***MUST have veterinary experience
Schedule:TBD
Hours: Hours dependent on business needs
Training at Peoria hospital prior to transferring to the Buckeye hospital (timeframe not determined)
The purpose of the Veterinary Technician is to provide high quality medical support and nursing care to companion animal patients. The Veterinary Technicians assist within outpatient and/or inpatient departments. All teams are under the direction of the doctor on staff. The doctor is the lead, and will be prioritizing patients, directing the team, and is the ultimate decision maker for all medical treatments. The Shift Leads are the leads for managing the floor and its flow.
Technical Duties
- Assist veterinarians in the practice of veterinary medicine and surgery
- Proficient IV catheter placement
- Proficient and accurate drug calculations and administration
- Quality nursing and husbandry care of patients
- Strong working knowledge of veterinary procedures and pharmacology
- Perform in‐hospital lab testing and prepare specimens for outside labs, as needed
- Perform and/or participate in all other diagnostics such as radiology, ultrasound, ECG,
- BP and glucose monitoring
- Assist veterinarians in outpatient exams by taking histories, vital signs and weights as well as providing client education
- Provide nursing care for in‐hospital patients including all DVM requested treatments, diagnostics and medications
- Accurately and completely record all treatments
- Conduct pre‐admission exams and discharge hospitalized patient
- Perform client callbacks as necessary
- Maintain legally defensible medical records in cooperation with veterinarians
- Actively engages in Rounds, Rounds delivered/received at shift changes, anytime a staff member comes/leaves, Rounds will be complete, detailed and relative to patient & client care
Examinations & Triage
- Prepare and maintain exam rooms (cleanliness and stocking of supplies)
- Assist veterinarians in exam rooms by taking patients’ history, vital signs and weight; preparing vaccines and medications; and assisting with medical records
- Collect samples and perform a variety of in‐house diagnostic tests, as needed
- Fill prescriptions per veterinarians’ instructions
- Educate clients about medication instructions and administration
- Perform admission exams for patients being hospitalized, including weight, vital signs and pre‐surgical exam
- Perform pre‐anesthetic exams on surgery patients if the veterinarian has not already assessed patients
- Discharge patients as requested; review discharge instructions
Laboratory (when lab tech is not available)
- Responsible for in‐hospital lab testing such as intestinal parasite screens, pre‐anesthetic testing, senior screens, complete blood count, urinalysis, heartworm, tick‐borne diseases, Feline Leukemia, FIV, cytology, etc.
- Collect and prepare samples for both in‐house and outside laboratories
- Report diagnostic testing results to veterinarians
- Maintain quality controls and record keeping on in‐house lab equipment
- Complete proper sample preparation and paperwork for outside diagnostic laboratory tests
Treatment
- Perform treatments noted on treatment board and in medical records (hospitalized patients and other specialties)
- Assist veterinarians with daily treatments
- Monitor intensive care patients
- Provide nursing and husbandry care
- Facilitate patient radiographs
- Record x‐rays in log and medical records; attach digital images to the patient record
- Use and maintain IV pumps
Surgery
- Set up the surgical areas
- Keep surgical materials stocked
- Prepare gown and surgical packs
- Check oxygen lines and waste gas scavenger system; turn off scavenger system after surgical procedures are completed
- Prepare instruments; knowledge of surgical instruments required for specific surgeries
- Prepare patient for surgery including pre‐op medications, induction/intubation and surgery prep
- Monitor anesthesia utilizing equipment such as pulse oximeter and electrocardiogram
- Maintain anesthesia machine
- Assist veterinarian performing surgery
- Monitor patients through anesthesia recovery
- Ensure the cleaning of the surgery suite and surgical instruments after each procedure following hospital sterilization protocols
- Keep accurate anesthesia/surgical medical records
- Ensure hospital patients go home well-groomed and in an appropriate medical state; remove catheters
Medical Records
- Update medical records with progress note
- Communicate with doctors and technicians through notations in medical records
- Record information for hospitalized patients including:
- Hospitalized procedures such as surgeries, radiographs and dentistry
- Pre‐surgical exam findings, anesthesia risk
- Time anesthesia begins, ends and how many minutes
- Lab test results
- Dental charts
- Injections, medications, fluid therapy, pain management
- Note homecare instructions given to and reviewed with client, as needed
- Collect signatures and/or verbal consent forms and estimates/treatment plans and documents accordingly
- Effectively and accurately communicates all treatment and cost estimates to owners
Housekeeping Duties
- Maintain cleanliness of surgery suite, treatment area and exams rooms for all surfaces, including lights, tables, cabinets, walls and floors
- Maintain equipment cleanliness and longevity by vacuuming pet hair from keyboards, wheels and equipment
- Vacuum computer keyboards in treatment area, lab/pharmacy and exam rooms
- Clean glass windows and doors in surgery suite, treatment area and exam rooms
- Sweep and mop floors in surgery suite, exam rooms and treatment area
- Keep food and drinks out of treatment area and surgery suite
- Discard syringes in proper containers
- Empty trash
- Clean water and food bowls for hospitalized pets
- Clean cages and bedding for hospitalized pets
- Organize radiology gowns, gloves and badges, making sure they are neatly hung or stored
- Scrub and polish sinks
- Wipe down walls and baseboards in the surgery suite, treatment area and exam rooms
- Clean cages
- Do laundry
- Participates and signs off on the Closing Checklist
Administrative Duties
Inventory
- Log controlled drugs
- Know how to use the inventory module in our veterinary practice‐management software
- Restock shelves and drawers in exam rooms and treatment area
Safety
- Follow OSHA requirements
- Follow practice’s health and safety protocols
Administrative
- Be proficient in using our veterinary practice‐management software (EzyVet, SmartFlow, Timeless)
- Assist Client Administrators as necessary
- Attend staff and individual meetings as scheduled
Client Services (front desk)
- Answer incoming phone calls; respond with appropriate information; encourage patient exam/evaluation
- Greet incoming clients/patients; facilitate medical record paperwork/computer entry
- Create estimates for services as requested by the doctor
- Admit/discharge patients
- Collaborate with pDVMs
Teamwork:
1. Participates in a positive manner in all group sizes.
2. Refrains from participating in gossip‐leads by example.
3. Supporting team members by assisting other areas while being receptive to feedback and suggestions.
4. Engages in active problem‐solving vs. problem‐identifying.
5. Makes suggestions related to client/patient service improvements and hospital efficiency.
Knowledge/Skills:
1. Experience is equivalent to job duties and responsibilities
2. Excellent veterinary nursing and technical skills
3. Excellent communication skills – written and verbal
4. Strong computer skills
5. Strong ability to multi‐task, delegate and oversee daily workflow
6. Strong working knowledge of emergency veterinary medicine
7. Strong work ethic and professionalism
Physical Requirements:
1. Able to properly restrain dog and cat patients for veterinary care and procedures
2. Able to stand, sit, bend, restrain, squat for extended periods of time
3. Able to function within a busy, stressful work environment in a mature, professional manner
4. Able to lift 60 lbs. in a safe manner
5. Able to type, write and verbally converse
6. Able to work the posted schedule
Pay: From $19.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Uniform allowance
- Vision insurance
People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply
Location:
- Litchfield Park, AZ 85340 (Preferred)
Shift availability:
- Overnight Shift (Required)
Ability to Commute:
- Litchfield Park, AZ 85340 (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
