Veterinary Assistant, Anesthesia

Veterinary Assistant (Anesthesia)

$20/hr & up Location: Virginia Veterinary Centers - Short Pump, VA Full-Time | 5x8s | Monday - Friday | 9am - 5pm

The Veterinary Anesthesia Assistant supports the anesthesiologist and anesthesia LVTs with patient preparation, anesthesia procedures, equipment readiness, monitoring, recovery, and post-anesthetic care. Responsibilities are performed based on demonstrated competency, hospital policy, and applicable veterinary practice regulations.

Pay & Benefits for Veterinary Assistants

• $20/hr & up

Full-time benefits include:

• Medical, Dental, Vision
• 401(k)
• Paid Time Off
• CE Allowance + Free VetBloom (RACE-approved CE) access
• Veterinary Technician scholarship opportunities
• VTNE and/or license reimbursement
• Uniform allowance
• Employee pet discount
• Disability & Life Insurance

Schedule

• Monday - Friday
• 9am - 5pm

Veterinary Assistant Responsibilities

Anesthesia Equipment & Setup

• Set up, clean, inspect, and maintain anesthesia machines, monitoring gear, carts, and work areas between patients.
• Prepare circuits, bags, masks, warming devices, and positioning supplies.
• Maintain stock levels and promptly report damaged equipment, leaks, or supply needs.

Patient Preparation & Induction

• Provide safe, low-stress restraint for exams, catheterization, phlebotomy, medication delivery, and procedures.
• Obtain and document pre-anesthetic vitals and patient weight.
• Assist the veterinary team with IV catheter placement, surgical prep/clipping, positioning, transport, induction, and intubation.

Anesthesia Monitoring

• Place, troubleshoot, and record parameters from monitoring equipment (ECG, BP, SpO2, ETCO2, HR, RR, temp).
• Monitor stable anesthetized patients (following competency validation) under direct supervision.
• Immediately alert the veterinarian or LVT to abnormal trends or parameter changes.

Recovery & Post-Operative Care

• Prepare recovery areas, assist with transfer, and provide thermal support, padding, and positioning.
• Monitor stable recovering patients, tracking vital signs, pain score, mentation, and airway/extubation status.
• Deliver post-op nursing care as directed (medications, fluid therapy, IV catheter maintenance, walking).

Team Support & Compliance

• Maintain comprehensive, timely medical records and communicate patient status across departments.
• Adhere to hospital safety, infection control, and patient identification protocols.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• Veterinary clinical experience preferred.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.
• Ability to multitask in a fast-paced medical environment.
• Demonstrated reliability, professionalism, and attention to detail
• Patient-centered care focus.
• Strong clinical assistance skills.
• Clear and compassionate client communication.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure.
• Efficient time management and task prioritization.

The teams at Bush Veterinary Neurology Service and Virginia Veterinary Centers are proud to partner and provide care to further support veterinary neurology patients in our pet owner community! Are you an experienced Veterinary Assistant or LVT student who excels in patient handling, restraint, and communications? Do you enjoy the thrill of Specialty medicine and patient care? Do you want an opportunity to hone your specialty skills? Are you looking for a leadership path with development and training opportunities to support your career growth? If you answered yes to these questions, then we may be a great fit for us at VVC/ BVNS Short Pump!

About VVC Short Pump

Since its conception in 1981, the Virginia Veterinary Centers teams have worked to invest in new technologies and training to stay on the cutting edge of Veterinary Medicine to provide the best quality care for their patients and families. Our teams understand that when knowledge and care are shared across distance and discipline, your furry family member gets the best care available. We recognize that to do this, we need adequately educated staff to maintain our highest standard of care. Because of this, providing a culture that cultivates collaborative learning in a safe and inclusive hospital is of the utmost importance to our management team.

About Ethos Veterinary Health

Ethos Veterinary Health, part of the NVA Group, is where you come to practice world-class medicine and help shape what veterinary care becomes next. Across our network of 140 specialty and emergency hospitals, science moves forward, standards are elevated, and innovation is put into practice every day. You'll work alongside respected veterinary leaders in academic-caliber hospitals designed for learning, teaching, and discovery. Here, mentorship is a two-way street. You'll share your expertise, learn from others, and continue to grow, clinically, professionally, and personally. At Ethos, you inspire hope, deliver exceptional care, and pursue veterinary medicine at its highest level, together.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Ethos is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Ethos does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided based on qualifications, competence, merit, and business needs.