Veterinary Assistant

Description


Care & Comfort Veterinary Hospital, a Thrive Pet Healthcare partner, is hiring an experienced Veterinary Technician or Veterinary Assistant. Apply today!

Position Summary

A certified or non-certified veterinary technician directly handles inpatient and outpatient care, working hand-in-hand with veterinaries. The technician may assists in exam rooms by taking patients' history, vital signs and weight; preparing vaccines; collecting samples and running diagnostic tests; providing client educations; and assisting with animal restraint. Technicians also may see their own appointments for procedures such as suture removal, nail trim, vaccine administration when a doctor exam is not required, long -term medication monitoring testing, surgery admission and discharge and boarding check-in exams. Technicians directly impact doctors' productivity, client service and patient care.


Reports to Technician Supervisor, Office Manager and all Doctors


Job Duties

• Assist veterinarians in the practice of veterinary medicine and surgery
• Perform in-hospital lab testing and prepare specimens for outside labs
• Assist veterinarians without patient exams by taking histories if needed, vital signs and weighs as well as providing client education
• Provide nursing care for in-hospital patients
• Conduct pre-admission exams and discharge hospitalized patients
• Maintain proper care and medication administration of boarding animals and assist

Exams

• Help front staff when needed prepare and maintain exam rooms and assist in exam rooms by taking vital signs and getting patient history
• Collect samples and run in house testing (fecal/giardia test, HWT, etc.)
• Fill prescriptions per veterinarian's instructions
• Educate clients about medication instructions and administration
• Perform admission exams form patients being hospitalized, here for boarding/grooming, including weight, vital signs and when needed pre-surgical exams
• Preform pre-anesthetic exam on surgery and dental patients if the veterinarian has not already assessed patients
• Discharge Patients for dentistry, spay/neuter and declaw surgeries, when needed

Lab

• Responsible for in-hospital lab testing such as fecal/giardia testing , pre-anesthetic test, senior screens, complete blood count, urinalysis, heartworm test, felv/fiv test, cytology etc.
• Collect and prepare samples
• Report diagnostic testing results to veterinarians
• Maintain quality controls and record keeping on in- house lab equipment
• Keep lab area clean
• Complete proper sample preparation and paperwork for outside diagnostic lab tests

Treatment

• Perform treatments noted on treatment board and in medical records (hospitalized patients, surgeries, dentistry patients, boarding medications
• Assist veterinarians with daily treatments
• Monitor intensive care patients
• Provide nursing care
• Take and process x-rays
• Use and maintain IV pumps

Surgery

• Admit patient scheduled for surgery and dentistry
• Keep surgical materials stocked
• Prepare gown and surgical packs
• Check oxygen lines and waste gas scavenger system
• Prepare surgery suite
• Prepare instruments Know type of surgical instruments required for specific surgeries
• Assist veterinarians with patient restraint
• Assist veterinarians with induction/intubation or perform induction/intubation
• Surgical preparation of patient
• Monitor anesthesia closely with monitoring equipment
• Help maintain anesthesia machine
• Assist veterinarian performing surgery
• Monitor patients waking up from anesthesia; assist with treatment if patient has reaction to anesthesia
• Clean surgery site and surgical instruments after each procedure following hospital sterilization protocols
• Keep accurate anesthesia/surgical medical records
• Ensure hospital patients go home well-groomed and in an appropriate medical state

Dentistry

• Clean, scale and polish teeth using dental equipment and hand instruments
• Perform fluoride treatments
• Record dental problems in medical records and report them to veterinarians for instructions
• Assist veterinarians performing oral extractions or other dental procedures
• Take before-and-after digital photos for client handouts
• Take and process dental x-rays

Medical Records

• Update medical records with progress notes
• Communicate with doctors and technicians through notations in medical notes
• Record information for hospitalized patients
• Write in treatment that have been done in proper template

House keeping

• Maintain cleanliness of surgery suite, treatment area and exam rooms for all surfaces including lights, tables, cabinets, walls and floors
• Maintain Equipment cleanliness and longevity by vacuuming or removing hair from keyboards, wheels and equipment
• Sweep or vacuum treatment area, lab/pharmacy, exam rooms, laundry area dog runs and cat condos etc.
• Clean glass windows and doors in surgery suite, treatment area and exam rooms
• Sweep and mop floors in all the same above areas
• Keep food and drinks out of treatment area and surgery suite
• Discard syringes in proper containers
• Empty trash
• Clean and sanitize food/water bowls
• Clean cages and bedding for patients
• Organize radiology gowns, gloves, badges
• Scrub and polish sinks
• Wipe down walls and baseboards
• Clean cages
• Do laundry

Administrative Duties

• Log controlled drugs
• Assist with inventory physical count - write on white board when low on an item
• Unpack deliveries, reconcile against packing slip and order sheet
• Restock shelves and drawers

Safety

• Follow OSHA requirements
• Follow practices' health and safety protocols
• Maintain Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

Administrative

• Be proficient in using our veterinary software
• File lab results
• Send out x-ray badges monthly if needed
• Assist CSR when needed
• Attend staff and department meeting

Profession Growth Duties 2%

• Attend continuing education for technicians ( CE)
• Network with other technicians from other practices
• Read veterinary and technician journals

Educational Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Experience in field/training
• Associate's degree in applied science, veterinary technology
• State License to work as certified/licensed/registered veterinary technician

Skills Needed:

• Ability to assist veterinarians and fellow staff in the practice of veterinary medicine and surgery

Physical Obligations:

• Able to lift patient and carry equipment up to 40 pounds; ability to lift patients or carry equipment over 40 pounds with assistance
• Endure sitting, standing and walking on hard surfaces for extended periods
• Type information for patient records
• Able to work in noisy work conditions with sound from animals and equipment
• Take Safety precaution for exposure to toxin, drugs, anesthesia and radiation

Compensation negotiable based on credentials and experience with a hourly pay range from $20-$ 25 hour. The actual rate offered will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.