vet techs using the term nurse

vettech · Jan 21, 2003

Originally posted by RN2B2005
I worked as a licenced veterinary technician for almost five years, and still maintain my licence and do per diem work on occasion. I encourage you to visit the North American Veterinary Technician Association (NAVTA) website to learn more about LICENCED veterinary technicians.

To those who think that veterinary technicians are uneducated or don't go through the same amount of schooling that RN's go through, consider this: To sit for the voluntary national NAVTA boards (similar to the NCLEX-RN, except the examination covers everything from cattle to guinea pigs), you must either graduate with an A.A.Sc. or B.Sc. in veterinary technology from a NAVTA-accredited school, or you must work in the field full-time for a minimum of five years and then sit for the exam. Sound familiar?

Veterinary technicians do everything RN's do, and more. We ARE the pharmacist (most vets have in-office drug stocks, so the NAVTA exam covers drug compounding), the anesthetist (ever seen an anesthesiologist at a spay/neuter clinic?), the x-ray tech (only we shoot the films while resting our heads against the collimator, trying to keep an angry Rottweiler from chewing through our lead aprons), and the physical labor (ever wondered how that Great Dane gets on the operating table?). And for all this, the AVERAGE salary for a licenced veterinary technician after FIVE YEARS in practice (and the two or four year degree) is only $24,000 per year (incidentally, the average veterinarian after five years in practice, and with the same amount of schooling as a physician, makes less than $50,000 per year). Not surprisingly, very few licenced veterinary technicians--including myself--stay in the field for more than ten years.

Why? Because pet owners will only pay X amount of dollars for their dog or cat's care--after all, the vet is just trying to rip you off, right? I mean, any idiot can do a total oopherectomy/hysterectomy on a neonatal patient--oh, wait, I mean a spay on a four-pound kitten.

Unfortunately, there is no MANDATORY nationwide (or even, in some states, statewide) educational requirement for 'vet techs'. The only national body is NAVTA, and although some states--like Washington--do licence and define the scope of practice of veterinary technicians, most states will let any idiot off the street call themselves a 'vet tech' or 'vet assistant'. Many veterinarians, primarily due to financial constraints, hire uneducated lay assistants, some with no experience with veterinary medical care beyond playing dress-up in elementary school. Most pet owners either don't understand or don't care whether or not the person administering the halothane to Fido (or shooting the x-ray, or drawing the blood) has a licence or any experience.

As a veterinary technician, I usually received blank stares when I mentioned what I did for a living. More than once, I was asked if that meant I cleaned kennels or hauled out the trash (yes--in addition to bagging vent patients, monitoring post-anesthesia patients, and running blood). Using the term 'veterinary nurse'--always with the 'veterinary' modifier--generally cleared up the confusion. In some countries, especially Great Britain, the term 'veterinary nurse' is a legitimate title, and appears on the licence.

So, don't be so quick to take umbrage at vet techs who try to clarify their job duties by saying "I'm a veterinary nurse." Simply rephrase the statement--"so, you're a licenced veterinary technician?"--and congratulate yourself for choosing a veterinarian with enough sense to hire, and pay, someone who sat through the same classes you did.

RN's and LPN's should pick fights with people who call CNA's and HHA's and unlicenced lay people "nurse", and realise that vet techs aren't trying to usurp the title--vet techs have had it all along.

:)

Well said! I'm saving that one! :)

vettech · Jan 21, 2003

Originally posted by SmilingBluEyes
As an RN, I know much better than to do such a thing to an animal, cause you see I KNOW THE DIFFERENCE between MYSELF and a VETERANARIAN and/or VET TECH, and know my limitations. ARE YOU SAYING THIS IS THE RULE W/YOUR CLIENTS????? I can't believe that RN's as a rule (or MD's for that matter) would as a rule do such things!

"As a rule", no. But RNs and MDs do try to treat their animals using humans as the baseline far more often than lay-people do.

