As home to one of the nation’s premier veterinary technology programs, the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine is supporting the effort by the Veterinary Nurse Initiative Coalition to create the Registered Veterinary Nurse national credential. This multi-year initiative provides national leadership
and continuity that will be needed to effect change from state to state, since each state has its own regulations for credentialing technicians.
Purdue Veterinary Medicine has a longstanding record as a leader in promoting the value of credentialed veterinary technicians as vital members of the veterinary healthcare team. PVM faculty and staff have long been in the forefront of the national conversation about veterinary technology’s
importance in the veterinary medical profession. Credentialed veterinary technicians are vital to the successful delivery of top quality animal health care and are indispensable members of effective veterinary healthcare teams.
Unfortunately, these supporters of veterinary technology, and many others like them, have encountered a major obstacle in conveying to the general public an understanding of the role of veterinary technicians and their essential place in the delivery of quality veterinary medical care. That obstacle is a matter of confusing and inconsistent nomenclature, which can and should be changed. In the face of changing conditions affecting the veterinary medical profession, Purdue Veterinary Medicine is again at the forefront, leading the way at the educational level to promote adoption of the term Registered
Veterinary Nurse as a means of advancing the veterinary technology profession.
The credential of Registered Veterinary Nurse is understood by the public and would significantly improve the awareness and recognition of the highly valuable skills these professionals bring to the veterinary team. Now is the time to work toward adoption of a single credential, state by state,
throughout the nation, and eliminate the confusion that stems from the current variation of titles, which include Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT), Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT), Licensed Veterinary Medical Technician (LVMT) and Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT). Unifying these titles
into the single designation of Registered Veterinary Nurse will significantly improve public perception of the pivotal role played by these veterinary professionals while also advancing veterinary technology by providing for greater clarity across the veterinary medical profession.
For these reasons, the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine wholeheartedly and enthusiastically supports the Veterinary Nurse Initiative Coalition’s pursuit of legislative amendments in the 50 states to establish the single credential of Registered Veterinary Nurse. We unequivocally endorse this initiative, which will enhance the stature and recognition of veterinary technicians, many of whom received their training at Purdue University, while also boosting the public’s appreciation for the value of the veterinary medical profession.