Vet Receptionists

[EmiLeigh]

Our vet receptionist stuffed up our puppies vaccination certificates THREE times!!

First they put the wrong name on it - gave my partner MY surname (not that I am complaining, I would love for him to take my surname ). AND the wrong date (stating the pups didn't need their second vaccinations for another year! Glad I picked that one up. So we asked them to change it.

Then it had the wrong breed on it (thought the first one had the correct breed) and then they were trying to tell us that they couldn't change it to that breed coz the computer wouldn't let them - even though it let them last time??

and finally we realised they had put the wrong date on it AGAIN.

Not a huge mistake, but still...how do you stuff it up so many times? It really isn't rocket science

[stormie]

The Vet Nurses at my Vets are great. However, I dont expect them to give me advice on treatment or anything else and the term 'nurse' is possibly not accurate. They are not trained in much more than reception and kennel duties. If I have an issue with my dogs, I phone and ask to speak to my Vet unless it is a simple question about opening hours or whatever.

A Vet Nurse should never give medical advice unless they are qualified to do so. Some clinics train their nurses in this regard, and some nurses in some practices are very highly qualified, but many are really only trained for reception and simple procedures.

I don't have my qualification but have way more knowledge about medical problems than our other nurse who has her qualification. I regularly have clients asking me if I'm a vet because of the information I am able to give them. But I shouldn't do this because I don't have a piece of paper???

eta: I did get part way through my qualification but stopped because it just seemed pointless at the time. We were learning how to mop a floor, for goodness sake.

I have done training days with Anaesthetists in Advanced Anaesthesia, gone to many Specialist Seminars on all sorts of topics, studied Vet Text books (simply because I'm a nerd) and spend countless hours learning from my boss. But again, none of this is recongnised as a qualification...

I consider myself competent in all aspects of nursing. I take bloods on my own, put IV's in on my own, do all our anaesthetics, wound treatments etc. I have a sound understanding of what I'm doing because I've learnt it.

So yes I consider myself a nurse regardless of the fact I don't have a Certificate on the wall.

Edited January 6, 2011 by stormie

[Bjelkier]

We use two vets and both have amazing nurses.

They know us and our dogs by name, they have always been very helpfull and nice to the dogs, fitted us in whenever we needed them too.

Recently over the New Year period Mistral got sick, our closest vet was shut but the other was just about closing, they stayed open and waited for us to come in. The nurses all gave Misty his New Year cuddles and lots of treats.

My dogs love going to the vet

[Little Gifts]

I used to use Anvet for my animals other than my dogs and they have been great and I have changed back recently to ANVET due to there new better equipt practise and mainly as I have utmost faith in a particular senior vet nusre there, she is the best!. But I did have a not so great experience a few weeks back. I raced in with an emergency, my newfy had bloat, no one on the desk, no bell etc so I knocked on the door of a consult room and a vet opened the door (clipping nails of swf). I explained that it was an emergency and the dog was bloating, they said they would be with me shortly....... 30 mins later a nurse spoke to me in the waiting room checked his gums (white) and asked why I thought it was bloat, mmm it was soooo obvious, off she went and another 15 mins later the vet called us in. To end a sad situation my boy was PTS.. after needless time and suffering, maybe the outcome could have been different. I did not get any alone time with him either, vet sat there with the needle at ready and said "tell me when"!!!!!

I am very upset by this but I will say this is a one off as I have had many good experiences at Anvet and will give them another chance but will discuss the situation when I am in next and am not overly emotional.

RIP Floyd

Ashka I am so sorry for your loss. An awful experience for you and Floyd.

The senior nurse/manager from Beenleigh VH went to another surgery in town so I wonder if it is the one you liked from Anvet - her name is Rebecca and she calls a lot of people darl. Explains things very well, manages very well under crisis, very, very skilled. I was sad when she left BVH.

[OSoSwift]

studied Vet Text books (simply because I'm a nerd) and spend countless hours learning from my boss

Me too Stormy.

Have been out of it a while now so not up to date but still have a bit tucked away in the brain cells. I loved reading about it because I could and I found it very interesting.

