The debate about the veterinary nurse initiative continues. Rachael Zimlich explains some of the objections from the human nurse perspective.
We are not suggesting any pet owner will confuse a staff member in a veterinary clinic or hospital as a human healthcare practitioner. The issue at hand is the title ‘nurse’ and the connotations and respect that come with that title.”
Source: DVM 360, September 11, 2018. Link.
The bigger obstacles in our profession include standardized educational requirements, title protection, state reciprocity and enforcement of these measures to protect the future of profession,” Liz Hughston, MEd, RVT, CVT, VTS, says.
“The bigger obstacles in our profession include standardized educational requirements, title protection, state reciprocity and enforcement of these measures to protect the future of profession.”
Also see: The latest on the Veterinary Nurse Initiative, DVM 360, September 22, 2018. Link.
The success of the Veterinary Nurse Initiative depends on whether a group with nothing to do with the veterinary profession gets to say no,” said Mark Cushing, JD, an attorney with the Animal Policy Group who’s been hired by NAVTA to lead the initiative’s lobbying efforts. “Yet nine different healthcare professions use the word ‘doctor.’ Do we really believe that ‘nurse’ is that different or special?”
The term “veterinary nurse” should, unlike “veterinary technician,” be restricted to those who have undergone formal training and obtained a degree in the field. That would protect the professionalism and respect the word “nurse” conveys. Anyone who doesn’t have the degree and license would still be called a technician or assistant.