Emergency Veterinary Technician

Careerwebsite; Hickory, Northern (NC, KY); Hybrid; USD 29,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off and holidays

Employee pet care discounts

Professional membership and licensure

Job summary

Carolina Animal Specialty and Emergency Hospital (CASE) in Hickory, NC, seeks an experienced Emergency Veterinary Technician to join our fast-paced emergency team. Full-time 12-hour shifts on first and swing shifts are available.

You will provide hands-on nursing care for emergency, critical care, and hospitalized patients, assisting veterinarians with exams, treatments, and stabilization. RVT credential is preferred and CPR certification is a plus.

Qualifications

• Experienced RVTs or Veterinary Assistants wanted for fast-paced emergency care.
• Experience in Emergency, Critical Care, ICU, or high-volume GP is strongly preferred.
• Strong communication, teamwork, organization, and critical-thinking skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide hands-on nursing care for emergency, critical care, and hospitalized patients.
• Assist veterinarians with emergency exams, treatments, procedures, and patient stabilization.
• Perform venipuncture, IV catheter placement, medication administration, fluid therapy, and laboratory diagnostics.
• Monitor patient vital signs, pain, sedation, treatment response, and changes in condition.
• Assist with radiology, anesthesia, wound care, oxygen therapy, and emergency procedures.
• Prepare and monitor patients for surgery and advanced diagnostics.
• Support CPR and emergency response when needed.
• Maintain accurate medical records and communicate patient updates effectively.
• Work closely with Emergency, Critical Care, Surgery, Internal Medicine, Anesthesia, and other specialty teams.
• Provide compassionate care and clear communication for clients during stressful situations.

Skills

Animal restraint

Venipuncture

IV catheter placement

Laboratory diagnostics

Patient monitoring

Emergency response

Nursing care

Education

RVT credential preferred

Tools

RECOVER CPR certification

Job description

Emergency Veterinary Technician

Department: Veterinary Technicians

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Hickory, North Carolina

Reporting To: Ashlin White

Compensation: $21.00 - $26.00 / hour

Description

Bring Your Emergency Veterinary Skills to CASE

Carolina Animal Specialty and Emergency (CASE) | Hickory, NC

Full-Time | 12-Hour Shifts Available on First Shift and Swing Shift

CASE is growing our Emergency and Critical Care team and is currently hiring Emergency Veterinary Technicians to support three open positions created by team growth, transfers, and departmental movement.

We’re looking for experienced Registered Veterinary Technicians (RVT), and skilled Veterinary Assistants who thrive in a fast-paced emergency environment and want to practice alongside experienced Emergency, Critical Care, Surgery, and Specialty teams.

We are hiring for:

• Day Shift: 6:00 AM-6:00 PM


• Day Shift: 8:00 AM-8:00 PM


• Evening Shift: 2:00 PM-2:00 AM

What You’ll Do

• Provide hands‑on nursing care for emergency, critical care, and hospitalized patients


• Assist veterinarians with emergency exams, treatments, procedures, and patient stabilization


• Perform venipuncture, IV catheter placement, medication administration, fluid therapy, and laboratory diagnostics


• Monitor patient vital signs, pain, sedation, treatment response, and changes in condition


• Assist with radiology, anesthesia, wound care, oxygen therapy, and emergency procedures


• Prepare and monitor patients for surgery and advanced diagnostics


• Support CPR and emergency response when needed


• Maintain accurate medical records and communicate patient updates effectively


• Work closely with Emergency, Critical Care, Surgery, Internal Medicine, Anesthesia, and other specialty teams


• Provide compassionate care and clear communication for clients during stressful situations

What We’re Looking For

• Previous experience as a Veterinary Technician or Veterinary Assistant required


• Experience in Emergency, Critical Care, ICU, Specialty, Urgent Care, or high-volume General Practice strongly preferred


• Strong skills in:
  
  
  • Animal restraint and patient handling
  
  
  • Venipuncture and IV catheter placement
  
  
  • Laboratory diagnostics and sample collection
  
  
  • Medication administration and fluid therapy
  
  
  • Patient monitoring and nursing care
  
  
  • Emergency response and stabilization
  
  


• RVT credential preferred


• RECOVER CPR certification preferred or willingness to obtain


• Strong communication, teamwork, organization, and critical‑thinking skills


• Ability to remain calm and focused in a fast‑paced emergency veterinary hospital

Experienced Veterinary Assistants with strong clinical, emergency, ICU, or high‑volume veterinary experience are encouraged to apply.

