The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) recently announced they have initiated the process of having a nationally standardized title of Registered Veterinary Nurse. However, the title change met opposition from medical nurses in Pennsylvania. Therefore, NAVTA initiated a study of medical nurse perceptions of veterinary technicians.
Our team found the study perceptions and takeaways to be worth consideration. We also believe that human nurses are not alone in their relative ignorance of what it takes to be a certified veterinary technician.
Source: NAVTA Journal, April/May 2016.
The study found that the majority of nurses do not oppose a Registered Veterinary Nurse title; however, there were significant gaps in knowledge of veterinary technician education and job duties.
The researcher also recommended that the veterinary technician profession raise awareness in the general public of the differences between veterinary professionals, such as veterinary assistants and veterinary technicians, and what is required for veterinary technicians to become credentialed. Additionally, awareness needs to be raised within the veterinary technician profession as well.
INSIGHTS: National Vet Tech Week is October 16-22, 2016. Hospital owners, representatives, social media managers – let’s get behind these critical professionals in our practices. Call the local paper or TV station and tell them what a good job your techs do for readers’ and viewers’ animals. Load up your website, newsletters, blogs and other communications tools with stories about techs.. Representatives – have some marketing funds available? Consider getting a photographer and doing a photo shoot of the vet technicians who work at your accounts and share with them and their bosses.