Veterinary Technician Assistant (VTA)
The Veterinary Technician Assistant (VTA) is an essential member of the veterinary medical team. The VTA supports veterinarians and veterinary technicians with patient care, procedures, surgery, diagnostics, and daily hospital operations while helping maintain a clean, safe, and organized environment.
The ideal candidate is dependable, compassionate, attentive to detail, comfortable working with animals, and eager to learn. This position requires the ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment while treating patients, clients, and team members with professionalism and respect.
Essential Responsibilities :
Patient Care & Restraint
- Safely and compassionately restrain patients for examinations, treatments, blood draws, injections, and other procedures using appropriate fear-free handling techniques.
- Monitor hospitalized and post-operative patients as directed, including temperature, pulse, respiration, pain level, attitude, and other assigned vital signs; promptly report abnormalities to the veterinary technician or veterinarian.
- Walk, feed, water, clean, and provide comfort to hospitalized patients according to medical instructions.
- Monitor patients closely for changes in condition and communicate concerns promptly.
- Clean and groom patients as needed prior to discharge.
- Follow all isolation and infection-control protocols.
- Safely walk dogs using appropriate leash procedures and maintain control at all times.
Surgical & Dental Support
- Prepare surgical and dental areas before procedures and thoroughly clean them afterward.
- Assist with patient preparation and positioning as directed.
- Clean, disinfect, and properly maintain surgical instruments and equipment.
- Hand-wash and use the ultrasonic cleaner for surgical instruments as appropriate.
- Assemble, wrap, label, and sterilize surgical instrument packs according to established protocols.
- Operate and maintain the autoclave following hospital procedures.
- Maintain clean, organized surgical and dental areas.
Diagnostic & Radiology Support
- Assist veterinary technicians and veterinarians with patient restraint and positioning for radiographs.
- Follow radiation-safety procedures, including proper use of a dosimeter.
- Assist with operation and organization of radiology equipment and PACS as trained.
- Assist with routine in-house laboratory testing as trained and directed.
Hospital Cleanliness & Organization
- Maintain exceptional cleanliness throughout the hospital, including treatment areas, kennels, exam rooms, surgical areas, and common spaces.
- Clean and disinfect kennels promptly after patient discharge or transfer.
- Perform routine and deep-cleaning tasks during slower periods.
- Maintain laundry throughout the day, including washing, drying, folding, and stocking clean bedding and towels.
- Keep patient areas clean, comfortable, and appropriately stocked.
- Empty trash and recycling and complete end-of-shift waste removal.
- Immediately clean spills, body fluids, feces, urine, and other sources of contamination.
- Maintain clean and organized supply stations and notify the appropriate team member when supplies are running low.
- Unpack and properly store incoming inventory.
- Check supplies for expiration dates and remove outdated products as directed.
General Hospital Support
- Prepare exam rooms and treatment areas for daily patient care.
- Set up supplies and equipment needed for examinations and procedures.
- Maintain awareness of open doors and other potential escape routes to protect patient safety.
- Assist with patient discharge and help clients safely transfer patients to their vehicles when needed.
- Assist with reception and client flow when requested, including greeting clients, escorting patients to exam rooms, and maintaining clean exam and reception areas.
- Maintain accurate records and document relevant patient-care information as directed.
- Maintain strict confidentiality regarding clients and patients.
- Attend required staff meetings and training.
- Complete assigned opening and closing duties.
- Remain productive during slower periods by completing cleaning, stocking, laundry, and other assigned tasks.
Professional Expectations
- Arrive prepared and ready to work at the scheduled start of each shift.
- Maintain a professional appearance, including clean, neat scrubs.
- Communicate respectfully and professionally with clients, patients, and team members.
- Maintain a calm, positive, and professional demeanor in a fast-paced environment.
- Demonstrate compassion and patience with patients and their owners.
- Follow hospital policies, safety procedures, OSHA requirements, and infection-control protocols.
- Be willing to learn new skills and accept direction and feedback from veterinarians, technicians, and management.
- Treat every patient with kindness, dignity, and appropriate care at all times.
Physical Requirements & Work Environment
This position is performed in a veterinary hospital and requires frequent standing, walking, bending, crouching, reaching, lifting, and carrying. The VTA must be able to lift and safely handle patients weighing up to 50 pounds independently when appropriate and use team-lifting techniques for heavier patients.
The position involves exposure to animals, animal waste, bodily fluids, cleaning chemicals, medical equipment, and other conditions commonly associated with veterinary medicine. Appropriate personal protective equipment and safety procedures must be followed.
Schedule
Full-time position consisting of five 8-hour shifts per week.
Qualifications
- Must be at least 18 years of age.
- High school diploma or GED required.
- Minimum of one year of animal-handling experience preferred/required.
- Veterinary hospital, kennel, shelter, or other animal-care experience preferred.
- Strong work ethic and dependable attendance.
- Excellent attention to cleanliness, organization, and detail.
- Ability to work effectively as part of a team.
- Compassionate and confident when handling animals.
- Willingness to learn and develop veterinary technical skills.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $13.00 - $16.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Continuing education credits
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Uniform allowance
- Vision insurance
Ability to Relocate:
- Mount Juliet, TN 37122: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person
