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.
I appreciate that for some members protecting the title of "registered nurse" doesn't seem that important. And I agree that there are a number of really significant issues facing nursing internationally, so I can see how this might seem like a trivial matter. After all, she's clearly not working in a (human) hospital, treating people.
Protecting the "RN" title is often framed as being a protection for the public. It doesn't take much thought to see how an untrained or unregistered person could potentially cause great harm, regardless of their intention. To deter this, it's not just the person falsely holding themselves out to be a nurse who are penalised - the employer is also fined if they hire as a nurse a person who is not registered with the appropriate authority. In Australia a penalty unit is currently $AU104 - in Victoria, for each occasion that a person who is not a registered nurse "take or use the title of registered nurse or any other title calculated to induce a belief that the person is registered under this Act; or claim to be registered under this Act or hold herself or himself out as being registered under this Act" they can be fined 50 penalty points. A corporation that hires or hires out as a registered nurse a non-registered person can be fined 100 penalty units per occasion (Victoria Nurses Act 1993 section 60 1. a) + b), section 63 1. a)
However, the title is also protected to safeguard the profession. As I see it, this is for two reasons: first, to protect nursing jobs from less qualified staff. Second, and this is where the OP's case comes in, to maintain and enhance the image of nursing and nurses in the community. IMO having a vet tech labelling herself as an RN (which was clearly not a slip of the tongue, as the OP asked her to clarify) could lead a layperson to believe that human nursing and animal nursing are the same or similar.
This is not intended to in any way denigrate vet techs. Instead what I'm saying is that it diminishes the achievements, requirements, education and role of both groups if they are conflated in the mind of the public, who are already confused.
to be a vet. assistant, it is a two year associates degree, and has the exact same prereqs as the rn program.
i do think it's crazy that this women is introducing herself as the r.n. that implies more than just saying i'm the nurse. r.n. is a specific title, while she does have college education and board certification she should be using the title that she earned....
I too feel that this person is misrepresenting herself. Ask anyone on the street what RN means to them and I will bet you dollars to donuts their answer will not be "animal nurse". I have had many animals in my 47 years and have spent countless hours in different Vets offices and not once have I met a RN for animals. I would contact the vet and let him know she is introducing herself as a RN and let him decide what should be done, its his practice!
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.
Now back to the original topic, please?
I don't have a problem with moderation and I never did. That's what I'm trying to tell you. I have nothing to PM you about, I asked a question, you answered, I understand, and that's all. Nothing more.
to be a vet. assistant, it is a two year associates degree, and has the exact same prereqs as the rn program.
i do think it's crazy that this women is introducing herself as the r.n. that implies more than just saying i'm the nurse. r.n. is a specific title, while she does have college education and board certification she should be using the title that she earned....
I think you might be assuming that is the case everywhere and that's just not true. I see ads all the time for schools offering vet tech/asst. programs, 9 months and you are out the door working your new career. I've lived in five states and none of them required 2 years.
My old vet clinic didn't have trained techs, they were trained on the job. No school, none. That is just not an RN.
.... 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.
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?
Do you like this vet? Then let the vet know that the tech is misrepresenting herself--this is a liability for the veterinarian as well.
You might also drop a note to the nursing board. Most boards only have jurisdiction over actual nurses, but they might drop her a little note....
And if vet techs have boards, that's another place to "drop a dime" (pass the word).
Original to the vet and copies to the boards ought to do it.
Chances are, this individual isn't going to last with the vet. Vets aren't fools. They need people to want to come back, or their practices fail. You are important as their consumer.
Why would a person want to know that an RN worked at their vets office anyway? I would much prefer a Vet Tech (trained to care for animals) taking care of my dogs. That's why I take them to the vet. Why would I want to take my dog to an RN at a vets office. Pretty stupid.
Now, legally speaking, this person does not realize that it is AGAINST THELAW to represent yourself as an RN if you are not an RN. Any person can help take care of (nurse) someone but that does not make that person an RN, a caregiver yes, an RN NO!! And yes it is a big deal to those of us who have studied hard, paid our dues, passed our NCLEX-RN and besides it being illegal to refer to yourself as an RN it insults me personally because I am proud of my title Registered Nurse.
Those of you who think it's not a big deal, are you an RN? or what do you call yourself? Just curious to see how many RN's are not in the least bit bothered by this vet tech calling herself an RN?
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?
hahaha!! i think shes a jerk!! but me, i finished vet tech and assoc. degree in nx as my second course so may be i can call myself as LVN- as in license veterinary nurse!!! just kidding!!
I am willing to overlook the many people that "fluff" their job description by calling themselves nurses but I have to draw the line at RN. Passing the NCLEX and having an active license are requirements for calling oneself "RN". I do think many do not know there is a difference and may be using RN when they mean "like a nurse". This includes students that are prematurely using RN as a title.
talaxandra
3,037 Posts
I appreciate that for some members protecting the title of "registered nurse" doesn't seem that important. And I agree that there are a number of really significant issues facing nursing internationally, so I can see how this might seem like a trivial matter. After all, she's clearly not working in a (human) hospital, treating people.
Protecting the "RN" title is often framed as being a protection for the public. It doesn't take much thought to see how an untrained or unregistered person could potentially cause great harm, regardless of their intention. To deter this, it's not just the person falsely holding themselves out to be a nurse who are penalised - the employer is also fined if they hire as a nurse a person who is not registered with the appropriate authority. In Australia a penalty unit is currently $AU104 - in Victoria, for each occasion that a person who is not a registered nurse "take or use the title of registered nurse or any other title calculated to induce a belief that the person is registered under this Act; or claim to be registered under this Act or hold herself or himself out as being registered under this Act" they can be fined 50 penalty points. A corporation that hires or hires out as a registered nurse a non-registered person can be fined 100 penalty units per occasion (Victoria Nurses Act 1993 section 60 1. a) + b), section 63 1. a)
However, the title is also protected to safeguard the profession. As I see it, this is for two reasons: first, to protect nursing jobs from less qualified staff. Second, and this is where the OP's case comes in, to maintain and enhance the image of nursing and nurses in the community. IMO having a vet tech labelling herself as an RN (which was clearly not a slip of the tongue, as the OP asked her to clarify) could lead a layperson to believe that human nursing and animal nursing are the same or similar.
This is not intended to in any way denigrate vet techs. Instead what I'm saying is that it diminishes the achievements, requirements, education and role of both groups if they are conflated in the mind of the public, who are already confused.