Surgical Veterinary Technician

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Animal Orthopedic Center is a small business run by a board-certified veterinary surgeon in Anaheim, CA. Our surgeon has been in practice for over 30 years. We are professional, innovative, and fast-paced. Our goal is to elevate veterinary orthopedic standards with high quality customer service and the use of cutting-edge technology. We strive to support our staff to advance their knowledge and careers. At Animal Orthopedic Center we strongly believe in professional growth.

We are seeking a skilled and compassionate Veterinary Surgical Technician to join our team. As a Veterinary Surgical Technician, you will play a crucial role in providing exceptional care to our patients as well as client education. This position requires a strong background in anesthesia, handling and restraint, and customer service. If you are passionate about animal orthopedics and have the necessary skills and experience, we would love to hear from you.

Summary of Job Purpose and Function

The primary function of the Surgery Veterinary Technician is to be responsible for the health and well-being of patients under anesthesia, treatments of stable/critical hospitalized patients and outpatient diagnostics and treatments. Capability to clearly communicate with clients. Build effective working relationships. Follow policies and procedures. 

Essential Responsibilities and Tasks:

• Attend required staff meetings
• Assist across services during downtime or as directed by a Supervisor/Manager
• Aids in the development of others to competently perform skill in assistant levels
• Ability to triage ( Ability to admit patients according to hospital procedures and standards
• one and in clinic) in accordance with the hospital policy
• Appropriately restrain feline and canine patients in accordance with AVMA policies and procedures

Client Communication:

• Uses practice management software to maintain client and patient records according to hospital protocols
• Maintain solid grasp of common veterinary medical terms and abbreviations and is able to converse in veterinary professionals in medical terms
• Understands and utilizes proper medical record documentation. 
• Notates communications, treatments and pertinent patient care updates and status according to AVMA guidelines
• Communicates with owners efficiently obtaining patient updates and relaying the clinician’s recommendations clearly and accurately
• Able to obtain accurate patient history and follow appropriate line of questioning during appointments
• Prepares medications, documents and patient for discharge, and communicates discharge instructions to client
• Ability to understand patient treatment plans and is able to present to clients in a clear manner

Radiology:

• Uses radiology software and performs radiography using proper technique and PPE
• Understand and utilizes non-manual restraint and positioning techniques when performing radiographs

Laboratory:

• Ability to perform cystocentesis
• Able to select and properly utilize blood tubes for diagnostics
• Performs all common in-house laboratory diagnostics

Medical Math:

• Set-up constant rate infusions (CRI)
• Calculates basic medical math accurately and efficiently

Anesthesia:

• Utilization of pre-anesthetic, induction and inhalant medications
• Understand and Identify common arrhythmias on ECG
• Recognize patients at risk for arrest and perform CPR
• Ability to respond to any and all anesthetic emergencies (arrhythmias, blood pressure issues, cardiopulmonary arrest, pulse oximetry and capnography abnormalities)
• Remain current in CPR guidelines 
• Ability to maintain and care for anesthesia equipment
• Ability to change oxygen or other gas tanks
• Ability to use, understand and troubleshoot waste scavenging system
• Ability to perform intermittent positive pressure ventilation (with Reservoir bag or Ambubag)
• Comfortably use anesthetic breathing circuits
• Ability to use anesthetic ventilator
• Recognition and communication of abnormal heart and lung sounds
• Recognizes signs and symptoms of abnormal blood pressure. Ability to communicate and take appropriate action accordingly
• Appropriately use external warming devices
• Possesses a working knowledge of anesthesia/monitoring equipment and able to induce, monitor and perform anesthesia with patients assigned to ASA I to III classifications

Surgical:

• Knowledge of identification of surgical/procedural instruments and equipment including proper storage Demonstrate proper use of hospital PPE; adhere to safety hospital standards, including Hazardous Drug Handling
• Foundational knowledge of common surgical procedures
• Properly hand instruments and equipment needed during surgical procedures and maintain sterility
• Properly clean, prepare and sterilize all surgical instruments and equipment
• Ability to set up for basic procedures
• Understands and utilizes aseptic techniques used during any surgical and non-surgical procedure
• Able to assist with patient positioning for surgical and imaging purposes

Nursing Care:

• Able to perform nursing care in recumbent patients
• Support Clinician and client throughout euthanasia process
• Design Nursing Care Plans for patients and execute the NCP’s according to hospital standards of care
• Able to obtain TPR’s and assist with full physical examination
• Compassionately, calmly and gently approaches and handles patients
• Ability to obtain blood pressures 
• Understands classification of commonly used medications, associated side effects and appropriately monitors therapeutic response
• Administers medications via appropriate routes and duration
• Ability to reconstitute medications appropriately
• Able to set up intravenous fluids. Ability to disconnect and connect patients’ IV fluids aseptically
• Can operate all brands of intravenous fluids pumps and can troubleshoot errors
• Ability to recognize signs of fluid overload
• Administer subcutaneous fluids
• Performs phlebotomy
• Ability to place peripheral intravenous catheter
• Performs basic wound care and applies simple bandage techniques
• Ability to care for and appropriately handle patient drains and wounds

Qualities:

• Current certification/license in veterinary technology
• Strong interpersonal skills: able to effectively communicate with clients, doctors, management, hospital personnel
• Strong organizational/time management skills: able to set, prioritize and attain goals with attention to detail 
• Strong sense of integrity: able to maintain highest ethical standards, personal responsibility and accountability and confidentiality of clients, doctors, and all staff
• Strong analytical thinking skills: ability to use objective data to solve problems/create solutions
• Follows and upholds the veterinary technology profession’s ethical codes
• Adheres to Employee Policy Manual, Hospital procedures, OSHA guidelines, and Safety Plans