Veterinary Technician vs Veterinary Nurse: A Pragmatic Approach to Creating a New Title

Rebecca Rose, CVT, president and founder of Catalyst Veterinary Practice Consultants, explains the pragmatic approach NAVTA is taking towards determining whether or not veterinary technicians will be called veterinary nurses.

Interview Transcript (slightly modified for readability):

“[One of] the other initiatives and the conversations we’ve been initiating with a number of stakeholders is that of a new title, as a veterinary nurse. So, that’s being hashed out as we speak through surveys, information that they’re gathering, talks with the American Veterinary Medical Association, [and] speaking directly with the [American] Association of Veterinary State Boards; so, we’re not taking this lightly. This whole year [we have] been gathering information so that in the near future we can say that the veterinary technicians and technologists have said that, ‘Yes, that’s a great title and we’re ready to back that,’ or they say that, ‘Nay, no; this is not what we want to do.' I think we’re going about it pragmatically. I think we’re being very conscientious in our approaches to it, and we really are considering stakeholders within our profession and outside of the profession, and asking clients and the public what they think as well.

It’s been daunting, but I really do feel that we’ve covered a lot of bases. I think when we come up with our approach to it, which is still going to take a number of years—this is not something that we just wave our magic wand and boom, it’s done—it’s probably something that’s going to take 5 to 10 years, but I think when we begin to roll it out we’ll have done it and approached it very pragmatically.”