Veterinary Assistant

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

• Perform 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.

• 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 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.

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

• May consider an equivalent combination of education, certification, training, and/or experience

• Experience handling animals preferred

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

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