Veterinarian Technician

Job Description

Job Description

Veterinary Technician

Position: Veterinary Technician
Department: Veterinary Medical Team
Reports To: Veterinarians & Hospital Management

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced, compassionate, and dependable Veterinary Technician to join our veterinary team. The Veterinary Technician plays an essential role in providing high-quality patient care and supporting our veterinarians throughout examinations, diagnostics, treatments, surgical procedures, dentistry, hospitalization, and client education.

The ideal candidate is confident in their technical abilities, communicates effectively, works well in a fast-paced environment, and takes pride in providing exceptional care to both patients and their families.

We are looking for someone who can work independently within their scope of practice while collaborating closely with veterinarians, assistants, receptionists, and management to maintain an efficient and supportive hospital environment.

Key Responsibilities

Patient Care & Treatments

• Safely and confidently restrain dogs and cats for examinations, diagnostics, and medical procedures.
• Obtain thorough patient histories and accurately document information in medical records.
• Obtain and record temperature, pulse, respiratory rate, weight, and other appropriate patient parameters.
• Perform venipuncture and collect blood samples.
• Place and maintain intravenous catheters.
• Administer medications, injections, fluids, and treatments as directed by a veterinarian and permitted by applicable law.
• Calculate medication and fluid dosages accurately.
• Collect and prepare urine, fecal, blood, cytology, and other diagnostic samples.
• Perform in-house laboratory testing and properly prepare samples for outside laboratories.
• Assist veterinarians with examinations, treatments, wound care, emergency cases, and other medical procedures.
• Perform bandage placement and changes as trained and permitted.
• Monitor hospitalized patients, recognize changes in patient condition, and promptly communicate concerns to the veterinarian.
• Maintain accurate treatment sheets and medical records for hospitalized patients.

Surgery & Anesthesia

• Prepare patients for surgical and other anesthetic procedures.
• Set up and maintain surgical suites, instruments, equipment, and supplies.
• Calculate and prepare medications according to veterinarian instructions.
• Assist with induction and maintenance of anesthesia.
• Intubate patients as trained and permitted.
• Monitor patients throughout anesthetic procedures, including heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, temperature, ETCO2, and other appropriate parameters.
• Maintain accurate anesthesia monitoring records.
• Recognize abnormal anesthetic parameters and promptly communicate concerns to the veterinarian.
• Monitor patients throughout anesthetic recovery and provide appropriate postoperative care.
• Clean, sterilize, package, and maintain surgical instruments and equipment.
• Maintain appropriate aseptic technique throughout surgical procedures.

Dentistry

• Prepare patients and equipment for dental procedures.
• Assist with dental radiographs and diagnostic imaging.
• Perform dental prophylaxis and other dental procedures as trained and legally permitted.
• Monitor anesthesia throughout dental procedures.
• Maintain and properly care for dental equipment and instruments.
• Assist veterinarians with dental procedures and extractions.

Diagnostic Imaging & Laboratory

• Position patients appropriately and safely for radiographs.
• Obtain diagnostic-quality radiographic images as trained and permitted.
• Follow appropriate radiation-safety protocols.
• Perform common in-house laboratory procedures, including bloodwork, urinalysis, fecal testing, cytology preparation, and other diagnostic testing.
• Properly label, handle, store, and submit laboratory samples.
• Maintain and perform routine quality control on laboratory and diagnostic equipment.

Client Communication

• Communicate professionally and compassionately with clients regarding their pets' care.
• Review veterinarian-recommended treatment plans and estimates with clients and answer appropriate questions regarding procedures and services.
• Generate accurate estimates for diagnostics, treatments, surgeries, dental procedures, and other recommended services.
• Explain medication administration, home-care instructions, and discharge instructions clearly and accurately.
• Educate clients on preventative care, medication administration, nutrition, postoperative care, and other veterinarian-approved recommendations.
• Escalate medical questions, changes to treatment plans, diagnoses, prognoses, and other veterinarian-specific discussions appropriately.

Hospital Operations & Team Support

• Maintain complete, accurate, and timely patient medical records.
• Prepare prescriptions and medications as directed by the veterinarian and permitted by applicable law.
• Ensure treatment areas, surgical suites, laboratory areas, and equipment remain clean, organized, stocked, and ready for use.
• Maintain appropriate inventory levels and communicate supply needs to management.
• Assist with patient flow and help ensure appointments, treatments, and procedures move efficiently throughout the hospital.
• Provide guidance and support to Veterinary Technician Assistants and other support staff as appropriate.
• Help train team members in proper animal handling, hospital protocols, sanitation, and basic clinical skills.
• Communicate effectively with veterinarians, receptionists, assistants, and management.
• Follow all hospital safety, sanitation, infection-control, and controlled-substance protocols.
• Perform additional clinical and hospital duties as assigned and within the employee's legal scope of practice.

Qualifications

• Previous experience working as a Veterinary Technician or in a comparable veterinary clinical role strongly preferred.
• RVT licensure is preferred where applicable but is not required for consideration.
• Strong animal-handling and restraint skills.
• Proficiency in venipuncture, IV catheter placement, laboratory sample collection, medication administration, and patient monitoring preferred.
• Experience with anesthesia and surgical monitoring strongly preferred.
• Experience with veterinary dentistry and dental radiography preferred.
• Ability to recognize changes in patient condition and appropriately escalate concerns.
• Strong understanding of veterinary terminology, medications, preventative care, and common veterinary procedures.
• Comfortable using veterinary practice-management software and maintaining detailed medical records.
• Excellent communication, organization, and time-management skills.
• Ability to prioritize responsibilities and remain calm in a fast-paced environment.
• Compassionate and professional when working with clients and patients, including during difficult or emotional situations.
• Dependable, punctual, team-oriented, and committed to maintaining high standards of patient care.

Physical Requirements

This position requires prolonged periods of standing and walking as well as frequent bending, kneeling, reaching, lifting, and restraining animals. Team members must be capable of safely performing the physical responsibilities associated with veterinary patient care and should be comfortable working around animals of varying sizes and temperaments, medical procedures, blood, bodily fluids, and other conditions commonly encountered in a veterinary hospital.

What We're Looking For

Our ideal Veterinary Technician is someone who combines strong technical skills with compassion, excellent communication, and teamwork .

We value technicians who take ownership of their responsibilities, anticipate the needs of the veterinarian and patient, maintain excellent attention to detail, and are always looking for ways to improve the quality and efficiency of patient care.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced veterinary professional who wants to continue developing their skills, work closely with veterinarians, and become an integral part of a collaborative veterinary team.

If you are passionate about veterinary medicine, enjoy hands-on patient care, and are committed to providing an exceptional experience for both pets and their families, we encourage you to apply.

\nCompany Description

Ambassador Long Beach Veterinary Hospital proudly serves our neighborhood in Long Beach, Signal Hill, Lakewood and Los Alamitos. We bring over 20 years of experience and the best veterinary services to our community. It is our goal to offer the highest quality veterinary care to our patients and their owners.

Company Description

Ambassador Long Beach Veterinary Hospital proudly serves our neighborhood in Long Beach, Signal Hill, Lakewood and Los Alamitos. We bring over 20 years of experience and the best veterinary services to our community. It is our goal to offer the highest quality veterinary care to our patients and their owners. \n\n