So when do you become a vet?

Re: So when do you become a vet?

Mac Feather — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 10:37:20 GMT

[quote user="Frith"]

I don't know about that, in my experience they don't ask guys when they will become vets, they asume they are vets. And I worked with one guy who didn't do much to correct them.

[/quote] I agree, clients see a male member of staff they either think he is a vet or a manager.

Re: So when do you become a vet?

Frith — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:34:58 GMT

[quote user="S-J"]

is there something we need to be doing different or is it just our culture, i think the lads prob get it worse than us.

[/quote]

I don't know about that, in my experience they don't ask guys when they will become vets, they asume they are vets. And I worked with one guy who didn't do much to correct them.

Re: So when do you become a vet?

S-J — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:38:22 GMT

why are we seen as second best? not being sarcastic just an honest comment.

what is it about the nursing profession that prevents it getting respected, you dont ask a builder why he isnt an architect or a painter an artist. despite even friends and family knowing that it is a career in its own right, one that has been chosen specifically by u, they still ask why not a vet.

is there something we need to be doing different or is it just our culture, i think the lads prob get it worse than us.

Re: So when do you become a vet?

Kiahanna — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:29:35 GMT

I actually had an interview for a SVN position awhile ago and was asked by the interviewer why I didnt just want to be a vet......

Re: So when do you become a vet?

Kerry Spain — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 10:43:39 GMT

GAH!!! don't even get me started on this topic!

This has been a bone of contention for many years with me, I've had all the patronising comments under the sun and get really sick of it. I've had full blown arguments with people over this job and the money in which it pays.

Re: So when do you become a vet?

Emma Purnell — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 09:48:08 GMT

[quote user="Jenny T"]

I've managed to get around this issue by having all my post nominals on my name badge. With my degree and behaviour stuff etc I have more letters than the vets! The clients do notice.

I was thinking about doing a PhD just so I could put Dr before my name, that would really ruffle some feathers. He he.

[/quote]

Haha! I did a degree and masters before starting, so if I did that I would be a BSc MSc RVN MBVNA!!! Bit much!

Re: So when do you become a vet?

Frith — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 09:33:27 GMT

[quote user="Rainbow"]

I get this all the time too. My little sister has just graduated as a "human" nurse and I keep getting asked two different questions by family members and friends:

"When will you be a vet?" or "Aww, not got what you need to get in to proper nursing school?"

-_- so not amused.

[/quote]

Was doing my VN training at the same time as my husbands brother, and then girlfriend were doing there human nurse training. I remeber being round there one weekend while they were revising haematology and was interested in what they were doing.

My boyfriend (now husband) had to drag me away after being told by them you wouldn't need to know this. Actually yes I do!!!! In more than one species!!!!!!!

Many conversations since about what we do, have proved that they do what they do with little thought about why. I haven't had an antibiotic resistant infection during my time as a veterinary nurse, and we have a much better sense of humour.

Maybe we should start another thread, Human nurse V's Veterinary nurse.

I'll start.

Human nurses rely on someone to tell them they are in pain. Veterinary nurses can recognise pain in a variety of species, without the need for verbal communication.

Re: So when do you become a vet?

Charlotte says smile — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 23:48:56 GMT

[quote user="Jenny T"]

I was thinking about doing a PhD just so I could put Dr before my name, that would really ruffle some feathers. He he.

[/quote]

I def think you should do that jenny T! bet lots of vets wouldnt like that aswell!

Re: So when do you become a vet?

Jenny T — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 23:47:27 GMT

I've managed to get around this issue by having all my post nominals on my name badge. With my degree and behaviour stuff etc I have more letters than the vets! The clients do notice.

I was thinking about doing a PhD just so I could put Dr before my name, that would really ruffle some feathers. He he.

Re: So when do you become a vet?

Sarah Nicholas — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:36:50 GMT

I get this all the time too. My little sister has just graduated as a "human" nurse and I keep getting asked two different questions by family members and friends:

"When will you be a vet?" or "Aww, not got what you need to get in to proper nursing school?"

-_- so not amused.

Re: So when do you become a vet?

