Surgery Veterinary Technician

Description

Central Texas Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital - South

• Veterinary Nurse – Surgery/Anesthesia
• Full-Time
• Four 10-Hour Shifts (Monday–Thursday, 7:00 AM–6:00 pm)
• On-Call Required

Please note: Department hours are subject to change based on the needs of the hospital.

About Us

Central Texas Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital- South Austin is a fast-paced, 24-hour emergency and specialty veterinary hospital providing advanced surgical care for both scheduled elective procedures and emergency cases. Our Surgery Department is committed to delivering exceptional patient care through advanced nursing, collaboration, and clinical excellence.

We are seeking an experienced, highly skilled Veterinary Nurse with a strong foundation in anesthesia and perioperative nursing. This is not an entry-level surgical position. The ideal candidate is an established veterinary nurse who thrives in a specialty environment, possesses advanced critical thinking skills, and is passionate about providing exceptional patient care.

About You

You are an experienced veterinary nurse who is confident managing anesthesia independently and understands the unique demands of specialty and emergency surgery. You possess excellent technical skills, remain composed in high-pressure situations, and recognize subtle patient changes before they become critical.

You enjoy working alongside surgeons, emergency clinicians, and fellow nurses in a collaborative environment where teamwork and communication are essential. You take pride in delivering high-quality patient care while maintaining a positive attitude and supporting those around you.

Because we are a collaborative hospital, you are also willing to assist other departments during slower surgical periods to ensure exceptional patient care throughout the hospital.

Required Experience & Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of recent veterinary nursing experience
• Minimum 2 years of veterinary surgical/anesthesia experience in a specialty, emergency, or high-volume surgical setting preferred
• Demonstrated experience independently managing anesthesia for ASA I–IV patients
• Advanced understanding of anesthetic pharmacology, physiology, pain management, and patient monitoring
• Strong knowledge of perioperative nursing from patient admission through recovery
• Experience with emergency surgical procedures and critically ill patients preferred
• Proficient in venipuncture, IV catheter placement, urinary catheter placement, and sample collection
• Strong medical mathematics skills, including advanced drug calculations
• Experience calculating, preparing, and managing Continuous Rate Infusions (CRIs), including vasoactive medications, analgesics, and anesthetic adjuncts
• Comfortable interpreting patient trends and responding appropriately to anesthetic complications
• Working knowledge of surgical instrumentation, aseptic technique, diagnostic imaging, and laboratory procedures
• Excellent communication and documentation skills
• Ability to prioritize and multitask in a fast-paced emergency environment
• Positive attitude with a strong commitment to teamwork and continuous learning
• High School Diploma or GED required
• Credentialed Veterinary Technician (LVT/RVT/CVT) preferred but not required

Essential Responsibilities

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Independently manage anesthesia for a wide range of elective, specialty, and emergency surgical procedures.
• Creating anesthetic protocols for safe and effective anesthesia/analgesia
• Safely anesthetize and monitor patients ranging from ASA Physical Status I through IV, recognizing and responding appropriately to anesthetic complications.
• Calculate, prepare, administer, and monitor anesthetic agents, emergency medications, CRIs, blood products, and intravenous fluids.
• Calculate and manage CRIs, including analgesic, anesthetic, cardiovascular, and critical care infusions.
• Perform comprehensive pre-anesthetic assessments and ensure patients are properly prepared for surgery.
• Place intravenous catheters, obtain diagnostic samples, and perform other advanced nursing procedures.
• Continuously monitor ECG, blood pressure, pulse oximetry, capnography, temperature, ventilation, perfusion, and anesthetic depth throughout procedures.
• Provide exceptional perioperative nursing care, including patient positioning, aseptic preparation, recovery, pain assessment, and post-operative monitoring.
• Recognize patient deterioration early and communicate effectively with the surgical team.
• Maintain accurate anesthetic records and complete medical documentation.
• Prepare surgical suites, anesthesia equipment, and monitoring devices to specialty standards.
• Maintain and troubleshoot anesthesia machines, ventilators, monitoring equipment, and surgical instrumentation.
• Educate and communicate compassionately with pet owners regarding surgical procedures, anesthesia, recovery expectations, and discharge instructions as directed.
• Maintain strict adherence to hospital safety, anesthesia, and infection-control protocols.
• Foster a positive, collaborative work environment by supporting fellow team members and contributing to departmental success.
• Assist other hospital departments during slower surgical periods as patient care demands require

What We're Looking For

The ideal candidate is someone who:

• Demonstrates advanced nursing knowledge and sound clinical judgment.
• Is confident in managing complex anesthesia cases with minimal supervision.
• Maintains composure during emergency procedures and rapidly changing patient conditions.
• Is energetic, dependable, and brings a positive attitude to the team every day.
• Takes initiative and enjoys teaching, mentoring, and learning.
• Values collaboration and understanding that excellent patient care is achieved through teamwork.
• Is committed to maintaining the highest standards of specialty veterinary medicine.

Benefits

• Complimentary Short-Term Disability
• Complimentary Life Insurance; with options to purchase additional voluntary benefits for self or family
• Company Sponsored Employee Assistance Program (Headspace)
• 401K with 100% company match up to 3% and 4% company match for your 5% of contributions, eligible after 6 months of employment
• Florida Blue Insurance Plans with 3-tiered options; Kaiser for CA Residents
• Flexible Spending Account, Health Savings Account or Health Reimbursement Account options
• United Healthcare Dental Insurance; includes a 100% paid premium option for team members
• United Healthcare Vision Insurance options
• Long Term Disability option (paid for by employee)
• Progyny-Fertility and Family Building Support
• Team Member Discounts for Pet Care
• Paid time off-inclusive of sick, personal, and vacation
• Digital Musculoskeletal Support
• Referral Bonus Program
• DailyPay on Demand
• Pay: up to $25/hr, depending on experience