ER/ICU Veterinary Assistant (VA)

Cerro Alto Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital; San Luis Obispo (CA); On-site; USD 29,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hourly pay $21.50-$28.50

Health, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with employer match

Paid sick time and vacation time

Yearly scrub allowance $200

AtDove membership

Collaborative work culture

Live and work in San Luis Obispo

Job summary

Cerro Alto Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Hospital in San Luis Obispo seeks an ER/ICU Veterinary Assistant to join our fast-paced team. You will work alongside emergency doctors and support staff to care for critically ill patients, coordinate diagnostics, monitor anesthesia, and communicate with clients.

This role offers growth opportunities, competitive hourly pay, benefits, and shift differentials within a modern facility.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2–3 years of experience as a veterinary assistant.
• Experience in a specialty and/or emergency veterinary hospital is preferred.
• Strong clinical skills including IVC placement, patient monitoring, restraint, and phlebotomy.
• Strong communication skills and ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment.
• Commitment to growth and professional development.
• Reliable attendance and punctuality.

Responsibilities

• Triage and intake patients, present to the emergency doctor.
• Coordinate diagnostics, laboratory testing, and imaging.
• Monitor patients following anesthesia or sedation and report changes.
• Provide hands-on care for emergency and critical patients, including CPR.
• Assist with treatments, patient handling, restraint, and transport throughout the hospital.
• Communicate with clients regarding patient updates, care plans, and discharge instructions.
• Collaborate daily with specialty teams to provide consistent patient care.
• Mentor and support junior Veterinary Assistants and Hospital Assistants.

Skills

IVC placement

Patient monitoring

Restraint

Phlebotomy

Communication skills

Multitasking

Growth mindset

Reliability

Job description

Position Overview

ER/ICU Veterinary Assistant

As a member of our ER/ICU team, you will work alongside our emergency doctors and clinical support staff to care for patients with a wide range of urgent and critical conditions. You’ll support patient care in both the ER and ICU, while working closely with our specialty services to provide consistent care throughout each patient’s stay. This position is ideal for an experienced veterinary professional looking to build their clinical skills and grow in a fast-paced emergency and critical care environment.

Employment decisions are made without regard to protected characteristics under federal, state, or local law.

Essential Job Duties

• Triage and intake patients, collect histories, and present patients to the emergency doctor
• Coordinate and perform diagnostics, laboratory testing, and imaging
• Monitor patients following anesthesia or sedation and report changes in condition to the appropriate team member
• Provide hands-on care for emergency and critical patients, including critical care monitoring and CPR
• Assist with treatments, patient handling, restraint, and transport throughout the hospital
• Communicate with clients regarding patient updates, care plans, and discharge instructions
• Collaborate daily with specialty teams to provide consistent patient care
• Mentor and support junior Veterinary Assistants and Hospital Assistants

These duties represent the essential functions of the position but are not intended to be an exhaustive list.

Qualifications & Skills

• A minimum of 2-3 years of experience as a veterinary assistant (required)
• Experience in a specialty and/or emergency veterinary hospital (preferred)
• Strong clinical skills including but not limited to: IVC placement, patient monitoring, restraint, and phlebotomy
• Strong communication skills
• Ability to multitask, prioritize, and remain calm in a fast-paced environment
• A commitment to growth and professional development
• Reliable attendance and punctuality

Scheduling & Availability Requirements

• This position is based in a 24/7 emergency and specialty hospital.
• For full-time: reliable availability to work three to four 10-hour shifts or four to five 8-hour shifts
• For part-time: reliable availability to work at least two 10-hour shifts or two 8-hour shifts

Requests for schedule modifications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and may be considered where reasonable and consistent with business operations and applicable law.

What We Offer

• Compensation of $21.50-$28.50 per hour based on experience and skill level
• Comprehensive benefits package for eligible employees, including health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with employer match
• Paid sick time and vacation time for eligible employees
• A yearly scrub allowance of $200 for eligible employees
• An AtDove membership to support clinical growth and development
• A collaborative, respectful workplace culture
• Exposure to emergency and specialty veterinary medicine in a modern facility
• The opportunity to live and work in San Luis Obispo, with access to outdoor recreation, wineries, and a vibrant community

Shift Differentials

We recognize the value of overnight and weekend coverage and offer additional compensation for eligible hours worked:

• Overnight Differential : +$3.00/hour for hours worked between 8:00 PM and 6:00 AM
• Weekend Differential : +$3.00/hour for hours worked between Friday at 8:00 PM and Monday at 6:00 AM

These differentials are separate and cumulative. Team members working eligible overnight hours during the weekend differential period may earn both differentials, providing the opportunity to earn up to an additional $6.00/hour above their base rate.

Join Our Team!

If you are an experienced veterinary professional looking to grow your career in emergency and specialty medicine, we would love to hear from you! Join us in shaping the future of veterinary medicine while making a meaningful impact on the lives of pets and their families.

For more information about Cerro Alto Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Hospital, visit our website at www.cerroaltovet.com. We look forward to welcoming you to the Cerro Alto Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital team!