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:26:20 GMT

why not use VN Week to educate people/your clients about what you do ? you could use it as a great op to really show people how hard you train and work with a presentation board in the reception for example. Just an idea

Re: So when do you become a vet?

Fiona Leathers — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 09:53:13 GMT

TV would be good........until its edited out to show that vets still employ unqualified nurses (pictures of congress when we're all pissed as newts - would you trust your pet with these nurses??) & the problems within the nursing practice (bitchiness, back stabbing, depression, suicide rate) & then they'll find a rogue nurse to show us all in a bad light......does no one remember the tonight programme??? TV doesn't do programmes to show people in a good light, the public aren't interested in nice people they only want to see the bad ones!!

Re: So when do you become a vet?

Charlotte says smile — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 21:49:09 GMT

[quote user="johannapage"]

ill get on the fone to bbc now!

its about time really!

[/quote]

im all for that! a bit of career education for the UK would be great!

Re: So when do you become a vet?

johannapage — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 21:11:08 GMT

ill get on the fone to bbc now!

its about time really!

Re: So when do you become a vet?

Mac Feather — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 21:08:29 GMT

[quote user="STRVN"]

Lets contact ch4 and get them to do a documentary on us

[/quote]

Think some t.v bods should do a V.N based documentary instead of the usual vets in practice malarkey.

Re: So when do you become a vet?

Charlotte says smile — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:49:57 GMT

[quote user="little demona"]

I went to have my hair cut today and guess what....

she: what do you do?
me: I'm a veterinary nurse
she: oh how nice! and when will you become a vet?
me: (a bit short) I won't! Being a nurse is a profession on it's own!
she: oh really?! I didn't know that! you learn something new every day!

at least another member of the public who does know now

[/quote]

I actually had exactly the same conversation today with my hairdresser! how odd! but yes very frustrating again. I did use the line would you ask a human nurse when they were going to be a doctor and she replied yeah but human nurses train hard to get there! I bit my tongue from saying anything ruder and told her how hard I worked to become a VN.... and no shedidnt get a tip!

Re: So when do you become a vet?

Saskia Quinn — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:32:31 GMT

[quote user="STRVN"]

Lets contact ch4 and get them to do a documentary on us

[/quote]

thats a fab idea

I think most of the veterinary profession have fallen out with ITV because of the tonight programme! Thhis would be our chance to put it right hehe!!

Re: So when do you become a vet?

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:26:11 GMT

Lets contact ch4 and get them to do a documentary on us

Re: So when do you become a vet?

Anneke Kuipers — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:30:37 GMT

I went to have my hair cut today and guess what....

at least another member of the public who does know now

Re: So when do you become a vet?

Frith — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:03:52 GMT

I think that on the whole the public are not aware of what veterinary nurses are, what we do, and what we have to do in order to become nurses.

BVNA VN day is a good way to promot ourselves, but I think it is still not that well used by practices. Maybe it would be better to use the next VN day to get more national recognition in the press? I know the BVNA work hard to promote VN day, but could we do more?

Re: So when do you become a vet?

tw1 — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:00:09 GMT

[quote user="STRVN"]

[quote user="heather mac"]

[quote user="STRVN"]

I have to say I have never ever been asked this

[/quote]

Thats coz naebudy messes wi u Sandra! lol!

[/quote]

lol

[/quote]

tee hee

Re: So when do you become a vet?

Kathryn Welsh — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:15:19 GMT

Used to work with a vet that didn't see the point in the VN degree and made her feelings very vocal to me - needless to say i'm no longer at that practice. Where i work now some clients would rather see the nurse than the vet, lol!!!!

Re: So when do you become a vet?

Charlotte says smile — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 22:25:39 GMT

[quote user="lesley punton"]

yeah still get asked this! and the other day one of the other nurses got told from a client that she 'almost looked like a REAL nurse'! she very politely explained that she is qualified and this is our uniform to show this (green tunic fob watch and badge!), I may not have been so polite - what an insult

[/quote]

WOW I think I may have been rather ruder too!

Re: So when do you become a vet?

Doolally — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 21:19:38 GMT

The receptionist at our practice asked me if I did the degree why didn't I want to be a vet??

Re: So when do you become a vet?

les punton — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 21:05:11 GMT