Licensed Veterinary Technician or Assistant - Oncology Service

Animal Emergency & Referral Center of Minnesota; Oakdale (MN); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Animal Emergency & Referral Center of Minnesota is seeking a Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) or Veterinary Assistant to join our Oncology Service. You will care for oncology patients from intake through treatment, administer chemotherapy, and coordinate complex patient care while supporting families during a difficult time.

The ideal candidate has strong nursing skills, experience with venipuncture, IV catheter placement, dosing calculations, and a teamwork mindset.

Qualifications

• Licensed LVT or VA with strong nursing and technical skills.
• Experience with chemotherapy safety and handling protocols.
• Ability to perform or assist with radiographs, sample collection, and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Provide advanced nursing care for oncology patients from intake through follow-up.
• Administer chemo treatments and verify dosages and protocols.
• Coordinate care with Surgery, Internal Medicine, Diagnostics, and Emergency teams.
• Maintain accurate medical records and treatment documentation.
• Educate and support clients navigating cancer care decisions.

Skills

Venipuncture

IV catheter placement

Chemotherapy administration

Medication calculations

Patient assessment

Radiographs / imaging

Client communication

Education

Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT)

Veterinary Assistant certification

Job description

Licensed Veterinary Technician or Veterinary Assistant – OncologyHelp pets fight cancer. Help their people through it.Oncology is medicine, science, problem-solving—and a whole lot of heart.At Animal Emergency & Referral Center of Minnesota (AERC), we're looking for a Licensed Veterinary Technician or Veterinary Assistant to join our Oncology Service and work alongside our oncology team caring for pets and families navigating a cancer diagnosis.You'll use advanced technical skills, administer chemotherapy, coordinate complex patient care, and become a trusted resource for clients who may be having one of the hardest days of their lives.If you love technical medicine but don't want to lose the human side of veterinary care, Oncology may be exactly where you belong.What You'll DoAs an Oncology LVT, you'll be an integral part of each patient's care from intake through treatment and follow-up.You'll:Provide advanced nursing care for Oncology patientsPerform patient assessments, blood draws, IV catheter placement, radiographs, and diagnostic sample collectionPrepare and safely administer IV, oral, injectable, and other chemotherapy treatmentsVerify chemotherapy calculations, dosages, treatment protocols, and required laboratory resultsMonitor patients during treatment and recognize potential adverse reactionsAssist with biopsies, imaging, sedated procedures, and other diagnosticsCoordinate patient care with Surgery, Internal Medicine, Diagnostic Imaging, Emergency & Critical Care, and other specialty teamsCare for hospitalized Oncology patients when neededMaintain accurate medical records and treatment documentationProvide guidance and supervision to Veterinary Assistants in accordance with Minnesota requirementsYou'll Also Spend a Lot of Time With PeopleCancer treatment isn't just about treating the patient.Our Oncology Technicians build relationships with the people who love them.You'll communicate with clients in person, by phone, email, text, and other approved platforms; provide patient updates; review medications and discharge instructions; explain chemotherapy precautions and home monitoring; and help clients understand what comes next.Sometimes that means celebrating a great response to treatment.Sometimes it means helping someone navigate a difficult decision.Both matter.Chemotherapy Safety MattersYou'll receive training and follow established protocols for the safe preparation, handling, administration, and disposal of chemotherapy and other hazardous medications.That includes proper PPE, exposure prevention, spill procedures, waste handling, and safe patient-care practices.Attention to detail isn't just appreciated in this role—it's essential.What We're Looking ForWe're looking for an LVT or experienced VA who brings strong technical skills along with curiosity, empathy, and good judgment.You'll likely thrive here if you:Enjoy complex medical cases and learning the "why" behind treatmentHave strong venipuncture and IV catheter skillsAre comfortable with medication and dosage calculationsCan remain calm and focused when things don't go according to planCommunicate clearly and compassionately with clientsNotice the detailsEnjoy collaborating across multiple specialty servicesWant to continue growing as a veterinary professionalPreferred: Two or more years of emergency, specialty, or referral experience. Previous Oncology experience is wonderful, but advanced veterinary experience and a genuine interest in Oncology are also valuable.VTS (Oncology), RECOVER CPR, and Fear Free certification are also a plus.A Role With Room to GrowOncology offers an incredible opportunity to develop advanced skills in chemotherapy, cancer biology, diagnostics, patient care, and client education.We also value technicians who share what they know. As your expertise grows, you'll have opportunities to help train and mentor other team members in Oncology patient care and chemotherapy safety.Interested in pursuing a Veterinary Technician Specialty (VTS) in Oncology? Even better.We're One HospitalYour primary home will be Oncology, but AERC is a collaborative emergency and specialty hospital.Our specialty support team members are expected to help other services when operational needs require and participate in after-hours support through an assigned specialty on-call rotation or by supporting Emergency & Critical Care during weekends, holidays, or other staffing needs.We're at our best when we help each other.Why AERC?AERC is a locally owned emergency and specialty veterinary hospital.You'll work alongside specialists, emergency clinicians, LVTs, veterinary assistants, and support professionals who care deeply about excellent medicine—and about the people doing the work.You'll find opportunities for:Advanced specialty medicineContinuing education and professional developmentMentorship and collaborationBuilding specialized technical skillsPursuing advanced credentials and career growthAnd because we're locally owned, the people making decisions about our hospital are part of the hospital.We believe you can practice excellent medicine, support families through incredibly difficult moments, laugh with your coworkers, keep learning, and genuinely enjoy coming to work.If you're ready to put your technical skills, compassion, and curiosity to work in veterinary oncology, we'd love to meet you.