The Dilemma: Nurse vs technician

Photo: Kate/Adobe Stock

Editor’s note: All names and businesses in this dilemma case are fictitious, but the scenario is based on real occurrences.

Hill Animal Hospital was a large, busy veterinary facility: 7 veterinarians, 19 veterinary technicians, 4 administrators, and a large reception staff. For 31 years, this facility had served the community’s pet owners. The technicians, as is the case in most facilities, were pivotal when it came to the efficient performance of the medical staff. During a recent monthly staff meeting, several of the technicians asked for a clarification from the hospital administrator. They mentioned that owners often referred to them as “techs,” “vet techs,” “nurse,” and “nurse practitioner.” Their name tags simply had their first names. They went on to say that how they were addressed did not affect their role at the clinic nor did it confuse the clientele. They simply wanted their title to be consistent.

During the meeting, some doctors and veterinary technicians felt their duties clearly were consistent with those of a nurse. The hospital administrator agreed that was true. The issue of addressing veterinary assistants or technicians as nurses had created a bit of an intraprofessional conflict in the past. The nursing profession was clearly of the opinion that the term nurse referred to a trained certified health care professional who cared for humans. The American Nurses Association feels strongly about this,¹ and the term nurse is legally protected in at least 35 states.²

The administrator agreed that veterinary technicians certainly could be addressed as “nurse,” but by law, the term is legally restricted to graduates of a human medical nursing program. To add some clarification to the issue, the administrator, going forward, said they would see that all technician name tags included a top line with the staff member’s first name and last initial and a second line with veterinary technician. Additionally, when a technician was asked how he or she should be addressed, they could respond by telling the client to use any title that makes them comfortable. It may simply be a first name, or a label such as technician or nurse preceding their first name. It would then be the pet owner’s choice. If the title nurse was used, it would be a client choice, not a mandate or suggestion by the staff member.

At this point, the hospital administrator took a moment to extol the attributes and value of the veterinary technician staff. The veterinarians are highly skilled and are the face of the practice, but the technicians are the lifeblood. Their skills are diverse and sophisticated. They are responsible for the veterinarians’ efficiency and production. They are certainly worthy of the title nurse but, with or without it, these professionals remain compassionate, skilled health care workers and invaluable assets to the pet care community. The administrator’s final words were hopeful. With the role that pets play in our country today, it won’t be long before all the health care disciplines will be glad to refer to the highly skilled animal caregivers as part of the veterinary nursing community.

Rosenberg’s response

In the 19th century, skilled animal caregivers were horse doctors. For a good part of the 20th century, veterinarians were surrounded by vet assistants. The 21st century has witnessed veterinary medical care reach unprecedented levels of scientific sophistication and compassion. Trained veterinary caregivers wear the title of nurse with pride even though, like Voldemort, the word cannot be spoken.

REFERENCES

1. Zimlich R. RNs fight veterinary technicians over the word ‘nurse.’ dvm360. September 11, 2018. Accessed October 9, 2024. https://www.dvm360. com/view/rns-fight-veterinary-technicians-over-word-nurse
2. Title “nurse” protection. American Nurses Association. July 2021. Accessed October 9, 2024. https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/ advocacy/state/title-nurse-protection/