Veterinary Assistant

Cedar Creek Animal Clinic, a Thrive Pet Healthcare Partner, offers primary care services for dogs and cats in Port Orchard, Gig Harbor, Bremerton, Silverdale, and Poulsbo. We are devoted to providing quality, full-service veterinary care in the Puget Sound area. Our skilled veterinary team supports pets with compassionate care at every stage of their life. We’re equipped with an in-house laboratory, digital radiology, surgical suite, and more to provide wellness, dental, and other specialized services.

About the role

As a Veterinary Assistant, you’ll play an important role in pets’ lives by providing end-to-end care for our patients. Your responsibilities will range from hands-on care to facilitating outpatient treatments, surgical assistance, and communication with pet parents.

Responsibilities

• Support veterinarians and technicians to ensure quality veterinary care, advocate for pets, and educate clients during appointments.
• Assist veterinarians and the medical team to maximize productivity and maintain positive patient flow.
• Obtain pertinent health history and information from clients and maintain medical charts.
• Assist in maintaining relevant, comprehensive medical records with the support of practice systems.
• Use safe restraining techniques, follow standard protocols, and sustain clean, sterile, organized treatment areas, surgical suite, exam rooms, and labs.
• Prepare patients, medications, and equipment for examinations, surgery, dentistry, and sedated procedures.
• Collect and prepare patient lab samples for in-house and reference lab diagnostic screening.
• Communicate with clients about individualized pet health concerns and offer guidance on Thrive Membership options, medications, and additional treatments.
• Support fellow team members.

Requirements

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Perform basic nursing skills such as taking vital signs, venipuncture, intravenous catheter placement, medication administration, etc.
• Able to enter medical notes and maintain medical records; can type 45 wpm minimally.
• Able to lift 40 lbs unassisted.
• Strong desire to practice empathetic, gold standard medicine benefiting our patients through all life stages.
• Positive, kind, and provide trustworthy communication to patients, team members, and clients.
• Desire to constantly grow and advance as a valued team member.

Benefits

• Paid time off including 8 weeks of full-pay parental leave, bereavement to grieve both humans and pets, and time off for new pet adoptions.
• Top-quality medical, dental, and vision insurance plus health savings account and flexible spending account.
• Pet perks including free exams, discounts on products and services, and more at all Thrive Pet Healthcare locations.
• Generously subsidized backup and ongoing care support for children, adults, and pets.
• Mental health benefits including coaching and therapy sessions.
• 401k with employer contribution and no waiting period.
• Continuing education and development support through our library of free CE courses and paid time off to complete.
• Scholarship opportunities and student loan support program.

Pay

Compensation is negotiable based on credentials and experience with an hourly pay rate of $19-22 per hour. The actual rate offered will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

Career Development

At Thrive, you have the opportunity to develop your career in a way that best suits your goals. Build your skills and earn credentials through:

• Our vast, diverse, and free library of continuing education courses.
• ThriveULive, virtual interactive workshops to develop valuable leadership skills.
• A program designed to teach you the fundamentals of running a pet hospital.
• Scholarship opportunities and tuition reimbursement.
• Leadership training for a thriving and long career in the veterinary profession.