Let's Hear It For The Nurse!

The September/October issue of Trends Magazine has an interesting article about veterinary as technicians (at our hospital we call them nurses) and how they are under-utilized. Overall, it seems that they are not doing many of the tasks that certified nurses are specifically trained to do. However, with the emergence of larger veterinary hospitals, things are changing. The nurses are no longer limited to just holding patients, drawing blood, and filling prescriptions. In fact, they are starting to take on similar roles much like nurses in human hospitals. This means that they can monitor a patient's condition, summarize intake findings, and carry out treatment protocols that the doctor prescribes.

When nurses take on more tasks and responsibilities, the hospital benefits by saving money (the nurses are doing tasks that are often done by higher-paid veterinarians and the doctors have more time to do things that only a doctor can do ( such as diagnosing a medical problem or performing surgery.) To quote certified nurse, Elise Atkinson at Alameda East Animal Hospital..."we want responsibility , and above all, we want doctors to have faith in us."

At our hospital, we try very hard to utilize our nurses effectively. We even have what we call "nurse-only appointments" (they involve things like vaccinations, wound checks, and removal of stitches). By utilizing our nurses more effectively, they also seems to have more job satisfaction because they are being challenged more. It's a win-win situation across the board.

As pet parents, what do you all think? How do you view the veterinary nurses who work with your veterinarian? What kind of experiences have you had and do you think they are under-utilized? All you nurses out there...please feel free to chime in! (photo from bigstockphoto.com)

--Dana

Comments

[jan]

The techs and nurses always have called in the veterinarians if there was something they were not sure of. I have always appreciated that they have extra time to spend with my pets.

[Laurel]

I have no problem interacting with the nurses as long as it's appropriate and they are professional (introducing themselves, telling me what they will be doing during the appointment, etc.) Unfortunately, in my experience, most of them don't do these things and I'm left wondering who they are and why they are asking me all these questions...I think nurses should have more responsibility and I think they should be trained, then, to behave more responsibly and professionally. After all, they are representing the practice.

Are nurse-only appointments less expensive? That would be another issue, I think, since clients are not getting the depth and breadth of knowledge and experience that they would get from a vet...

[Dana]

Hi Laurel, yes...our nurse only appointments are less expensive. It's funny that you mentioned how you would like nurses to be more friendly and open. This is precisely what we're working towards at our hospital!

[Fi from "Four Paws and Whiskers"]

I am a vet running a vet nurse training programme in New Zealand. In the last 10 years we have seen a lot of progress in this area - most clinics are now prepared to ensure they do hire a trained nurse rather than taking someone for purely in-house training, and some are allowing them to do more. The gradual trend is certainly heading towards training nurses who can not only help the vet, but do many of these more advanced duties you describe... the real problem is making sure the vets let them, and that the pay rate reflects their skills! It will happen - it will just take time. Like human nursing, the academic requirements are increasing - from certificate to diploma, and eventually perhaps more degrees, but the applicants have to be able to get an achievable qualification with lower exit certificates available so they can stop when they reach their academic limits... some are very practical, but struggle with writing essays and research projects, and yet these are needed at any higher level of education.
One thing we do notice - many people who want to be vet nurses (and vets) are often more interested in animals than people. As a training provider, legally we cannot select applicants purely on personality and people skills, and yet these things are very hard to teach...and for any vet clinic /hospital work, very important. I do think that a clinic should always make sure they select and ensure their nurses have good people skills if they are dealing with client consultations - because as training providers we are also on legal thin ice if we try to fail someone for lacking these skills! We do try to direct them into areas that do not require these skills as much...

[Laurel]

Thanks for letting us know about your program, Fi. It sounds like you are doing a great service for techs and the entire profession. I truly believe nurses are capable of so much more and that their rise in status will increase the status of vet. med. as a whole.

I'm sure you're aware of the communication training program at the Argus Institute at Colorado State University. They are proving that communication and client relations really can be taught when you are teaching them key strategies and skills. I do agree that the people who enter the vet med profession often neglect to realize that they will be "taking care of" people as much as pets. The profession is in desperate need of more "people" people, with more highly developed social skills. I think the days of clients being happy as long as the vet and nurses are good with their pet are over. Today's clients also demand attention and support for their own emotionals needs, questions and concerns, etc. and, if a vet professional can't deliver, they find another one who can.