Veterinary Technician VTS (ECC)

Description

REPORTS TO: Emergency & Critical Care Supervisor

The emergency and critical care service requires a team of people to work collaboratively for the benefit of our patients. All members should respect each other’s expertise and qualifications and capitalize on those expertise’s for the benefit of the team and its patients. In the hospital setting of an emergency facility an VTS ECC Veterinary Technician must possess the capability of performing under pressure with calmness, confidence, and ease. They must display patience, compassion, and excellent listening skills when faced with such critical cases. The VTS ECC Veterinary Technician should model a high-level of professionalism, critical thinking/problem-solving skills, and can navigate challenging interactions with ease. The ECC team should be ready and able to take direction from the ECC Leads, ECC Supervisor, and Veterinarians in terms of patient care and needs of the service to perform in a manner that promotes the best possible care. We are looking for a VTS- ECC professional who is passionate about patient care and ready to take on a challenging role with an ever-growing hospital!

POSITION OBJECTIVES

• Mastery of advanced nursing skills related to emergency and critical care.
• Support veterinarians to ensure exceptional veterinary care; advocate for patients, and educate clients.
• Understanding of ECC patient's condition and treatment, and your role in their nursing management.
• Advanced skill in emergency action directed toward the assessment, treatment, and stabilization of a patient with an urgent medical problem.
• Advanced skill in the treatment of a patient with a life-threatening or potentially life-threatening illness or injury.
• Deliver exceptional, compassionate nursing care to patients utilizing a variety of technical skills.
• Willingness to guide, mentor, and support fellow team members in an on-the-floor position where patient care and team member education will be on the forefront of the position.
• Work closely with the Learning and Development Coordinator to provide in-house education
• Constantly advance your knowledge base and skill set.
•  Able to provide professional, clear, and effective communication.
• Demonstrate superior client service.
• Maintain an optimistic outlook
•  Demonstrate professionalism and model TVETS Code of Professional Conduct at all times.
• Follow all TVETS policies and procedures.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES 

Provide Advanced/Specialized Patient Care And Treatment 

• Restrain patients in a safe, effective, and compassionate manner. Demonstrate how to properly handle difficult and fractious patients. 
• Keep hospitalized patients clean and comfortable. 
• Phone triage – answer phone calls related to patient questions and document in Stringsoft and in the Phone Triage Log. 
• Accurately follow treatment sheet orders and document all treatments. 
•  Alert a veterinarian of concerns regarding patients. 
• Maintain aseptic technique and assist in prevention of nosocomial infections. Wash hands between patients and wear gloves when indicated. 
• Be comfortable with setup, use, troubleshooting, and interpretation of a multiparameter patient monitoring equipment including ECG, ETCO2, SpO2, Oscillometric blood pressure, and Doppler equipment. 
• Be comfortable with multiple IV infusions. 
• Accurately assess vitals including TPR, pulse quality, respiratory effort, mucous membrane color and patient attitude. Inform Veterinarian of any abnormal findings. 
•  Notify primary clinician of parameter changes/concerns in patient status. 
•  Administer interventional therapy as advised by the primary clinician (fluid therapy, medication administration etc.).
• Pain assessment 
• Keep accurate medical records 
• IV catheter daily care
• Peripheral IV catheter placement  
•  Fluid administration. 
• Venipuncture proficiency (jugular, cephalic, lateral saphenous and femoral veins). 
• IV, IM, and SQ injections. 
•  Calculate and administer medications as directed by treatment orders. 
• Calculate, dispense and record controlled anesthetic drugs. 
• Demonstrate knowledge of anatomy and physiology. 
• Demonstrate knowledge of pharmacology. 
• Be comfortable with medical equipment, supplies, and their locations 
• Display ability to maintain medical equipment and supplies as per service policies.
• Central line placement and care
• Arterial line placement and care
• Urinary catheter placement and care (male/female dogs)
• Nasogastric tube placement and care
• Blood product administration, care, and monitoring
• Anesthesia and sedation monitoring and recovering
• Safely and accurately position and take radiographs  
• Maintain patients on mechanical ventilator and hi-flow oxygen

Complete Routine Laboratory/Diagnostic Procedures 

• Appropriately prepare, handle, and submit specimens to outside laboratories. 
• Perform routine in house blood work to include NOVA, Procyte, Catalyst, SCA2000, blood type/cross match, blood smear, PCV/TS, lactometer, glucometer, azostix. 
• Accurately record results of lab work in patient medical record/treatment sheets. Notify Veterinarian of all in house lab results. 

