Veterinary Technician II - Large Animal Hospital

About the role

The technicians at the large animal hospital are responsible for providing high-quality nursing care and treatment to a variety of species, including horses, alpacas, goats, and pigs. They work closely with veterinary teams, residents, interns, and faculty clinicians to ensure that patients receive quality, compassionate, and timely care.

Responsibilities

• Provide high quality nursing care and treatment to all Internal Medicine, General Diagnostics and Surgery Service, and Sports Medicine Service patients as directed by clinicians/residents or supervising technicians.
• Assist other technicians in carrying out the daily patient management plan, which includes inpatient care and treatment, providing technical support for other clinicians and students, guiding, and instructing to students on rotation, and assisting with routine/emergency admissions and discharges.
• Overall observation of all LA patients. Perform treatments. Ensure general comfort and safety of animals and be alert to any unforeseen circumstances.
• Competently administer Rx as ordered. Provide instruction/assistance to fourth-year students, new hires, and visiting interns, such as catheterizations, venipuncture, rough/sterile preps, proper restraint techniques, reflux horses.
• Aid in discharge/admission of patients, grooming, leg wraps, on-loading and off-loading animals. Follow protocols as set forth by all departments within the HLA and FHSA.
• Provide emergency and routine technical assistance for all clinic admissions. Set up colic cart, catheterizations, prepare for abdominocentesis, rectal examination, reflux, assist with proper restraint techniques. Set up and use of Endoscopy equipment, Radiology equipment and various other monitoring and diagnostic devices.
• Restock and clean treatment areas (i.e., inpatient and outpatient treatment rooms, neonatal ward, isolation). Order supplies from Central Sterile as needed to assure adequate supplies are available at all times in the treatment areas.
• Maintain cleanliness and order in treatment areas as well hospital wards. Follow Biosecurity protocols. Assist in keeping isolation stalls neat and orderly.
• Teaching which includes instruction of veterinary students and student technicians in all technical aspects of patient care, and assisting in training, orienting, and mentoring new veterinary technicians in all aspects of the service.
• Additional tasks deemed necessary per Supervisor or Hospital Administration. Schedule includes participation in holiday and on-call rotation and may include occasional weekend hours. This position is considered essential and is therefore required to report to work as scheduled during emergency closings. This is a full-time floating scheduled position which the anticipated schedule being Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 11 AM -11 PM. Hours may be floated M-F 7 AM-11 PM. Once trained, there is an on-call shift is Thursday, 11:00 PM -7:00 AM.

Requirements

• Knowledge and experience typically acquired by: High School Diploma / GED Large Animal Handling Skills Required
• Must have one of the following:
• A) 3 years of experience as a VT-I in the HLA (or in a similar position)
• B) Certified Veterinary Technician in good standing.
• C) Associate OR bachelor's degree from an AVMA-accredited institution providing training in veterinary technology, veterinary nursing, or veterinary science, with 1 year experience as a VT-I in the HLA (or in a similar position).

Qualifications

• Technical skills for a Veterinary Technician II would include:
• Identification of animals in pain or distress
• Able to place an IV catheter in adult equids
• Dosage calculations for medications, fluid therapy, and continuous rate infusions
• Set up fluid therapy systems and fluid therapy monitoring
• Making physiological parameters in patients under sedation and/or general anesthesia
• Familiarity with sedatives and tranquilizers
• Ability to use point of care machines (Lactate, Blood Glucose, Foal IgG, NOVA)
• Describe steps required, and be able to assist in CPR.

Skills

• Computer proficiency/Electronic Medical Records
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. with or without accommodation.
• Veterinary Technician in good standing.

Benefits

Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University offers excellent resources, health benefits, and Continuing Education opportunities to enhance our staff and our hospital surroundings.

Pay

Pay Range Minimum $25.20, Midpoint $30.10, Maximum $34.90 Salary is based on related experience, expertise, and internal equity; generally, new hires can expect pay between the minimum and midpoint of the range.