Archived Articles - 2002

Recruitment of Private Sector Veterinary Personnel for the National Animal Health Emergency Response Corps.

How NAVTA Has Touched My Life...

Veterinary Technician vs Veterinary Nurse Terminology

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO FOLLOW
In light of the current state of affairs affecting the United States, bio-terrorism is a real threat, not only to human life but to the livestock industry. In that vain, NAVTA has been contacted by the USDA/APHIS to be of assistance in creating a database of veterinary technicians which may be called upon in times of a national emergency.

Currently, there has been an outbreak in Virginia in the poultry industry and teams have been deployed. This is unlikely a terrorist threat, but the need is still there.

I am listing the following advertisement recently forwarded to us by APHIS. Please give careful consideration to this "call of duty" as veterinary technicians. It is a step forward for our profession to be recognized for our important contributions we make to the team. To our State Representatives, please place this in your newsletter and web sites as appropriate.

Recruitment of Private Sector Veterinary Personnel for the National Animal Health Emergency Response Corps.
If and when a foreign animal disease outbreak occurs in the United States, the USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will activate its Emergency Eradication Organization to deal with the outbreak. APHIS employees from around the country will be deployed to ensure disease prevention, control and eradication actions are being taken. When a large outbreak occurs the agency will look to many sources to obtain the services of temporary personnel to help meet the staffing needs of such an emergency.

APHIS, with the cooperation and assistance of the AVMA, is working to establish a roster of private and state Animal Health Technicians and veterinarians that can be activated quickly and brought on the personnel roles of the federal government. These veterinary personnel will supplement the Agency's existing employees for periods of up to 30 to 60 days, depending on the circumstances. They may also be deployed to help contain diseases in other countries, such as the United Kingdom. These temporary employees will serve as Animal Health Technicians and Veterinary Medical Officers during the emergency situation. The current salary rate for AHTs is GS-7 step 1 (salary rate approximately $13.50, overtime rate $20.24) New positions are being developed to include GS-3 and GS-5 ratings. All travel and per diem are provided by APHIS. The type of work done at emergency sites may include examining herds for clinical signs of disease, vaccinating, conducting postmortem examinations, collecting specimens, collecting epidemiological information, authorizing diseased animals, supervising disposal of animal carcasses, and inspecting livestock markets, trucks, vehicles, etc.

If you are interested in being considered for this type of work during an emergency outbreak, please call your state's APHIS Area Office for forms: OF 612 and OF 306, or download these forms from www.opm.gov click on 'FORMS' from the menu on the right, then click on 'OPTIONAL FORMS' and select the two forms mentioned above. The completed forms and other pertinent information should be faxed or mailed to:
USDA, APHIS, Minneapolis Business Site
Attn: Scott McNamar
100 N 6th St. - Ste. 510
Minneapolis, MN 55403
FAX: (612) 370-3001

If you have any questions or would like additional information about this endeavor, contact Gordon Cleveland (301-734-8091) at APHIS Veterinary Services Emergency Programs or e-mail inquiries to:
EmergencyVMO@aphis.usda.gov
The USDA is an equal opportunity employer.

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NAVTA has touched my life by ...
We asked long time members of NAVTA why they belong and to answer the question, "What do you get out of being a NAVTA member?" Here are some of their responses.

NAVTA literally opened the "World of Veterinary Technology" to me. There is no other organization that can offer the opportunities in Veterinary Technology that NAVTA affords. Meeting, net-working, and interacting with Technicians from all over the U.S., North America and the world. If you use it, NAVTA is the best resource we have. I am proud to be a member since the student chapter at St. Petersburg Vet Tech Program.
Barbara Pinker, CVT from PA

NAVTA has taught me how be a good leader and follower. I think that is the definition of TEAM - Together Everyone Accomplishes More! Without the leadership of NAVTA the profession of Veterinary Technology would still be looked upon as a bunch of high school girls "wanting to work/play with animals." Thanks NAVTA!
Teresa Sonsthagen, BS, LVT from ND

I have been a NAVTA member for the past five years. I found that keeping up with veterinary technician news nationally through the NAVTA newsletter was very beneficial and enlightening. I was elected to
represent the Oklahoma Veterinary Technician Association as their NAVTA State Representative. This provided me with even more opportunity to gauge what was happening nationally especially with regard to political issues that veterinary technicians face on a State level. NAVTA provides me an opportunity to see the bigger picture. The NAVTA leadership workshops are just one of the progressive networking opportunities available to State associations. NAVTA membership gives me the representation and recognition veterinary technicians need with other national associations important to veterinary medicine like the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Veterinary State Boards, and many others. NAVTA membership gives me an opportunity to be involved in the advancement of my
profession.
Dana Call, CVT from OK

NAVTA has touched my life by..... establishing a professional community for all veterinary technicians. Thus enabling me to realize that I am part of a large family of technicians, even when I have worked as the sole technician in private practice. NAVTA has helped me acquire and maintain my own personal professionalism, and has set high goals that never allow me to become stagnant.
Terry L. Tinker, RVT from WA