Her example of Tylelol is very common... at the specialty practice I work at, I see it at least once a month. The phrase "knows just enough to be dangerous" comes to mind. Assuming a cat is simply a small human can be fatal.

However, I think the orignal poster was a bit harsh. One of my best clients is an MSN, her SO is an MD. Most of my RN and MD clients are great!

I like working with the human medical pros because I can be more specific with them. I rarely have to explain medical concepts to them, except where there is a difference in physiology. Techs spend so much of our time in client education, you have no idea how wonderful it can be to walk in and not have to find ways to explain things. It takes 1/4 the time it does with a layman. When I send home a newly diagnosed diabetic cat, the chat takes even less time. Usually all I have to tell them is how much insulin, of what type and how often. Human medical pros are usually better about giving meds on time and getting them back in for rechecks than lay-people as well.

I have been fortunate that many of the RNs I've encountered when I was ill also understood the similarities between our two professions so didn't "dumb things down" when expaining my condition or meds.

vettech · Jan 21, 2003

Originally posted by SmilingBluEyes
So, the majority of animal abuse such as this is committed by RN's? Just curious, I cannot imagine an RN being so stupid and abusive! Before I forget, do you recommend PET INSURANCE? does your office accept any of it? JUST CURIOUS! thinking of insuring my 2 year old GOLDEN while she is young and healthy.

Its worthless... save your money. I've yet to see a plan I'd spend my hard earned dinero on.

vettech · Jan 21, 2003

Originally posted by fab4fan
The post about RN's treating animals made me think of something that happened to me a few years ago.

My cat got sick and needed to stay overnight at the animal hosp. for s.c. IV's. The next day, the vet offered me the option of taking him home and doing the last day of infusions myself because I was a nurse (not my idea...his).

I figured, "Well, I guess it won't be that hard to manage." After all, he was still a little slow from being sick.

Ha ha ha. Fifteen minutes later, blood dripping everywhere (mine, not his), I decided I would much rather put an IV in a 2y old than an elderly cat. He seemed to have 16 paws, five heads, and for a cat that had several teeth extracted, plenty of teeth left over.
I called the vet and said, "If he can fight me that hard, then I think it probably won't kill him to skip the last day of infusions."

The vet agreed, and eventually my cat and I were on speaking terms again.

(Sorry about that messed up post!)

:) You'd be amazed at how often I was GLAD I was being bitten or scratched simply because it meant the animal was BETTER!

kittyw · Jan 21, 2003

I almost cringe at the thought of replying to this thread when it seems that we've heard a lot from both sides .... but I've started volunteering at the local humane society - and it really gives me a different (but same) outlook on this discussion.

I am nursing my clients ... a lot of these descriptions of what vet techs do has relied upon clinical descion-making skills and the main criticism I've seen (besides the "it hurts our field") is that the vet techs do not deal with psycosocial issues. You couldn't be further from the truth!

Where I'm volunteering .... the animals come in... they are afraid and nervous. I have to critically think ... is this the dog's normal baseline personality (does he normally bite or is an aggressive animal) or is this animal afraid, nervous, hurt, etc (and we can work with him). Is the dog (or cat) having problems with his pen mate? Sometimes the dog or cat just doesn't like one of the animals.... sometimes it is a matter of the other sex of the animal. We actively work with all members of the team (the vet, vet techs, kennel asst., dog walkers, managers) to promote the health and well-being of the animals. We go over case studies .... we work and follow up on behavioral/emotional issues of the animals.

We are visited by the vet once a week. We have to make clinical decisions about post-op surgery complications, illnesses, course of treatment.

We work with the adopting families to see if the dog/cat will interact well in their new environment. We provide education about how to help the animals get used to their new environment.

Those of you who do not have experience in both fields cannot truly appreciate the level of nursing care that goes into these animals.