That is why one vet nurse severly dislikes me as she was registered and on a couple of occassions I quietly said to a vet do you think it may be something like this - which they did not mind at all and encouraged. It just so happened that I was on the ball on more than one occassion and she hated me for that because who did I think I was. She didn't read vet stuff because she wasn't one so I shouldn't read it either, I enjoyed it and have quite a retentive memory

Once was a case of CL in a Border Collie - which none of them had seen and I had been reading about a few days prior- once was tetanus which the vet had already thought it was and asked me what I thought as I had seen a couple of dogs with it before, and once was marijuna poisoning (which once again the vet had already thought it was) as I had seen it many times before as well.

I never did my certificate in nursing like Stormy I had done some but decided it really wasn't worth it at the time. I was very capable of answering many of the queries that came through and resent the implication that receptionists are only trained in answering the phone and not much else. The receptionist before me would get the vet to talk to people about Advocate, so yes they are out there, but many of us nurses/receptionists (and now retired!) are /were very good at our jobs.

Edited January 6, 2011 by OSoSwift

[Malamum]

I've never had an issue with any of the receptionists at the surgery we visit, but I don't have unrealistic expectations either.

I have never once called and just asked to speak to the vet. I always explain who I am and what I want. Sometimes the person who answers the phone can help me, other times they put me on hold while they find out the answer and then come back to relay the message, sometimes it involves leaving a message for the vet to call me back and sometimes the vet is available to speak to me there and then.

Vets do not have a desk job where they sit around waiting for and taking calls all day. I would be seriously pissed off if I was in the middle of a consult and the vet kept taking calls during it. A serious emergency is a different story but it's up to the receptionist to determine the nature of the emergency not just take everyone’s word for it.

For a vet to be available to come to the phone immediately, every time someone called then I would hazard a guess that they did not have a very successful practice.

There are good and bad in every profession and there are always good and bad customers too.

[twodoggies2001]

I started this thread and am truly amazed at its development. I know that all vet receptionists/nurses certainly cannot be lumped into the same basket and of course, there are some wonderful ones as there are there are some rotten ones. I just happened to get the latter on that occasion. My gripe was that she WOULDN'T go speak to the vet and just told me to come in to the surgery late afternoon. This was morning when I called. I just couldn't get past her, even though she was told my boy couldn't urinate. The vet was not engaged in surgery or consultation at the time. She told me herself when I just bowled up . I would hate to think what would have happened with my boy had I not done so. Sure, I could have found another vet but I have gone to this one for many many years.

As I mentioned before, I have the vet's mobile and home 'phone number and I must add that I have not abused that trust and called her, but it is very reassuring to me that I have the option and ability to do so if the need arises. If when I call the surgery and the problem can be solved without bothering the vet then that's OK by me too but if it's a serious problem then don't fob me off.

[~Anne~]

The Vet Nurses at my Vets are great. However, I dont expect them to give me advice on treatment or anything else and the term 'nurse' is possibly not accurate. They are not trained in much more than reception and kennel duties. If I have an issue with my dogs, I phone and ask to speak to my Vet unless it is a simple question about opening hours or whatever.

A Vet Nurse should never give medical advice unless they are qualified to do so. Some clinics train their nurses in this regard, and some nurses in some practices are very highly qualified, but many are really only trained for reception and simple procedures.

I don't have my qualification but have way more knowledge about medical problems than our other nurse who has her qualification. I regularly have clients asking me if I'm a vet because of the information I am able to give them. But I shouldn't do this because I don't have a piece of paper???

eta: I did get part way through my qualification but stopped because it just seemed pointless at the time. We were learning how to mop a floor, for goodness sake.

I have done training days with Anaesthetists in Advanced Anaesthesia, gone to many Specialist Seminars on all sorts of topics, studied Vet Text books (simply because I'm a nerd) and spend countless hours learning from my boss. But again, none of this is recongnised as a qualification...

I consider myself competent in all aspects of nursing. I take bloods on my own, put IV's in on my own, do all our anaesthetics, wound treatments etc. I have a sound understanding of what I'm doing because I've learnt it.

So yes I consider myself a nurse regardless of the fact I don't have a Certificate on the wall.

Tell me you're not serious with your rebutal?

