Veterinary Technician - ICU Swing/Overnight

Position Title: LICENSED ICU TECHNICIAN

Department: Veterinary Support Services

Reports To: Emergency Services Supervisor & Clinical Operations Manager

Job Summary:
The Senior Veterinary Technician plays a crucial role in providing advanced patient care, directing and training lower-level LVTs and VAs, and ensuring the highest standards of medical care within the hospital. This position requires a high level of expertise in patient care, diagnostics, procedures, and client communication.

Key Responsibilities:
Hospital Support:

• Direct and train LVTs and Veterinary Assistants (VAs) at lower levels under the direction of the Hospital Training Director.
• Provide guidance and support to the veterinary team to ensure effective hospital operations.

Patient Care:

• Provide care for stable and critical patients, including those in isolation.
• Manage patients with advanced feeding tubes and maintain multi-lumen central lines.
• Follow proper PPE protocols, maintain ports, inspect sites, and change bandages as needed.
• Apply, maintain, and monitor telemetry units on hospitalized patients.
• Place O2 prong cannulas and secure them via suture if necessary.
• Place indwelling urinary catheters in male dogs for non-collection purposes.
• Assess the need for manual bladder expression under the supervision of a DVM or LVT III, understanding patient anatomy and associated risks.
• Apply bandages under direct supervision.
• Restrain fractious patients using advanced techniques and administer chemical restraint.
• Triage patients to allocate staff appropriately during emergencies.
• Participate in CPR by adhering to RECOVER standards.

Diagnostics:

• Identify abnormal heart rhythms as shown on ECG.
• Perform ultrasound-guided cystocentesis for urine collection.
• Interpret PCV/TS independently.
• Set up blood smears and perform platelet estimates.

Pharmacy:

• Access controlled substances through Cubex to fill or administer as ordered by the DVM.
• Understand the mechanisms of action and side effects of medications.
• Calculate and set up constant rate infusions (CRIs) proficiently.

Procedures:

• Support patients under anesthesia for MRI and CT scans.
• Scrub in for surgical procedures.
• Place nasogastric (NG) and nasoesophageal (NET) tubes, understanding possible complications and disease processes.

Client Communication:

• Communicate with owners over the phone to provide updates or reroute to specialty technicians as needed.
• Discharge patients from the hospital and surgery, ensuring owners are informed and prepared for home care.

Qualifications:

• Certification as a Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) with extensive experience in a veterinary hospital setting.
• Strong knowledge of veterinary medical procedures, patient care, and diagnostics.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Compassionate and dedicated to providing the highest standard of care for patients.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to lift and restrain animals.
• Prolonged periods of standing and walking.
• Manual dexterity to handle instruments and equipment.