Veterinary Assistant

Job Description

Job Description

JOB OPENING

CITY OF FARMINGTON

JOB POSTING #132: VETERINARY ASSISTANT

NUMBER OF VACANCIES: 1

DEPARTMENT: Parks & Recreation

WORK LOCATION: Farmington Animal Shelter

HIRING RANGE: $16.75 to $18.00 per hour

PAY GRADE: Temporary

TYPE OF POSITION: Temporary, Full-Time

DAYS WORKED: Mon. through Fri.

HOURS WORKED: 8:00am to 5:00pm

APPLICATIONS WILL BE RECEIVED UNTIL: Until Filled

JOB DUTIES:

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

Works under the direct supervision of the Staff Veterinarian, the RVT, and the Lead Veterinary Assistant.

Assists the Lead Veterinary Assistant and Veterinary Technician in daily set-up for all surgical procedures. This includes setting up hydro-warming blankets, heated exam tables, and replenishing stock.

Assists Lead Vet Assistant and Vet Tech in performing basic pet exams. This includes retrieving animals from kennels, weighing them, and returning them to their kennels.

Assists Lead Vet Assistant and Vet Tech in restraint, tranquilization, and preparation of animals for surgery. Must possess the ability to learn induction and catheterization techniques.

Performs post-operative patient recovery. This includes administering pain injections, and vaccinations, placing a tattoo on the animal, wiping out ears, and trimming toenails. Lifting and moving animals post-op, taking temperatures, and removing endotracheal tubes.

Cleans and maintains kennels and surgical facility. This includes cleaning and disinfecting all kennels daily, cleaning and disinfecting surgery room daily, mopping floors, cleaning and sanitizing surgical instruments, and maintaining a clean and sterile triage area including countertops and all work areas. Assists in deep cleaning once a week as assigned by the RVT.

Walks dogs outside as necessary and cleans/disinfects after any biological animal accidents/spills.

Maintains all surgical packs and drapes. This includes cleaning and sanitizing all surgical instruments, creating surgical packs, and operating two autoclaves.

Performs weekly and monthly maintenance on autoclaves.

Operates blood machines and runs blood samples for patients.

Transfers animals to and from the shelter and AMD. Also transfer of animals to San Juan Vet Clinic for x-rays.

Assists in the process of euthanasia.

Assists shelter veterinarian with any necessary tasks or exams.

NON-ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

Must demonstrate knowledge of and adherence to FRAS policies and procedures.

Must ensure a safe work environment, follow all safety guidelines, and model safe work practices.

Must take immediate action to address any safety concerns that could put a staff member, volunteer, customer, animal or the organization at risk.

Must be able to follow direction of a contract veterinarian as well as the staff veterinarian.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statement of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

QUALIFICATIONS:

This position is subject to the City of Farmington's Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy which includes: pre-employment testing, post-accident testing, random testing, reasonable suspicion testing, return to duty testing, and follow-up testing.

Must have a high school diploma with preference given to applicants with veterinary assistant experience and/or education.

Must have ability to hear, understand, and execute directions from supervisors.

Must have ability to lift up to 50 pounds onto a table with assistance.

Must have ability to work in direct contact with animals without experiencing allergy symptoms.

Must have ability to cope with euthanasias and medical deaths.

Must have knowledge and concern for animals.

Must have ability to communicate effectively with supervisors, coworkers, and public pet owners.

Must have ability to physically restrain animals for procedures with assistance when needed.

Must have ability to multitask and handle stressful situations.

Must have ability to handle high volume of daily surgical procedures.

Must have a desire to learn and be open to constructive criticism regarding medical protocols and procedures.

Must have a valid New Mexico driver's license with acceptable driving record for the past three years.

Must have a phone.

Must have excellent organizational skills with the ability to multitask and prioritize medical cases.

Must be self-motivated while being unsupervised.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED:

Animal capture equipment, police radios, first aid equipment, leashes, gloves, cleaning materials in shelter maintenance and disinfecting including chlorine bleach and hydrogen peroxide, as well as chlorhexidine. Needles and syringes, surgery tables and lights, blood chemistry machines, surgical instruments.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, used hand to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

Ability to use a computer

Ability to work around animals without severe allergic reactions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently will need to walk quickly and communicate with coworkers in a high noise environment. The employee will be exposed to noxious odors, animal blood, urine, feces, saliva and may encounter zoonotic diseased such as ring worm, leptospirosis, tick-borne diseases, coccidiosis, mange, helicobacter, campylobacter, rabies, and brucellosis.

WE ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER, M/F/D/V.