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.
Remarks like "get over yourself" are not very friendly in my opinion, Bipley. (it was a remark that was here earlier in the thread before). Plus a prior thread related to this subject got so hot it had to be closed. Hate to see that again......
And let me add, if you have a dispute w/moderation here, please feel free to PM any of us, and we will be happy to work with you any way we can. Thanks for asking!
I never claimed to have a dispute with moderation. I asked for an education. I didn't realize I needed to keep that hush hush.
Up here a trained, certified vet. tech is a full time college diploma, that takes at least two years. So they are "registered" nurses for animals.
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. I am just too amazed at the animal body and where they could find all the parts. I mean when my girl had surgery the other month, I watched over her like a mum and had to get out my animal health book just to check her pulse and figure out where the pulses where. Can you imagine being able to do that on dogs, cats, birds, reptiles. Hell, I even took a hamster to the vets once and the tech there knew what to do to him. I mean the little guy was in hypoglycemic shock and she knew how to treat him, how much glucose to give, etc., the tech practically ran a code on a hamster!
I value animal nurses and yup in some countries they are referred to as nurses! I couldn't do her/his job.
a vet tech is no more an R.N. than a D.V.M. (doctor of veterinary medicine) is an M.D. or D.O. All of these are protected titles and it is illegal to just appropriate one.
a vet tech is no more and R.N. than a D.V.M. (doctor of veterinary medicine) is and M.D. or D.O. All of these are protected titles and it is illegal to just appropriate one.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Bipley, please PM me if you have questions from here on out regarding moderation. It's not a matter of being "hush hush". Moderation and arguments with moderators ARE items discussed in Terms of Service, which you did sign when you joined allnurses.com. Please review, and ask anything you need, if you are unclear. Thank you for understanding.
I can see how this is upsetting in a HUMAN environment (hospital, clinic, etc.), but at a Vet's office? I think the real problem would be if she claimed to be an RN and actually treated HUMANS, which, of course, she isn't doing. I really can't fathom getting so bent out of shape over things like this.
I don't meant to offend anyone here, but I tend to agree. My nursing job is so stressful that everything else in life is not that bad. I wouldn't stress out about this. My vet's office has vet techs and nurses. I could care less what they call themselves as long as they take good care of my furkids.
Oh...See...I missed the part where she called herself an RN...I wonder if there's registered. She DID mention that she cares for animals and not humans....But I see what you're talking about.
Didn't realize how heated this conversation was getting. Holding the white flag....:icon_hug:
Excuse me Refael, but "I" don't "say so"; the various State Boards of Nursing say so. Like I said, please educate yourself before calling it a "silly" subject.
it was just my opinnion and i do see others that share that with me. I am in the process of educating myself so bear with my ignorance
I don't meant to offend anyone here, but I tend to agree. My nursing job is so stressful that everything else in life is not that bad. I wouldn't stress out about this. My vet's office has vet techs and nurses. I could care less what they call themselves as long as they take good care of my furkids.
I'm with you!!!!!!!! people worry about protecting the law yet i can't express myself as i want . what ever happened to freedom of speech? isn't that an amendment of our constitution??
An RN is a Registered Nurse that takes care of humans. I don't believe that anyone else should be allowed to claim the title who has not rightfully earned it.
I think the vet tech should be very proud of what she does BUT she is not an RN and should not be entitled to call herself one.:stone How will Vet Techs build their own level of respect if they do not refer to themselves as what they are......Vet Techs.
Sorry...animal lovers that is just the way it is.:uhoh21:
Next thing you know people will be asking ..."oh your an RN animal or human?" :rotfl:
--my own vet hires and trains--claims cannot afford to pay vet tech prices.
:angryfire
See that's what so sad. A vet cannot afford to pay someone $15/hr (average wage for most credentialed techs nationwide). This vet probably hires some little "I just loooove animals" person off of the street, trains them to give a vaccination and then calls them a vet tech. This is the same person who is inducing and monitoring anesthesia; performing dentals; placing catheters; takes x-rays; does labwork; performs some complicated nursing care; doing anesthetic recovery; and several other procedures on an animal that cannot tell someone what's going on that belongs to an unsuspecting owner. :angryfire This clinic probably also reuses syringes and needles (hopefully they're properly sterilized and not just washed) and takes other shortcuts as well. :uhoh21:
I saw the term "furkids" on this thread several times. Would you want an UNcredentialed nurse ( is there such a thing) working on your childern? I would think not. This vet's trainee is probably paid a little above minimum wage with no benefits. Sounds like this vet sings the little bird song....cheap...cheap...cheap.
This wouldn't make so angry if the vet would have told you that he couldn't hire a vet tech due to a lack of qualified people. :angryfire Sorry for the rant but my buttons are pushed on this one.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
I'm with you!!!!!!!! people worry about protecting the law yet i can't express myself as i want . what ever happened to freedom of speech? isn't that an amendment of our constitution??
Raphael, Please understand something: Disputing your POV is not blocking your freedom of speech. Please, do not get the issues all confused in the process of learning things here at the boards. If you are not yet a nurse, it's still a valuable use of your time to educate yourself regarding BON (Boards of Nursing) matters and legalities.
Soon enough (if not already), you will be subject to the laws set forth by your state/province that will guide your practices and yes, even what you SAY to the lay public, whether you are a student or licensed nurse. The sooner you are aware of these, the better off you will be. And once you are a nurse, you may understand why some of us feel so strongly about protecting our title and why if there are not laws in certain states enforcing this, we fight for them to change.
This is the same person who is inducing and monitoring anesthesia; performing dentals; placing catheters; takes x-rays; does labwork; performs some complicated nursing care; doing anesthetic recovery; and several other procedures on an animal that cannot tell someone what's going on that belongs to an unsuspecting owner. :angryfire This clinic probably also reuses syringes and needles (hopefully they're properly sterilized and not just washed) and takes other shortcuts as well. :uhoh21:
Bipley
845 Posts
I never claimed to have a dispute with moderation. I asked for an education. I didn't realize I needed to keep that hush hush.