Position Overview : The veterinary assistant provides support to the veterinarians and technicians in their daily tasks by cleaning and maintaining equipment, feeding, exercising and grooming patients, preparing and sanitizing surgery suites, restraining and handling patients, and clerical and administrative work. They deliver quality care for all patients and provide exceptional service.

Essential Functions :

Provide compassionate care to all patients
Greet patients and their owners as they arrive and show them to an examining room, taking the patient's weight and other vital signs upon arrival
Triage patients, perform physical exams, treatments, and administer medication as directed by the licensed veterinary technicians (LVT's).
Calm and soothe anxious patients
Assist doctors and technicians with the administration of medications or with patient restraint
Perform laboratory tests and take radiographs
Operate and maintain hospital equipment, including EKG, fluid pump, syringe pump, scales, anesthetic monitors, and machines, etc.
Fill prescriptions, calculate and administer medications, maintain proper documentation, logging, and security of controlled drugs.
Feed patients as prescribed by the attending doctor or as the client has requested; record appetites; recognize and report any unusual conditions or abnormal behaviors
Communicate in a positive manner with clients and ensure that they feel comfortable leaving their pet(s)
Educate clients about insurance, wellness, and medicinal plans
Maintain the cleanliness of the hospital each day; clean equipment, kennels, and facilities using chemicals and supplies; ensure the safe use of chemicals; complete laundry
Bath and care for patients who stay overnight; ensure that every animal released is clean and properly groomed prior to their release
Adhere to the hospital's safety and wellness regulations
Understand and carry out oral and written directions
Maintain accurate medical records
Show up for work regularly; full-time presence at work is essential for every shift
Promote hospital products and services and support the organization
Respond respectfully with urgency to directions given by Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or Licensed Veterinary Technicians (LVT).
Perform any other duties as assigned by the Manager; may have other assigned duties if working in a specialty area (i.e., dentistry, surgery, emergency, radiology, cardiology, neurology, internal medicine, etc.)

Additional Functions : Assignment to the areas below may include the following additional job functions:

Cardiology :

Assists in collecting and submitting laboratory samples
Ability to learn to identify common and acquired cardiac disorders and arrhythmias
Sets up and calibrates transducers/physiographs to measure intracardiac and intravascular pressures
Understands the basic physiology and engineering of pacemakers

Dentistry :

Assists with dental cleanings, polishing, and intraoral radiographs
Assists with dental procedures and oral surgery

Dermatology :

Assists with performing ear cleanings and minor flushes
Obtains skin scrapes and tape samples
Prepares skin and ear cytology
May induce and monitor anesthesia under direction and supervision
May place intravenous catheters
May prepare and administer medications, intravenously, orally, and topically

Emergency :

Assists veterinarians with a variety of emergency procedures and critical care situations
Cleans wounds and applies casts or bandages
Give injections and takes blood samples
May have to be on call in the intensive care unit

Internal Medicine :

Researches general wellness and preventative medicine for animals

Neurology :

Assists with various technical procedures including intravenous catheter placement, venipuncture, IV injections, wound management, drug administration assistance, bandage care, vital sign monitoring, intubation, surgery support, and various routine diagnostic Electromyography (EMG) testing

Oncology :

Assists veterinarians with patient assessment, diagnostics, treatments, and procedures
Provides empathy, comfort, and unparalleled nursing care to all patients and serves as a strong patient advocate during the patient's hospitalization
Provides client communication and education on various oncology disease processes

Ophthalmology :

Assists veterinarians with ocular exams
Assists with diagnostic testing (Schirmer Tear Testing, Tonometry, Ocular Ultrasounds, Electroretinogram testing, etc.)

Radiology :

Assists veterinarians with providing high-quality diagnostic imaging services to inpatient, outpatient, surgical, and emergency patients

Surgery :

Provides extensive surgical assistance by preparing patients, scrubbing, shaving, acting as a surgical nurse, and operating specific surgical equipment and supplies

Competencies :

Care and Compassion – displays a desire to build rapport, provide personal assistance, and emotional support
Animal Restraint and Safety – uses sound judgment when handling patients and always takes appropriate precautionary steps when needed
Communication – uses effective and appropriate methods of interacting with others
Team Orientation – works cooperatively with the team to address tasks and accomplish goals
Dependability – demonstrates responsibility in completing all job tasks
Cleanliness Standards – consistently follows sanitization and sterilization policies and procedures
Energy and Productivity – completes tasks quickly and thoroughly without prompting
Time Management – manages time and prioritizes work tasks effectively
Technical Skills and Learning – keeps up-to-date with new technical skills and knowledge in the field
Care and Use of Equipment – takes appropriate steps to perform operation checks and maintenance of equipment

Qualifications :

High school diploma or equivalent
One or more years' experience in a veterinary environment successfully performing all of the duties of this position
Vet Tech (VTNE) Certification preferred
Experience with surgical monitoring, radiology, dental prophylaxis, and client education preferred
May consider an equivalent combination of education, certification, training, and/or experience

Position Requirements :

Maintains current knowledge in the field of expertise and actively seeks opportunities for continuing education and skill improvement.
Ability to restrain animals, fill prescriptions, and monitor sedation procedures
Ability to work with or around sick animals, potentially hazardous materials, cleaning chemicals, gas anesthetics, zoonotic diseases, and unpleasant odors
Requires knowledge of hospital procedures, policies, and services; client and patient treatment protocols; hospital computer systems; and the standard procedures, records, and terminology used in a veterinary hospital.
Must be flexible with scheduling and able to work some weekends and holidays
Depending on the functional area of assignment, tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation and/or extended periods of time standing and/or walking.
This is a strenuous job that requires a lot of lifting, cleaning, and constant motion. May involve some climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling
Some tasks involve the periodic performance of moderately physically demanding work, usually involving lifting or carrying moderately heavy animals (up to 50 pounds)

Additional Information : The list of essential functions, as outlined in this job description, is intended to be representative of the tasks performed within this classification. The omission of any job function does not preclude management from assigning duties not listed herein if such functions are a logical assignment to the position.

PetVet Care Centers, Inc. is one of the nation’s leading operators of veterinary hospitals for companion animals. The company operates over 450 hospitals across multiple states and employs over 11,000 people including over 800 veterinarians. Since its inception, PetVet has been structured around a model that is focused on developing a partnership between the hospitals and the company and providing the highest quality medicine and service.

PetVet is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, religion, citizenship, national origin/ancestry, physical/mental disabilities, military status or any other basis prohibited by law. EOE, M/F/D/V

PetVet respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. Please see our privacy notice for additional information about our data practices.

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