I consider myself very knowledgable too, and I was also once a a Vet Nurse and I too have worked in various areas including radiology, dentistry and pathology. I have even speyed a bitch. However, I would be VERY remiss to think I am an expert and free to give medical advice in that capacity. Quite simply - I am not qualified. I may be qualified to give simple advice over the phone, and as I clearly stated in my post, there are many nurses who ARE highly qualified. Many ARE not though Stormie, and that includes the Nurses at the Clinic I frequent. They are NOT nurses, they are recptionists and kennel hands and I would not seek advice from them at all.

I like my clinic's nurses, they are capable and efficient, but I would never expect and nor do I ask for advice from them unless I was seeking advice about something they were qualified to advise on.

I do the same with the receptionist at my own Dr's clinic funnily enough. I would never expect them to provide me with advice in areas they were not qualified to give advice. The standards I expect for me is what I also expect for my dogs. :D

[~Anne~]

The Vet Nurses at my Vets are great. However, I dont expect them to give me advice on treatment or anything else and the term 'nurse' is possibly not accurate. They are not trained in much more than reception and kennel duties. If I have an issue with my dogs, I phone and ask to speak to my Vet unless it is a simple question about opening hours or whatever.

A Vet Nurse should never give medical advice unless they are qualified to do so. Some clinics train their nurses in this regard, and some nurses in some practices are very highly qualified, but many are really only trained for reception and simple procedures.

In Aus there is a Cert IV in Veterinary Nursing and a Diploma in Veterinary Nursing so yes, if they are qualified they ARE Nurses and they CAN absolutely provide medical information to their skill level.

Maybe the nurses are only receptionists at your clinic but that is not the norm.

Please don't denigrate our profession further than it already is. MANY nurses are qualified in medical and surgical and MANY get paid less than a Safeway checkout operator!!!

Denigrate? I think you might be a little sensitive. I don't believe that the Vet Recptionist and Nursing industry is thought of in a bad light at all.

Stop taking comments about the Veterinary profession personally and please stop focussing on single aspects of my comments. I am not talking about you. I also clearly stated that there are highly qualified nurses. I will stand by my comment that many are not however.

As a former Vet Nurse, and a 'frequent flyer' customer, I feel qualified to comment on what I see and express my views and opinions. I am sorry that you think this is against you personally or if you do not agree, but please do not even try to suggest that I am maligning the industry.

[stormie]

The Vet Nurses at my Vets are great. However, I dont expect them to give me advice on treatment or anything else and the term 'nurse' is possibly not accurate. They are not trained in much more than reception and kennel duties. If I have an issue with my dogs, I phone and ask to speak to my Vet unless it is a simple question about opening hours or whatever.

A Vet Nurse should never give medical advice unless they are qualified to do so. Some clinics train their nurses in this regard, and some nurses in some practices are very highly qualified, but many are really only trained for reception and simple procedures.

I don't have my qualification but have way more knowledge about medical problems than our other nurse who has her qualification. I regularly have clients asking me if I'm a vet because of the information I am able to give them. But I shouldn't do this because I don't have a piece of paper???

eta: I did get part way through my qualification but stopped because it just seemed pointless at the time. We were learning how to mop a floor, for goodness sake.

I have done training days with Anaesthetists in Advanced Anaesthesia, gone to many Specialist Seminars on all sorts of topics, studied Vet Text books (simply because I'm a nerd) and spend countless hours learning from my boss. But again, none of this is recongnised as a qualification...

I consider myself competent in all aspects of nursing. I take bloods on my own, put IV's in on my own, do all our anaesthetics, wound treatments etc. I have a sound understanding of what I'm doing because I've learnt it.

So yes I consider myself a nurse regardless of the fact I don't have a Certificate on the wall.

Tell me you're not serious with your rebutal?

I don't understand this question? Which part would I be not serious about?

[Danois]

I like my clinic's nurses, they are capable and efficient, but I would never expect and nor do I ask for advice from them unless I was seeking advice about something they were qualified to advise on.

I do the same with the receptionist at my own Dr's clinic funnily enough. I would never expect them to provide me with advice in areas they were not qualified to give advice. The standards I expect for me is what I also expect for my dogs

It's actually a shame more vet nurses are not like stormie and seek out knowledge and educate themselves beyond the basics. Its through her interests and own education that she been able to get her clinic to make changes - around vaccination protocols, about diet and about allergies. I suspect the vet there now knows more about allergies and how effective different treatment options are simply because of stormie.