I have been actively involved with NAVTA since 1998 when I learned from my friend Maria about becoming a state representative. It wasn't until the state rep meeting in Kansas did I realize how special and important I was to be able to be state rep and represent NAVTA. This is were my passion, enthusiasm, and love for everything I was doing came into play. NAVTA has gave me a drive to improve myself. I think this is from seeing how important it is to enjoy and love what you do. NAVTA has made me feel important. I think being human makes me want to be needed and wanted. Everything NAVTA has done and all there goals are for me. And not just for me, but for others just like me. NAVTA speaks for me, they go and try to change things so that one day when I do speak all ears are listening. Without NAVTA and my peers who care and want to improve things I would not be were I am at in my life. My personal saying to people when I explain NAVTA is that so many people in our career get burned out. Burn out rate is around 5 years. I feel that most of the burn out comes from lack of respect and challenge. everyone wants to feel important and need a good challenge. Through NAVTA we are now supplied with these challenges and respect. I have heard and read that as a technician we should get paid more. This comes with respect. We must prove to the public, veterinarians and our peers what it is all about being a veterinary technician. This is my goal in life. To always learn, always love what I do and always share my love with others in hopes that they will be able to enjoy life and there careers like me and the other members of NAVTA. I do see that it is a overall feeling of NAVTA
members. I could write a book on all the little things NAVTA has done for me. I will always promote NAVTA. I love being a veterinary technician and caring for animals. I take pride in my care of my patient and in everything I do. I not only represent myself but also my career and my life. I will also be a veterinary technician!!!! nothing less !!!
Heather Darbo, LVT from NY & IL

NAVTA has touched my life in so many ways it's hard to pinpoint just one wonderful thing. NAVTA provides a national voice for my career and it's cause. NAVTA continues to provide a voice of knowledge and an example of how we can best work together to better the profession with the AVMA and the veterinary technicians and veterinarians around the world. NAVTA is always there to answer my questions or send me in the right direction in regards to anything veterinary technician oriented. NAVTA has provided utilizations surveys, veterinary technician education information, career development information and much more to help me disseminate the information to anyone interested. I refer people to www.NAVTA.net almost daily. NAVTA continues to serve the cause of educating the public about who we are and what we do and why it's so important for us to be recognized, appreciated, and utilized. I look to NAVTA as the ultimate voice on the state of the veterinary technician. NAVTA is me and I am NAVTA and I am a better person because NAVTA is.
Nanette Walker Smith, RVT, CVT, BS, AS, AS from FL

"NAVTA provides me unwavering individual support as a veterinary technician. NAVTA also supports veterinary technicians as a professional group by providing a unified voice and direction." "NAVTA, the veterinary technicians best advocate." "NAVTA supports veterinary technicians like the skilled professionals they are."
Julie Urban, RVT from WA

Being a great resource of information and contacts as I begin my new position as Editor-in-Chief of "Veterinary Technician" Magazine.
Aggie Kiefer, LVT

Memberships can be sent in at any time, however a membership year ends on December 31st. If you need to renew your membership or sign up for the first time click here to download it as a PDF version.

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Using "Veterinary Nurse" instead of Veterinary Technician?
Recently there has been a number of letters written to the editor about using the terminology Veterinary Nurse instead of the Veterinary Technician. A number of states have tried to change their title to veterinary nurse and have found strong opposition to this by the American Nurses Association (ANA). Various rumors of copyrighted title or protected term have circulated through various publications. But to our knowledge no one had written to the ANA for information. In order to get a concrete answer from the ANA, Patrick Navarre, BS, RVT, NAVTA's Executive Director wrote to them and asked for clarification on use of the term nurse. The following is a synopsis of their response.

Dear Mr. Navarre:
I thank you for this opportunity to address your concern over the use of the term "nurse" in relation to veterinary technicians.
While I understand and appreciate your desire to use the term "nurse" as an alternative to technician, we ask that you consider the following concerns. The term "nurse" has been historically used to address care and the tending to of human illnesses and ailments. Its common usage does not incorporate pet or animal care. Second, it is used separately or as part of a term which makes reference to a licensed profession related to the care of human illness and ailments; and any other use of the term may be confusing to the public. Moreover, a number of states have provisions in law which prohibit the use of the term nurse except as a reference to an existing licensed professional. For example, California law strictly prohibits using the term "doctor's nurse" or the abbreviation R.D.N. or any other title or insignia indicating that a person is duly licensed as a registered nurse, when such person is not licensed. See 32 Op. Cal. Atty. Gen. 156. Other states have prohibitions against using the term "nurse," "registered nurse," or "nurse practitioner" or any derivation of a title used as a licensed title. In other states where this type of protection does not exist, state attorneys general or aggrieved persons have challenged the use of the "nurse" under the state consumer protection or consumer fraud acts.

I am sure that many in our membership would be complimented by your desire to use the term "nurse" to define your role. However, the association believes that this use would mislead the public and would provide additional basis for devaluing our role as professionals who provide patient care and who have an independent scope of practice. We believe distinctions should be made between those who provide care for human beings and other forms of life. It is our hope that your organization would review the distinctions and would be mindful of the public need for clarity in terminology. We are aware of some states statutes which, in our view, inappropriately have incorporated the term "nurse" in the veterinary statutes and we are making determinations how best to proceed to eliminate this misuse.

Again, thank you for writing and I trust I have provided you with a clear response.
Sincerely,
Winifred Y. Carson
Practice Counsel
ANA
600 Maryland Ave., SW
Suite 100 West
Washington, DC 20024-2571
202-651-7000
www.nursingworld.org

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