The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) board of directors has voted to support a veterinary nurse initiative to standardize the credential and title used for the profession throughout the country. “At AAHA, we are all about standardization and excellence,” said Michael Cavanaugh, DVM, DABVP (emeritus), chief executive officer at AAHA. “By standardizing the term ‘veterinary nurse,’ we increase consistency throughout the profession, while also growing professional recognition and relevancy among pet owners. Ultimately, this makes our profession stronger.” In 2017, the North American Veterinary Technicians Association (NAVTA) formed the veterinary nurse initiative coalition seeking to unite the profession under a single title, credentialing requirements, and scope of practice. In 2018, the initiative worked in two states to pass legislation for the registered veterinary nurse title change. “The word ‘technician’ does not come close to encapsulating all the care and passion these dedicated professionals share with their patients and clients,” Dr. Cavanaugh said. “The veterinary nurse designation better aligns with the wide variety of valuable skills they perform every day to help clients and patients benefit from the human animal bond.”
