different species) and yes, I would write the letter. JMO

[Princess74]

Moderator Note:

I will remind people to remain friendly and keep responses in TOS. This one has been "done" before, so before we lose our cool yet again, please, see this thread:

https://allnurses.com/forums/f130/vet-nurses-25512.html?highlight=veterinary+tech

I can not get access to the thread.

[gypsyatheart]

I am in the group that says that vet techs/assistants/"nurses", should not be referring to themselves as Registerd Nurse or RN. You don't hear the vet calling himself a Medical Doctor, now do you? No, they say they are a Vetrinarian.

It all goes back to educating the public as to what RN's are and what we really do. While I have the utmost respect for vet tech's that is a far cry from human medicine, no matter how "complicated" it may seem to some....

If they truly do go through college and receive a degree, then let them use their degree initials..."Certified Vet Tech or Nurse", for example.

For the OP, I would make a note of it on the survey, stating it is unprofessional and illegal for their ancillary staff to be using a title that they are not.

[MissJoRN, RN]

I worked for a vet for a while doing the work of a vet tech but could not call myself that since I did not have a degree in veterinary technology or certification. Now I'm an RN, could go back and work for that vet with even more responsibility and understanding but still would not be a "vet tech" it's a protected title just like "registered nurse" I tend to have a lot of respect in their job and dedication but it would be hard to respect someone who doesn't have enough pride in their own career choice to correctly identify themselves! I wouldn't mind the term "veterinary nurse" if an organizing body decided to use it for a set of qualified, certified people (as done in Great Britan) but "RN" goes too far!

BTW- many VTs do not like the term nurse because it underestimates what they do- they work as bedside, OR, and office nurses, as well as ultrasonographer, rad tech, lab tech, dental work, and pharmacy dispensing, etc... often in the same day!

Sorry to add fuel to the flame... but if you think the RN vs ADN debate gets bad you should pick of a vet tech mag or attend a conference, LOL!

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

Already ben to a vet tech board. You need an asbestos suit to read anything there.

[AshcroftAnnie]

I have been an Animal Health Technician (Canadian for "Veterinarian Technician") for many years, and am also in my 4th year of my Bachelor of Science in (HUMAN!) Nursing, so soon will be an RN as well.

I believe in England "techs" are called Registered Veterinary Nurses or Registered Veterinary Technicians. Many times technician and nurse have been interchanged, and I don't have a problem with this as long as the word "animal" or "veterinary" is in there somewhere. This tecnician should NOT have called herself an RN in my opinion. In fact, I have been called an "animal nurse" many times and I do not believe that this warrants correcting, but "animal RN" if not acceptable. There is a difference.

This is obviously a very controversial subject, and I like to believe it is a matter of professionalism. I would like to think that Veterinary Technicians (being a fairly young orgainzied profession) would want to pave their own path, so to speak, and not be grouped under the umbrella of human nurses. While veterinary technicians Are "animals nurses" in terms of care giving, performing similar skills, and following the "dr.'s" orders (doctors of veterinary medicine), they also, however, do a VERY different job in a number of respects. Not only do they work on a variety of species, as already mentioned (I have worked on dogs, cats, horses, sheep, cattle, reptiles, birds, llamas, moose, deer, tigers, lions, bears, chimpanzees, sturgeon.....the list goes on & on), but they are pretty much the ONLY support staff in a veterinary hospital. Their jobs are very diverse compared to RNs, who tend to specialize.

For example, in a day at the veterinary clinic, I will induce and monitor anaesthetic, perform small surgeries such as cat neuters and minor wound/abcess repair (closing wounds, placing drains, etc). I will make a cast, I will take countless radiographs, initiate IVs (and I'm proud to say that if you can hit a vien on a deyhdrated kitten or hampster, you can do it on almost any human around!!!). I also do dentistry (scaling and polishing teeth, doing root canals, extracting teeth), exams, perform and analyse laboratory tests....the list goes on and on! And I'm the cleaner, the surgical suite organizer, kennel girl, orderer of supplies, housekeeping, dietary....all thsoe things!

