Veterinary Assistant

Job Description: Veterinary Assistant

Job Summary:

As a veterinary assistant, duties will include but may not be limited to keeping accurate medical records, clerical work, client education, promotion of hospital products and services, and support of the doctors, Hospital Manager, Hospital Chief of Staff, and other team members. This position requires practical knowledge of veterinary hospital procedures, policies, and services; client and patient treatment protocols; data transcribing; word processing and the standard procedures, records, and terminology used in the veterinary hospital. The veterinary assistant is the technician’s primary support. They assist in pet restraint, test set-up, nursing care, and triage/discharge of patients. They aid the technicians in achieving greater efficiency by relieving them of some of the routine work.

Reports To:

• Lead Technician

General Duties:

• Obtain and record patient history.
• Field questions and inquiries about services, triage, and products.
• Know common drugs and protocols and be able to explain them to clients.
• Document legibly with correct spelling and keep accurate medical records by hospital policy.
• Prepare and maintain the exam rooms and treatment areas.
• Perform physical assessments; record observations legibly in files or computers.
• Communicate necessary follow-up and home care instructions.
• Collect and perform lab procedures.
• Assist with positioning and taking radiographs.
• Calculate and properly administer fluids and medications.
• Perform venipunctures and place IV catheters.
• Prep wounds and apply bandages.
• Perform other duties as assigned including assisting in other areas.
• Track controlled drugs.
• Proficient in practice management software (VIA): able to invoice; fax, scan, and e-mail records; burn radiographs to CD; e-mail radiographs; print ultrasound reports

Surgical Duties:

• Operate and maintain hospital equipment (i.e.: EKG, fluid pump, syringe pump, scales, CO2 monitor, anesthesia machines).
• Prep patients for surgery and ultrasound.
• Monitoring anesthesia for minor procedures
• Assist in diagnostic, medical, and surgical procedures.

Special Working Conditions:

• Ability to be confident around pets commonly treated at EVCOT
• Client needs and work volume may often require more than 40 hours per week to complete the essential duties of this job. This position requires special hours including working weekends, evenings, overnights, and holidays.
• The noise level in the work environment is moderately high.
• Ability to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form and to solve problems involving several variables.
• Requires sufficient ambulatory skills to perform duties while at the hospital.
• Ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and climb as well as manipulate (lift, carry, move) up to 50 pounds.
• Requires good hand-eye coordination, finger-hand-arm dexterity with the ability to reach and grasp, and visual acuity to use a keyboard and operate medical equipment.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• The associate is routinely exposed to a variety of pets that may bite or scratch, and on occasion, exposed to anesthesia, radiation, biological hazards, and medication/controlled substances.

Benefits:

• Benefits: Fully paid medical, dental, and vision insurance. Life insurance, Short term/Long term disability, 401K, Uniform allowance, Pet benefits, vacation.
• Pay is $22-29 per hour based on experience and skills

Sunday through Tuesday and every 3rd Wednesday 7pm-7am

There is a $2.00/hour shift differential from 10 pm-6 am