 Patient Discharge 

• Follow Discharge SOP for on how to discharge inpatients. 
• Communicate with Veterinarian as to patients anticipated discharge time. 
• Prepare any medications to go home prior to discharge. 
• Ensure that the patient discharge procedure is followed in a timely manner to minimize client wait times. 
• Ensure patients are clean, dry, and ready to go home before discharge.  

Educate clients regarding our veterinary care and services 

• Communicate with professionalism, courtesy, and warmth in all interactions with clients. 
• Address all Veterinarians as “Dr. [Last Name]” in the presence of a client. 
• Provide clients with basic patient updates excluding details regarding prognosis, diagnosis, and lab results. 
• Exercise knowledge of TVETS programs, products, and services. 
• Accurately prepare patients for discharge to client. 
• Dispense oral medications to go home as prescribed. 
• Facilitate visits between owner and patient. 

Additional Responsibilities 

• Assist fellow technicians with work ups or inpatients as needed.
• Assist with general husbandry, laundry, stocking supplies, and keeping ICU clean.

Soft Skill Expectations 

• Maintain a positive outlook and follow TVETS policies including the Employee Code of Conduct. Your conduct and interaction with hospital staff and clients is a top priority and is continually evaluated. 
• Adhere to all hospital policies and standards as required by employee manual. 
• Serve as a representative of the hospital. Display courtesy, tact, consideration, and a positive attitude in all interactions with clients, patients, and hospital staff. 
• Adhere to your work schedule. Be on the floor ready to work at the start of your shift. 
• Demonstrate initiative and teamwork in your duties each day. 
• Demonstrate professionalism. 
• Maintain strict confidentiality. 
• Follow all hospital safety protocols. 

Personal conduct and interpersonal skills are very important.  Interaction with hospital team members and clients is a top priority and is continually evaluated. 

**Position responsibilities may change on a temporary or regular basis according to the needs of the service or business without it being specifically included in the job description.

SCHEDULE

• TBD, includes a weekend shift.  
• Schedule includes holiday coverage. 
• This position is considered essential and is therefore required to work as scheduled during inclement weather (i.e., during snowstorms).  

Qualifications

EDUCATION AND LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS

• Must be a credentialed VTS in Emergency & Critical Care with an active license

CONTINUING EDUCATION

• Required to maintain VTS (ECC) licensing
• Required to maintain credentialing requirements and CE each year
• Required to attend and submit 10 CE courses every 2 years for VECCS certification

PERSONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum of 18 years of age.
• Genuinely enjoys working with animals and can treat them compassionately even when they are stressed, ill, or in pain.
• Possess a high-level of emotional intelligence.
• Ability to support and foster an environment of diversity, inclusion, collaboration, and empathy.
• Good interpersonal relationship and communication skills.
• Can multi-task in a fast-paced working environment.
• Can stay calm and efficient under pressure.
• Detailed oriented and reliable.
• Committed to providing exceptional patient/client care.
• Excellent client communication skills.
• Professional, approachable, and maintains an optimistic outlook.
• Proficient at working with digital records, Microsoft Word/Excel, and Google Docs.
• Physical Effort: Work requires lifting and carrying animals (will be assisted by other staff members in lifting animals over 40 lbs.).  Walks or stands for extended periods or time; frequently works in a bent position.
• Working conditions:  May be exposed to unpleasant odors, noises, and animal feces. May be exposed to bites, scratches, and contagious diseases.

Salary : $34 - $42