Veterinary Assistant / Technician

Description

Position Overview

The purpose of this position is to ensure quality care for pets and promote greater efficiency by relieving technicians and veterinarians of technical and administrative work. The Assistant performs a variety of patient- and client-care duties and conducts patient assessments, oversees animals recovering from anesthesia, and performs procedures and treatments.

The Assistant uses sound judgment when making decisions about patient care, responds quickly and calmly to emergencies, and maintains high standards of patient care. This person communicates clearly with the veterinarians, other practice personnel, and clients to ensure that patients receive the care they need. Assistants are friendly and flexible in the face of varying expectations from clients and coworkers. They multi-task, prioritize tasks well, and think creatively. Veterinary Assistants strongly believe in the quality of care provided and communicate this sense of assurance to clients. The Assistant provides patient and client comfort by keeping the hospital clean and presentable and may provide training to other members of the healthcare team.

Position reports to Practice Manager and receives direction from veterinarians. Works alongside the Technicians, who determine the scope and type of support services to be furnished and the procedures used to accomplish them.

Primary Responsibilities

Patient Care

• Provides compassionate patient care, keeping patients clean, dry, and comfortable.
• Alerts the veterinarian(s) to changes in patients' condition.
• Recognizes patients with contagious disease and follows relevant procedures.
• Provides safe and effective patient restraint.
• Medicates patients.
• Uses proper safety techniques and positioning for radiological procedures.
• Recovers patients from anesthesia.
• Assists veterinarians and technicians in surgery and dentistry.
• Performs basic emergency care, CPR, and intensive care as needed.
• Helps with and documents patient treatments.
• Walks, cleans, and feeds patients.
• Sets up and assists with procedures, such as IV catheterization and other common treatments.
• Bathes patients as needed.
• Assists with patient admits and releases as needed.
• Ensures patients leave in better condition than when they arrived (e.g., clean and with IV catheter
• removed).
• Maintains knowledge of drugs and their uses.
• Calculates drug dosages and fills prescriptions accurately; asks for guidance if necessary.
• Assists with lab tests as needed.
• Completes medical records accurately and efficiently.
• Performs procedures such as pedicures and fluid administration.

Equipment and Facility Maintenance

• Cleans, cares for, and packs surgical equipment properly.
• Keeps hospital clean and stocked.
• Removes trash from hospital and sweeps and mops floors daily.
• Launderers soiled blankets, towels, and other linens.
• Utilizes in-house inventory control procedures to ensure items are stocked appropriately

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• Hourly compensation offered will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
• 401k with 100% employer matching up to 1st 3%
• Eligibility to participate in Employee Stock Option Program when launched
• Annual Continuing Education allowance for industry specific certifications
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance (available after 30 days). Paid 100% for full-time employees - Buy-up medical plan available. Additional family member coverage available at the employee's expense
• Healthcare Reimbursement Account benefits
• PTO: 2 weeks PTO year one, 4 weeks year two+6 flex/bereavement/sick days + 6 paid holidays (available after 90 days)
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Life Insurance and AD&D - Employer paid for the employee
• Additional voluntary benefits for Critical Illness, Additional Life and AD&D available
• EAP Wellness and Work/Life coaches & services
• Pet care discounts
• Scrub allowance

OUR PRACTICE: Team and client relationships are the foundation of our culture. Chiefland Animal Hospital has been serving the community since 1999 and in 2021 became an Inspire Veterinary Partners hospital. We are a dedicated team with an average of 10 years of service at Chiefland. We value honesty, respect, and treat our clients as our family. Our team strives to meet the veterinary care needs of everyone in our community.

OUR COMMUNITY: Chiefland, the "Gem of Levy County", is in northern Florida, about 1 hour from Gainesville. Spend your free time at Manatee Springs state park canoeing, kayaking, hiking, horseback riding, fishing, biking, tubing, wildlife viewing, snorkeling and so much more! Chiefland is also home to Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge.

Requirements

• Education equivalent to the completion of the 12th grade.
• At least one year of recent experience in veterinary practice or medical environment, with increasing responsibilities.
• Demonstrated ability to accurately manage and record detailed information in medical records and other data-management systems.
• Ability to properly restrain patients.
• Knowledge of spelling and meaning of commonly used veterinary medical terminology and procedures.
• Ability to complete assigned tasks in the time allotted without direct supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to show empathy toward clients and treat animals with respect and compassion.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills.
• A commitment to outstanding client service.
• Ability to lift objects weighing 40 pounds without assistance and objects weighing more than 40 pounds with assistance.
• Ability to stay on task and work energetically for entire shift, sometimes exceeding 10 hours per day.