Overview
Position Overview:
The Veterinary Technician supports hospital operations by providing dedicated quality veterinary care and exceptional service to our patients and clients. Responsibilities include providing patient care by determining animal requirements, conducting examinations and diagnostic procedures, assisting during surgery and operations, providing nursing care, assisting with feeding and caring for patients, maintaining medical supplies and equipment, overseeing triage and discharging patients, and maintaining patient medical records.
Essential Position Functions:
- Performs all pre-surgical duties as directed by the veterinarian.
- Conduct pre-surgical exams on animals and alerts veterinarian to any concerns.
- Calculates, administers and records pre-anesthetic drugs.
- Maintains orderly and sanitary work areas for clinical, teaching, and research uses. Ensure efficient scheduling of surgeries.
- Ensure that patients have sufficient quantity of food, pharmaceuticals, and supplies as needed and directed by doctor.
- Responsible for having the knowledge for properly handling an autoclave and how to perform the proper maintenance.
- Treats patients by placing and maintaining catheters, administering fluid and medications, removing sutures, and changing dressings.
- Collects and prepares samples for research, diagnostic, and clinical purposes.
- May perform laboratory analysis. Recovers animals from surgery and is able to relay status of health including: ensuring pets are at a normal temperature, gums are pink, and the patient is having a smooth recovery.
- Ability to calculate drug dosages.
- Performs preparatory procedures on animal patients.
- Operating and cleaning of instruments and supplies needed for surgery.
- Monitors anesthesia by recording vital signs and utilizing monitoring equipment.
- Stocks and organizes the treatment area.
- Following OSHA safety standards in accordance with the hospital policy.
- Maintains appropriate records and documents involving medication, anesthesia, and euthanasia solution.
- Performs basic dental cleaning.
- Performs and restrains for nail trims; administers medications, blood draws and injections to in-house patients and any other pets needing these services.
- Knowledge of teaching and/or demonstration of safe handling of pets.
- May assist in handling animals during the euthanasia process and may need to label a bag with client information and correct form of disposal.
- Performing radiographs, which includes measuring properly for table settings. Induction and monitoring of pets while under anesthesia.
- Proper record keeping of the monitoring findings.
- Clearly and professionally communicating with clients regarding patient updates.
- Knowledge of animal CPR procedures.
Additional Position Functions:
Assignment to the specialty medical areas listed below may require the following additional job functions:
Cardiology
- Collect and submit laboratory samples.
- Identify common and acquired cardiac disorders and arrhythmias.
- Set up and calibrate transducers/physiographs to measure intracardiac and intravascular pressures.
- Understand the basic physiology and engineering of pacemakers.
Dentistry
- Perform dental cleanings, polishing, and intraoral radiographs.
- Perform nerve blocks.
- Assist with dental procedures and oral surgery.
Dermatology
- Prepare and administer medications, intravenously, orally, and topically.
- Perform ear cleanings and minor flushes.
- Obtain skin scrapes and tape samples.
- Prepare skin and ear cytology.
- Induce and monitor anesthesia.
- Place intravenous catheters.
Emergency
- Assist veterinarians with a variety of emergency procedures and critical care situations.
- Monitor vitals, place catheters and take x-rays.
- Clean wounds and apply casts or bandages.
- Give injections and take blood samples.
- May have to be on call in the intensive care unit.
Imaging
- Assist veterinarians with a variety of diagnostic imaging modalities, including digital radiography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, etc.
Integrative
- Maintain logs of pet diagnoses, treatments, and follow-up results so veterinarians can track responses to integrative care.
Internal Medicine
- Research general wellness and preventative medicine for patients.
Neurology
- Perform various technical procedures, including anesthesia support and monitoring, intravenous catheter placement, venipuncture, IV injections, wound management, drug administration assistance, bandage care, surgery support, and various routine diagnostic Electromyography (EMG) testing.
Oncology
- Assist veterinarians with pet assessment, diagnostics, treatments, and procedures.
- Provide empathy, comfort, and unparalleled nursing care to all pets and serves as a strong pet advocate during the pet's hospitalization.
- Prepare and administer various chemotherapeutic agents.
- Provide the owner with extensive communication and education on various oncology disease processes.
Ophthalmology
- Assist veterinarians with ocular exams.
- Perform and/or assist with diagnostic testing (Schirmer Tear Testing, Tonometry, Ocular Ultrasounds, Electroretinogram testing, etc.).
Radiology
- Assist veterinarians with providing high-quality diagnostic imaging services to in-patient, out-patient, surgical, and emergency pets.
Surgery
- Provide extensive surgical assistance by preparing pets, 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.
- Team Orientation: Works cooperatively with the team to address tasks and accomplish goals.
- Dependability: Demonstrates responsibility in completing tasks and accomplishing goals.
- Initiative: Proactively looks for the opportunity to address and follow through on work activities.
- Flexibility and Multi-Tasking: Adapts quickly to changing demands and manages multiple priorities effectively.
- Communication: Uses effective and appropriate methods of interacting with others.
- Customer Services: Displays a desire to provide outstanding service and exceed customer expectations.
- Organization and Attention to Detail: Monitors and reviews information thoroughly and maintains an organized system for all documents.
- Adherence to Rules and Instructions: Consistently follows standard procedures.
Qualifications:
- High school diploma or GED.
- Two or more years of experience with veterinary appointments, surgeries, and nursing care for hospitalized and critical patients.
- Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT), Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT), Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT), or the Licensed Veterinary Medical Technician (LVMT) preferred or as required by State.
- May consider an equivalent combination of education, certification, training, and/or experience.
Position Knowledge and Skill Requirements:
- Knowledge of the preparation, monitoring, and recovery of pets receiving surgery, as well as basic pet nursing.
- Ability to demonstrate and follow correct procedures in catheter placement, phlebotomy, emergency medicine, and digital radiology.
- Understand and limit the potential exposure to bites, scratches, and potential injuries.
- Able to restrain patients according to standard procedures.
- Fill prescriptions and monitor sedation procedures as directed by the veterinarian.
- Ability to work with or around sick animals, potentially hazardous materials, cleaning chemicals, gas anesthetics, zoonotic diseases, and unpleasant odors.
- Display confidence and reassurance when dealing with pets experiencing severe stress, illness, or pain.
- Communicate and approach job duties in a professional and mature manner.
- Must be flexible with scheduling and able to work some weekends and holidays.
- This is a strenuous job that requires a lot of lifting, cleaning, and constant motion.
- 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.
- May include 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).
- Answer phones and perform other duties as needed by the hospital.
- Other duties and responsibilities as assigned by Manager or practice.
Additional Information:
The list of essential functions and additional functions, as outlined in this job description, is intended to be representative of the tasks performed within this position. The omission of any job function does not preclude management from assigning duties not listed herein if such functions are a required assignment for the position.
Pay Range: $23—$25 USD
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
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