Physical & Clinical Requirements

• Stand, walk, bend, kneel, reach, and remain active throughout 12‑hour shifts


• Safely lift, carry, restrain, and position patients up to 50 lbs. with assistance when appropriate


• Perform repetitive technical tasks including venipuncture, catheter placement, medication administration, patient monitoring, and equipment operation


• Work around blood, bodily fluids, sharps, medical gases, anesthetic agents, cleaning products, and animal dander


• Respond quickly during emergencies and CPR situations


• Adapt to changing priorities in a high‑volume Emergency and Specialty hospital

Grow Your Surgery and Anesthesia Career

• Continuing education allowance + paid CE time


• Paid training and specialty skill development


• Tuition reimbursement opportunities


• Specialty technician growth and leadership development


• Licensure renewal support


• Student loan assistance opportunities


• Career advancement within the Innovetive Petcare network


• Mentorship from experienced surgeons, anesthetists, and specialty clinicians

Eligible recently credentialed RVTs may also qualify for HeadStart Student Loan Support, including student loan assistance and professional development resources.

Full-Time Benefits

• Competitive compensation


• Medical, dental, and vision insurance


• 401(k) with company match


• Paid time off and holidays


• Life insurance


• Employee assistance and mental health resources


• Employee pet care discounts


• Professional membership and licensure support

Why Hickory?

Build your career with a growing Emergency and Specialty veterinary hospital in Hickory, NC, with easy access to Charlotte, Asheville, and the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Ready to Advance Your Career in Emergency Medicine?

If you’re an experienced Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) or Veterinary Assistant looking for an opportunity to practice advanced medicine, we want to meet you.

About Carolina Animal Specialty and Emergency Hospital

Carolina Animal Specialty and Emergency Hospital is a multi‑specialty practice with specialists in internal medicine, surgery, behavior, rehabilitation and 24‑hour emergency and critical care housed in a beautiful newly built 12,000‑square‑foot hospital in Hickory, NC.

We have a spacious hospital with a fully staffed ICU with DVM and highly skilled 24 hr support team to manage a high volume patient case load with 12 exam rooms. In hospital we have comprehensive in‑house laboratory equipment that includes chemistry, cbc, epoc, blood gas, sedivue, fecal imagyst, telecytometry, ability to have consultation and recommendation from boarded radiologist and clinical pathologist for best in the moment patient care, oxygen therapy (multiple snyder icu cages and high flow). We have the ability to provide superior specialty care with computed tomography, fluoroscopy, digital radiology, color‑flow doppler ultrasound, endoscopy, minimally invasive surgical equipment, and comprehensive surgical instrumentation. We are able to provide radioactive iodine therapy for cats with hyperthyroidism and have a fully equipped rehabilitation suite with k‑laser, e‑stim, oasis underwater treadmill as well as exercise treadmill for assisting patients with pre and post op recovery.

We have a team of highly skilled board‑certified specialists, emergency clinicians, veterinary technicians, and support staff that believe in compassionate care, always being prepared, supportive, excellence and quality in everything we do for our patients and encourage individuals who embrace a fast‑paced atmosphere with honesty, positive attitude and transparency.

Hear more about working with us from the team at Carolina Animal Specialty and Emergency Hospital!

Equal Opportunity Employer Policy

Carolina Animal Specialty and Emergency is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a member of E‑Verify. We are proudly committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce. We do not discriminate based on age, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, disability, or any other non‑merit factor. All qualified applicants, including minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.