As a patient of theirs, I have absolute confidence in the advice that she provides and of course she's not stupid enough to give advice outside of her knowledge which you seem to suggest she does. I've even known her to be right and the vet to be wrong and I've certainly known her to have more of an idea than young vets.

If my vet did not have confidence in his nurse's knowledge then I'm sure he would not let her talk to patients.

I'd never expect advice from my doctor's receptionist but I would expect it from her nurse :D

[PAX]

I don't understand it either. Anne used to work in a Vet clinic, but it was a clinic and not a hospital.

I dropped out of the vet nursing course as well, I felt I learnt more doing my job than what i was learning at the course..............25 years later I feel I can provide sound phone advise. I know when to ask the vet for help on the phone and when to tell the client to come in.

[Staff'n'Toller]

Denigrate? I think you might be a little sensitive. I don't believe that the Vet Recptionist and Nursing industry is thought of in a bad light at all.

Stop taking comments about the Veterinary profession personally and please stop focussing on single aspects of my comments. I am not talking about you. I also clearly stated that there are highly qualified nurses. I will stand by my comment that many are not however.

As a former Vet Nurse, and a 'frequent flyer' customer, I feel qualified to comment on what I see and express my views and opinions. I am sorry that you think this is against you personally or if you do not agree, but please do not even try to suggest that I am maligning the industry.

I haven't take it personally. You are wrong about 'most' nurses being kennel attendants. If that's the case at your clinic, I'd be worried about untrained kennel attendants monitoring my pets anaesthesia, because that's what they do, everyday. Well you'd know that since you were a Vet Nurse.

You put comments up here and I have every right, just as anyone else, to reply. I did and I will continue to - where statements about the profession in which I work are inaccurate, and posted in the General forum that members and particularly non-members can see.

Edited January 6, 2011 by Staff'n'Toller

[Are You Serious Jo]

Who do you think the new vets ask for advice when they first start consulting, that's right, those dumbarse nurses

[ashka1]

I used to use Anvet for my animals other than my dogs and they have been great and I have changed back recently to ANVET due to there new better equipt practise and mainly as I have utmost faith in a particular senior vet nusre there, she is the best!. But I did have a not so great experience a few weeks back. I raced in with an emergency, my newfy had bloat, no one on the desk, no bell etc so I knocked on the door of a consult room and a vet opened the door (clipping nails of swf). I explained that it was an emergency and the dog was bloating, they said they would be with me shortly....... 30 mins later a nurse spoke to me in the waiting room checked his gums (white) and asked why I thought it was bloat, mmm it was soooo obvious, off she went and another 15 mins later the vet called us in. To end a sad situation my boy was PTS.. after needless time and suffering, maybe the outcome could have been different. I did not get any alone time with him either, vet sat there with the needle at ready and said "tell me when"!!!!!

I am very upset by this but I will say this is a one off as I have had many good experiences at Anvet and will give them another chance but will discuss the situation when I am in next and am not overly emotional.

RIP Floyd

Ashka I am so sorry for your loss. An awful experience for you and Floyd.

The senior nurse/manager from Beenleigh VH went to another surgery in town so I wonder if it is the one you liked from Anvet - her name is Rebecca and she calls a lot of people darl. Explains things very well, manages very well under crisis, very, very skilled. I was sad when she left BVH.

Thanks,The Vet nurse is Kelly she was originlly ay Many Road Vet specialising in Reproduction with Christine Kidd, who are great but a bit of a trip for me now Kelly is closer. I have a bitch due for a surgical AI soon and Kelly will be doing it. I wish she was there when I went in with Floyd

[Tapferhund]

The topic started by Snook about her mum's little dog got me thinking about Vet receptionists. Some are great and some are downright awful. It brings me back to the time when my mini schnauzer Benson, who was all of 6 months at the time had trouble passing urine. At first, whilst we were out walking he was squatting constantly, and I thought he had a lot to pass. After a wile, I realised that he couldn't go, so when I came home, I rang my vet. Couldn't get past the b****y receptionist who told me surgery hours for morning consults were over and I could come in late afternoon because they were pretty much booked out. I wanted to talk to the vet and she wouldn't put me through. So, I packed my boy in the car and off I went to the surgery. It turned out that he couldn't pass urine because of a stone blocking his urethra and had to have a catheter inserted. I blew my stack at the receptionist and so did the vet. Had I waited for the late afternoon who knows what may have eventuated. As it turned out, my pup had a porto systemic shunt.

