November 5, 2018
College of Veterinary Medicine recognizes 27 staff with title of veterinary nurse
In response to a request made in June 2018, the College of Veterinary Medicine and Human Capital Services at Kansas State University have approved a formal job title change from veterinary technician to veterinary nurse effective throughout the college as of Oct. 21.
In 2016, the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America, or NAVTA, focused their efforts on researching and pursuing legislation in all 50 states to seek unification under the title of registered veterinary nurse. Veterinary nurses aim to have greater public awareness and increased job mobility by ultimately creating national credentialing standards and to increase the intrinsic value of veterinary medicine.
As a group, the veterinary nurses at K-State initiated the internal change in title to remain current with evolving national trends and to support the NAVTA Veterinary Nurse Initiative Coalition.
"We endeavor to be at the forefront of veterinary medicine in Kansas, to educate the students we support in the most effective ways to utilize their healthcare team and to enable greater public understanding of our role in veterinary medicine," said Katie Huyer, ophthalmology veterinary nurse at the university. "When I received word that our administration was sending our request to HCS, it was a great feeling. I know Drs. Tom Schwartz and Shirley Arck played a key role in this exciting change."
At this time, the newly titled veterinary nurses at the Veterinary Health Center at Kansas State University will continue to be recognized administratively by the state of Kansas as Registered Veterinary Technician due to the current licensing nomenclature.