As a licensed veterinary nurse in the Commonwealth of Virginia for nearly 10 years, I am against the petition to amend section 172 to allow an unlicensed veterinary assistant to place an intravenous catheter.

Placing an indwelling intravenous catheter, as well as phlebotomy in general, is an invasive procedure that requires knowledge of proper aseptic technique, as well as possible complications resulting from improper catheter placement (i.e. embolism, etc). In the age of antibiotic resistance, it is imperative that we as medical professionals do everything with in our power to protect the health and safety of our patients, and to prevent nosocomial infections. 

We as medical providers must strive to do our best for our patients and our clients. Our board of veterinary medicine should be focusing on codes and regulations that improve patient care, protect our licensed doctors and nurses, and to encourage gold standard care for all animals. Rather than devaluing the education and experience of licensed nurses, the board should focus on stricter requirements regarding delegation of duties such as anesthetic monitoring and recovery, phlebotomy, etc, etc. 

Licensed veterinary nurses across the country are undervalued and underpaid. Our community is facing a mental health crisis and suicide rates are staggering. The Commonwealth of Virginia could do better by focusing on protecting and elevating our licensed veterinary nurses, to set an example for gold standard veterinary care, rather than stripping away the few protections our licensed nurses have.