vet techs using the term nurse

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what do you guys think of the growing controversy of vet techs calling themselves nurses?

By Rohb

.......And Peeps....I don't know how to respond....

Your not alone on that point Rohb!:chuckle

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Peeps.. what purpose would the course descriptions in a Vet Tech program serve?

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To compare it to nursing.

That's what the thread is about isn't it?

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

NO it's not about COMPARING nursing to vet-teching to me. But if you read my posts, you know where I stand so why restate things and bore everyone? Good news is, I am moving on.....this conversation has taken a turn that serves me no purpose. Enjoy, all.:cool:

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Ok,

So where does the superiority attitude that I've been labled with come from?

Because I want to function more in the medical model than the psychosocial one?

Am I being stereotyped with MD wannabees?

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Specializes in Psych.

And what about those Rug Doctors?????????????

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I am a Certified Veterinary Technician. Now, I'm a SAHM, but I just wanted to add some things. We go through a 2 or 4 year program with rotations done at a Veterinary school. We actually have the Vet students asking for our help when we rotate with them on their 3rd year! They have no clinicals until 3rd year.

A few things that we do are drawing blood, giving vaccinations, client education, we talk to the clients a lot about care or about the disease their pet may have, we train owners on giving medications or injections, we put in IV and urinary catheters, we x-ray, we do dental prophys, we monitor patients in the hospital continulously, we anesthetize animal, intubate them, monitor them during and after surgery, we scrub in to assist in surgeries, we suture, we run labwork, CBC's, urinalysis, cultures, and some clinics don't have the fancy bloodwork machines, and bloodwork must be done by hand on a microscope, we evaluate our patients to see if they are in pain, or how they are reacting, because as you know they don't talk and can't tell us what hurts! We have quarantine and have to take care of quarantined animals and constantly monitor them as well as all of the other patients. Most vet hospitals don't have the fancy equiptment to monitor patients like human hospitals do. I just wanted to state some of our job duties, because some of the posts here really hurt my feelings. They act like we just play with animals!

We get NO respect most of the time, as you nurses don't either. We get WAY WAY less pay! I don't know of a vet tech in my state or area that makes over $25,000, unless they are in research. We don't have unions or anyone to protect us. We have so few techs that work in one hospital, so our tech to patient ration is unbelievable. A lot of hospitals are open 24 hours, and techs are on call just like nurses, so the comment about, we'll come back in the morning to see if it's still alive, really stung! I think some people here need to go and spend a few days behind the scenes at a veterinary hospital!

As far as the name thing goes. I'm proud to be a Veterinary Technician. I understand why some people want it changed though. If they did change it, I would hope they changed it to Veterinary Nurse, so they didn't think we were people nurses. I think the term tech makes it seem like we are just techs! Even from the responses here, it seems people didn't realize that we have to graduate from an accredited program, and pass our state boards too. I don't know what techs in the human field do, but my guess is they don't have that much schooling or take boards? A lot of Vet hospitals used to have people they trained on the job, and called them Vet techs. I think this is why most Vet techs want the name changed to something else, because the public doesn't know what a tech does, and thinks we were just hired and trained on the job. Veterinary Assistants are those who didn't go to school and have been trained on the job. We don't have a union or anything protecting us, so anyone in a vet clinic can call themselves a tech if they want, and if the Vet is one of the many that doesn't care. It's a huge fight between those trained on the job and those that are actually Techs. They think we just learned useless book stuff! It's incredible to see the attitudes these trained on the job ones have. I for one as an owner, would want a tech that did go to school and did learn the whos, whats, whys, and whens of things.

I know I am rambling and I dont' have time to proof read so I hope this makes sense. Maybe the answer is to make the public more informed of what a CVT actually does, and to make the trained on the job person an assistant instead of calling them a tech. But, until we have people pulling for us or helping us, I think this is the reason that some want our title changed to Veterinary nurse. I hope this helped to shed some light on the subject.

I for one am not going back to work as a CVT. As much as I miss my patients, and especially the ones that were on chemo when I left, I want to stay home with my kids. I also am sick of the physical aspects of it. People don't think of that either. We work long shifts like you do, and NEVER get out on time! We don't always have a CVT coming in to take over, so most days I would get out 3-4 hours after I was supposed to if the Dr. scheduled herself 8 surgeries, and we had 2 HBC's come in, and a litter of Parvo pups! You get bit, scratched, and attacked, like I'm sure you do too! lol It's just too much, and with no support or manager type person in charge it's just too much!

My dream job would be to go back to school for nursing, and to be an OB nurse. I know it would be a lot of work and really tough, but I would love it! I didn't realize how much until I had my own kids. But, I know you are also always open! Weekends, holidays, whatever, so it wouldn't be right for me with kids. I being a new person would most likely get those bad shifts! lol I want to attend my kids things, so maybe when they are grown I will think about it! Would anyone hire me when my kids are grown and I'm just starting? Say around 45 years old or so?

Ok, like I said I hope this made sense, and I didn't ramble or have too many misspellings! lol I also wanted to say that I lurk at the Ob boards all the time, and I think you guys are great! I have great respect for all nurses, but that is where I lurk! lol

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I also forgot to add that there are only 4 things a CVT can't do!

1. Diagnose

2. Prognose

3. Prescribe drugs

4. Perform Surgery

I just wanted to add that for those that don't know what a CVT does.

SuzyK, I was just reading the old threads from November on this subject. I saw that at your vet, you don't deal with the vet techs. Some hospitals don't utilize their techs as well, or maybe your vet is one of those that has only trained on the job "techs", so they aren't allowed to do client education. I suggest you switch Veterinary hospitals maybe! Good luck with that.

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Specializes in LDRP; Education.
I think the term tech makes it seem like we are just techs! Even from the responses here, it seems people didn't realize that we have to graduate from an accredited program, and pass our state boards too. I don't know what techs in the human field do, but my guess is they don't have that much schooling or take boards?

Actually, surgical techs and Physical therapy techs/assistants DO attend schooling, some with Associate degree level, and also have their own certification. The term "nurse" does not imply how much school you attend or if you have to take an exam to be licensed with the state. Nurses here already have diverse amounts of schooling from 2 year to 4 year. A licensing exam simply means you are regulated by some accrediting body - that's all - it doesn't mean you are a nurse.

The term nurse is much more than how many years of school or that you start IVs, draw blood and do other psychomotor skills. Nurse is much, much, much MORE than that. I wish people could understand that.

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In the UK the term 'nurse' is protected by law and may only be used by qualified nurses who nurse people.

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Specializes in LTC/Peds/ICU/PACU/CDI.

they're :nurse: nurses too & they only have to go to school for a minimum of one year to 18 months. your last post mentions nursing school education ranging from 2-4 yrs...which is correct for rn education :wink2:.

here's my thoughts on vet tech/nurse

cheers!

moe

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JLSL95,

Thank you for presenting facts. I wondered where the idea came from and thought we might observe similarities in job description and curicculum.

It was a very interesting read.

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