Ortho_RN · Jan 21, 2003

well kitty.. I think you pretty well summed it up... :)

TheBrainMusher · Jan 21, 2003

I guess I have a more modern outlook on it. The caring of living beings would be nursing, as people say there are many aspects and if you are going to fight about a title btw licensed vet techs and licenses nurses I feel bad for you. There are many similarities, can't it be left at that? This is why I think the nursing field will never get to level it should ... too much pettiness, not enough logistics. We have to stay together, not work apart ... One can only dream:o

Agnus · Jan 21, 2003

Oh good gracious. I don't have time to go thought all these posts but so far I have not seen anyone address this except to voice an opinion.

THE FACTS ARE "NURSE" is a LEGALLY PROTECTED TITLE. So it matters little what you think you should be able to call yourself. If you get caught and turned in you could be in big trouble with the law.

**SKM-NURSIEPOOH, BSN, RN** · Jan 22, 2003

originally posted by agnus
oh good gracious. i don't have time to go thought all these posts but so far i have not seen anyone address this except to voice an opinion.
the facts are "nurse" is a legally protected title. so it matters little what you think you should be able to call yourself. if you get caught and turned in you could be in big trouble with the law.

...if various state boards weren't considering starting or instituting the license of vet nurses. agnus, because you didn't bother to take the time & read the entire thread, you've missed one important point. many universities are offering bachelors in veterinary nursing (uk program); thereby, legally allowing said individuals whom completes that very specific course to sit for their state board license & be called vet nurses...licensed or registered.

i believe the point of this thread was to get the opinions of lpns & rns on the term "nurse" being used with the *veterinary* being the qualifier before the title "nurse".

so you see agnus, veterinary nurse *is* a legal & protected title because various state boards *are* making it so. perhaps you should take the time-out & read through the thread before responding to it with obvious emotions...you'd be surprised at the amount of classes that this program requires. the folks that go through this program understand & are aware that they can't practice on humans...just like the lpns/rns know that they can't practice on animals just because they have their licenses...it goes both ways. i'm not having a go at you...just wanted you to understand what this thread was about. here's information that nrskarenrn

so graciously providedpa house bill no. 1418 session of 1999. here her link to the pa bill. nrskarenrn also provided us with a link to the british veterinary nursing association website...incase you miss it. hope this helps.

i have to agree with someone else who said that we nurses should be concern with upas calling themselves nurses than folks whom are actually going through a vet nursing program that is designed to legally allow them to hold a vet nurse license.

cheers!

moe.

2banurse · Jan 22, 2003

Wow!!! The only thing I can say about this section was that I never truly thought of everything a vet tech does. Before I read the posts today, I was actually of the mind that the term "nurse" should only be for RNs and LPNs. These posts definitely gave me pause to think. The amount and type of care given to our beloved pets and "family members" is now better understood by myself. I think more concern needs to be on people calling themselves "nurses" are those not licensed and trained to be nurses...i.e. medical assistants in medical offices and unlicensed vet techs.

I just want those vet techs "nurses" to know that when I next bring in one of my little ones, I'll be sure to thank them for the care they have given, and not just the vet.

Kris

SmilingBluEyes · Jan 22, 2003

I guess respect is a short commodity all around and it's only thru understanding we will be able to see this. I am in NO mood to argue here, just let me state I respect techs of all kinds, always have always will. Whether they work in medicine, hospitals, veterinary medicine, pharmacies, you-name-it. I am gonna leave it at that cause I am tired of this whole discussion. I feel how I feel and nothing here has changed that.....a NURSE is a NURSE, a TECH a TECH...we need to learn to respect TECHS for what they DO, period. ...but I won't willingly surrender the title of NURSE to anyone who is not licensed as such, period. Just understand, I have just as much respect for techs as ever, if not a bit more after reading this thread. over and out. :rolleyes:

Ortho_RN · Jan 22, 2003

I understand that the title is supposedly legally protected.. BUt they(we) are wanting to be called Registered Veterinary Nurses.... Whats the problem with that???????