After that episode, I was given the vet's mobile and home number if I needed. Sometimes the vets themselves just don't how the receptionists deal with the patients.

Well , there's a well known saying, " Whether you live or die starts and ends at reception."

.......and that goes for our animals at Vets too !

,

[Dory the Doted One]

Who do you think the new vets ask for advice when they first start consulting, that's right, those dumbarse nurses

I was shocked to learn how little knowledge some of the Vet graduates, graduate on.

[raz]

If my vet did not have confidence in his nurse's knowledge then I'm sure he would not let her talk to patients.

Excellent point, Dan. The respect those two have for each other is fantastic.

[Clyde]

If my vet did not have confidence in his nurse's knowledge then I'm sure he would not let her talk to patients.

Excellent point, Dan.

Agreed.

I used to nurse in a large hospital. We did reception work in the evenings, but regular hours there were around 3 receptionists. At no stage were any nurses or receptionists allowed to give advice or opinions on medical matters and everything had to be deferred to a vet. Obviously nurses could answer basic questions. I think it's just a case by case thing.

Ive just moved and they seem okay at the new clinic but as they are also livestock vets there are usually long waits as they get called out to emergencies a lot. I wish the nurses would call me and let me know rather than me going in to find out and having to wait one hour +.

[Malamum]

The Vet Nurses at my Vets are great. However, I dont expect them to give me advice on treatment or anything else and the term 'nurse' is possibly not accurate. They are not trained in much more than reception and kennel duties. If I have an issue with my dogs, I phone and ask to speak to my Vet unless it is a simple question about opening hours or whatever.

A Vet Nurse should never give medical advice unless they are qualified to do so. Some clinics train their nurses in this regard, and some nurses in some practices are very highly qualified, but many are really only trained for reception and simple procedures.

I don't have my qualification but have way more knowledge about medical problems than our other nurse who has her qualification. I regularly have clients asking me if I'm a vet because of the information I am able to give them. But I shouldn't do this because I don't have a piece of paper???

eta: I did get part way through my qualification but stopped because it just seemed pointless at the time. We were learning how to mop a floor, for goodness sake.

I have done training days with Anaesthetists in Advanced Anaesthesia, gone to many Specialist Seminars on all sorts of topics, studied Vet Text books (simply because I'm a nerd) and spend countless hours learning from my boss. But again, none of this is recongnised as a qualification...

I consider myself competent in all aspects of nursing. I take bloods on my own, put IV's in on my own, do all our anaesthetics, wound treatments etc. I have a sound understanding of what I'm doing because I've learnt it.

So yes I consider myself a nurse regardless of the fact I don't have a Certificate on the wall.

Tell me you're not serious with your rebutal?

I consider myself very knowledgable too, and I was also once a a Vet Nurse and I too have worked in various areas including radiology, dentistry and pathology. I have even speyed a bitch. However, I would be VERY remiss to think I am an expert and free to give medical advice in that capacity. Quite simply - I am not qualified. I may be qualified to give simple advice over the phone, and as I clearly stated in my post, there are many nurses who ARE highly qualified. Many ARE not though Stormie, and that includes the Nurses at the Clinic I frequent. They are NOT nurses, they are recptionists and kennel hands and I would not seek advice from them at all.

I like my clinic's nurses, they are capable and efficient, but I would never expect and nor do I ask for advice from them unless I was seeking advice about something they were qualified to advise on.

I do the same with the receptionist at my own Dr's clinic funnily enough. I would never expect them to provide me with advice in areas they were not qualified to give advice. The standards I expect for me is what I also expect for my dogs.

People can gain just as much knowledge from practical experience as they can from a classroom. I personallly think more in most instances.

To automatically assume that someone with a piece of paper is right and someone with practical experience is wrong will often get you led astray.