SO, as you can see, it's a demanding profession with a solid knowledge base, and I'm proud to be a technician, and tell the world. I don't lump it behind human nursing because it is that AND so much more. I also recognise the need to specialize, and will do so as an RN. I am proud to be an RN too!

I wonder if the initial poster's experience with the veterinary technician could have reflected a bit of insecurity or respect-seeking on the part of the technician? Perhaps she knew her client was an RN, and wanted to ensure that the client knew she had the proper training to care for the client's dog?

I know that in MANY of the veterinary clinics I have worked in, there is a type of coding on files of animals belonging to RNs. This alerts the veterinary staff that the pet is owned by an RN. This is because there seems to be a history of friction between people in the medical profession for animals, or those for humans. Or at least a feeling of needing to be "on your toes" because some RNs will really challenge your knowledge.

Unfortunately, I HAVE heard of a veterinary technician giving out advice to humans (and trust me, humans DO seek medical advice from veterinary staff regularily!). It happens on occasion when people are not cognizant of their professional roles, liability, etc.

Dishing out medical advice when you are not an RN is bad, but not not as bad as this: I have seen many RNs try and treat their pets by themselves. Like, for example, the RN who knew cat's urethra was blocked and decided she could unblock it herself with just some xylocaine jelly and a small catheter. OR the RN who thought that her dog had a splinter in his member (not knowing that there is actually a bone in there), and decided to try and dig it out on her own. Neither of these pets were given anesthetic for these "treatments", and both ended with tragic results. I believe this is cruelty. Or RNs who want to save costs by doing injections on their pets at home-fair enough, but can they landmark properly? I had an RN kill her own horse by accidentally injecting penicillin into a vien, where it entered the horse's CNS. The horse had a reaction to this, and began rearing and one of his forelegs struck the RN in the head, killing her. So now both the horse and the woman are dead, and the veterinarian feels ultimately responsible.

A technician can do damage to a person seeking medical advice only if that person follows the advice. But many times animals are restrained for proceedures and do not have a choice in the matter. To me, *SOME* RNs seem quick say that they are competent in veterinary medicine as well...I am sure some of you have used your medical knowledge to give advice on someone's pet. Now, I know the above are rather extreme examples, and do not happen all the time. But they are out there, and these are the reasons that such limitations need to me made clear: a veterinary technician IS registered as a nurse or technician, but for ANIMALS, and this should be stated every time. And an RN may have an excellent knowledge base, but needs to respect that there are differences in treating animals vs. people.

Anyways, as you can see there is a difference between the two. Not everyone here is going to agree with me, and that's fine. I have the unique role of straddling both professions and being able to see the differences between the two on a regular basis. So I just thought I'd share some thoughts with you. :)

Jackie

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

Do a GOOGLE and the Veterinary Nurse title is exclusively a British Empire one, eg: Great Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, etc. It is an intense course.

HOWEVER, in the US, the title Nurse, LPN, LVN, and RN are protected titles and may not be used by Veterinary graduates.

[Undecided7]

I have to agree that vet nurses and human nurses are different jobs and neither one is HIGHER or BETTER than the other- they each require different training and credentials and both have a place in this world. I am an RN but I don't think doctors are ABOVE me, even if they carry more liability- that's the nature of that particular job and so forth. I also don't view LVN's or CNA's or even RN's with an ADN instead of a BSN as BELOW OR HAVING A LESS IMPORTANT JOB THAN ME. I keep reading these debates on which is better and who is smarter and who faces more liabilty. We all picked our path in life and got the education needed to get there- and we are all just as important. I don't think a vet tech should be an RN, but if the board wants to change the title, maybe they could be a RVN or something. INITIALS BEHIND A NAME DOESN'T MAKE A PERSON SPECIAL- IT SIMPLY INDICATES THE PARTICULAR LICENSURE AND EDUCATION THEY HAVE- IT'S NOT NECESSARLY A REFLECTION OF KNOWLEGE OF ABILITY AND THEY ARE NOT "BETTER" OR "WORSE" THAN ANYTHING ELSE- JUST DIFFERENT.

It's really sad to me that offices have to keep of track of RN pet owners because we are so judgemental as a group. Most RN's- despite their human medical knowlege- wouldn't have a CLUE at a vets office- including myself.