Veterinary Assistant Surgery
VCA Veterinary Specialists of CT is looking to expand their surgery team with the addition of an experienced surgery veterinary assistant to join the specialty team at our 24-7 hybrid & specialty referral hospital in West Hartford, CT. We have a unique culture that values team building, connectivity, and wellness, and we strive to celebrate each person’s individual skill and career progression. Our team shares a devotion to providing progressive medicine with compassionate care.
Schedule
Potential Schedule: Wednesday and Thursday 10a–7p, Friday 12p–5p. Weekends may be needed in the future.
Pay
Compensation: $18 – $20 / hr based on skill set and experience.
Responsibilities
- Maintain a rigorous cleaning schedule of the surgical suite
- Perform inventory audits and clearly communicate supply needs to Inventory Manager
- Clean surgical instruments using surgical sterilization techniques
- Prepare surgical packs for sterilization
- Properly set up and run sterilization equipment – gas sterilizer and autoclave
- Weekly autoclave maintenance and cleaning of the ultrasonic scaler
- Decontaminate and clean operating rooms and equipment after surgical procedures
- Maintain proper stock of surgical supplies in pack area and surgical suites
- Patient restraint for bandage changes, catheter placement, etc.
- Run basic in-house bloodwork
- Assist with patient pre-surgical preparations and other duties pertaining to surgical operations
- Ensure that all surgical equipment is in proper working order
Requirements
- Strong organizational skills
- Professional, excellent interpersonal skills, and maintain a positive attitude in stressful times
- Ability to handle prioritizing multiple tasks and willingness to adapt to changes in the moment
- Understanding of surgical equipment and sterilization techniques (preferred)
- Patient handling skills and a basic knowledge of veterinary medicine
Benefits
- Access to the people and financial resources of a large veterinary community
- Veterinary Technician education tuition support and scholarships
- Generous hospital discounts and product discounts
- Growth & leadership opportunities
- Career development programs
- Competitive wage
- Free access to Plumbs
- Free mental health resources and wellness subscriptions (Headspace)
- Free VetGirl Subscription
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage
- Paid vacation/sick days
- 401(k)
- Generous employee pet discounts
About the workplace
Whether you are a seasoned veterinary professional or just starting your journey in veterinary medicine, we welcome diverse experience and skillsets. Our hospital provides advanced General Practice, multiple boarded specialists in Internal Medicine, Critical Care, Cardiology, and Surgery, as well as endoscopy, emergency, orthopedic and soft-tissue surgeries, and advanced diagnostic imaging including MRI. We aim to provide clients and their pets with a comfortable environment that focuses on diverse needs, including plasma-rich protein injections, holistic medicine, and new cutting-edge treatments.
As a team, we work hard but also celebrate wins together through field days, seasonal contests, and potlucks. We are committed to equity, inclusion, and diversity, striving to be a place where a talented mix of people want to come, stay, and do their best work.