Veterinary Assistant - Emergency and Critical Care

About the role

The Veterinary Teaching Hospital is seeking a Veterinary Assistant to provide patient care and service support in the Emergency Room and Intensive Care Unit under the supervision of veterinarians and veterinary technicians.

Responsibilities

• Provide basic patient care in a professional and courteous manner under the supervision of a veterinarian or veterinary technician.
• Work as a team with veterinary technicians, students, interns, residents, and faculty to provide care for patients which may include, but is not limited to, post-surgical, chronic conditions, and isolation, which may include methicillin resistant organisms and zoonotic diseases.
• Use problem solving skills to assist with patient care in emergent and non-emergent situations.
• Directly monitor patient status, under veterinary supervision, including those hospitalized and recovering from anesthesia.
• Recognize and report physical abnormalities such as, but not limited to, respiratory difficulty and distress, change in mentation, abnormal physical exam findings, and signs of shock.
• Recognize and report pulmonary or cardiopulmonary arrest.
• Restrain patients using appropriate restraint techniques.
• Facilitate patient transport between clinical areas.
• Provide support to veterinary technicians using basic monitoring equipment such as indirect blood pressure (doppler and oscillometric), electrocardiogram (ECG), pulse oximetry, and continuous temperature monitoring.
• Complete and review patient monitoring and treatments as directed on the patient's care plan, such as a patient care flow sheet or patient record.
• Report abnormal findings when something is not within the set call parameters.
• Report issues and assist veterinary technicians with the set up and maintenance of indwelling urinary catheters, Jackson-Pratt grenade style drains, intravenous catheters, feeding tubes, nasal oxygen, nebulization, fluid and syringe pumps.
• Aid in the set up for patient treatments and procedures under the direct or written orders of the veterinarian.
• Provide support to veterinary technicians in set-up and administration of enteral feedings through nasogastric (NG), nasoesophageal (NE), esophagostromy (E-tube), gastrostomy (G-tube), percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG), or jejunostomy (J-tube), as directed by the veterinarian.
• Maintain the cleanliness of animal and work areas, instruments and equipment based on set infection control protocols and hospital standards, as well as complete daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning assignments.
• Stock and maintain clinical supplies and maintain inventory records.
• Aid in the documentation and troubleshooting issues with equipment.
• Document treatments, procedures, supplies and thorough notes on the patient's medical record.
• Record and enter charges.
• Serve as a backup to the front desk: answer phones, register patients into HIS, and collect payments.
• Perform electronic submission of samples to clinical pathology and the diagnostic laboratory.
• Facilitate processing of laboratory samples such as venous and arterial blood gases, packed cell volume (PCV)/total solids (TS), blood glucose (BG), lactate, ketostick, etc.
• Facilitate facilities maintenance tasks.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Knowledge of general care and handling of companion species of animals (dogs, cats, birds, exotics).
• Working knowledge of infection control protocols and hospital standards.
• Working knowledge of medical and veterinary terminology.
• Knowledge of operating computers and hospital information systems.
• Skills in the operation of surgical, laboratory, and diagnostic equipment.
• Able to adapt to new technologies, procedures, and equipment.
• Able to recognize abnormalities in vital signs of patients and report to veterinary staff.
• Able to operate on the clinical floor and anticipate needs and directions of staff and students regarding patients and methods of care.
• Able to observe, record, compile, and assimilate date.
• Able to explain terminology used in veterinary medicine.
• Knowledge related to the care and handling of anesthetic waste gas and federal regulations and university and hospital policies regarding the use and handling of controlled substances will be taught.
• Able to multi-task, pay close attention to details, and work calmly and professionally under pressure.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Courteous and polite.