Surgery Veterinary Assistant

VCA Animal Hospitals; West Palm Beach (FL); On-site; USD 30,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid vacation and sick time

Paid parental leave

Mental wellness resources including to

Continuing education and internal devl

Job summary

VCA Palm Beach Veterinary Specialists in West Palm Beach, FL seeks a dedicated Veterinary Assistant to join the Surgery team. As part of our specialty hospital, you will assist doctors and technicians through the surgical process and provide high-quality patient care.

Responsibilities include prepping patients, assisting with anesthesia, restraining patients, handling instruments, maintaining sterile surgery suites, and documenting care. Experience preferred; passion for surgery essential.

Qualifications

• Previous veterinary assistant experience.
• Strong interest in surgery and learning advanced veterinary medicine.
• Comfortable working with dogs and cats of varying sizes, temperaments, and medical needs.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow detailed protocols.
• Team-oriented, dependable, and compassionate.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment while maintaining excellent patient care.

Responsibilities

• Preparing patients for surgery and assisting with pre-operative care.
• Assisting the surgery and anesthesia teams during procedures.
• Patient restraint, catheter placement, sample collection, and treatment support.
• Monitoring and caring for patients before and after surgery.
• Preparing and maintaining surgical suites, equipment, and supplies.
• Assisting with surgical instrument preparation, cleaning, and sterilization.
• Providing compassionate care and close monitoring of hospitalized patients.
• Maintaining accurate medical records and following hospital protocols.
• Supporting the Surgery team wherever needed to ensure excellent patient care.

Skills

Previous veterinary assistant exp

Surgery interest

Team player

Attention to detail

Ability to work in fast-paced env

Job description

Are you a Veterinary Assistant who wants to take your skills to the next level? VCA Palm Beach Veterinary Specialists is looking for a dedicated and compassionate Veterinary Assistant to join our Surgery team!

Our hospital is one of Florida’s leading specialty and emergency veterinary hospitals, bringing multiple specialties together under one roof. Our Surgery service is led by experienced, board-certified veterinary surgeons and provides advanced care for complex orthopedic, soft tissue, neurologic, reconstructive, and emergency surgical cases.

What You’ll Do:

As a Surgery Veterinary Assistant, you’ll work closely with our doctors and veterinary technicians to provide high-quality patient care throughout the surgical process. Responsibilities may include:

• Preparing patients for surgery and assisting with pre-operative care
• Assisting the surgery and anesthesia teams during procedures
• Patient restraint, catheter placement, sample collection, and treatment support
• Monitoring and caring for patients before and after surgery
• Preparing and maintaining surgical suites, equipment, and supplies
• Assisting with surgical instrument preparation, cleaning, and sterilization
• Providing compassionate care and close monitoring of hospitalized patients
• Maintaining accurate medical records and following hospital protocols
• Supporting the Surgery team wherever needed to ensure excellent patient care

Why Join VCA Palm Beach Veterinary Specialists?

This is an excellent opportunity for a Veterinary Assistant who is interested in surgery, specialty medicine, and advancing their veterinary skills. You’ll gain exposure to complex cases and work alongside experienced veterinary professionals in a collaborative specialty environment.

Our Surgery service performs a wide range of advanced procedures, including orthopedic and bone/joint surgery, TPLOs, total hip replacements, soft tissue and reconstructive surgery, minimally invasive procedures, emergency surgery, and more.

What We’re Looking For:

• Previous veterinary assistant experience
• A strong interest in surgery and learning advanced veterinary medicine
• Comfortable working with dogs and cats of varying sizes, temperaments, and medical needs
• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow detailed protocols
• Team-oriented, dependable, and compassionate
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment while maintaining excellent patient care

Total Rewards

As a VCA Associate, eligible full-time employees receive a comprehensive benefits package which may include:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid vacation and sick time
• Paid parental leave
• Mental wellness resources including Headspace and Lyra
• Continuing education and internal development programs

Discover Additional Benefits | VCA (vcacareers.com)

Compensation

$22.00 – $28.00/hour

Pay range is negotiable based on experience, education, skills, and credentials.

Schedule

Full-time opportunity, 4 x 10 hour shifts.

Join the Surgery team at VCA Palm Beach Veterinary Specialists and be part of a team providing advanced care to pets when they need it most.

Location

3884 Forest Hill Blvd, West Palm Beach, FL 33406

Benefits: We offer competitive compensation along with a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision and paid vacation/sick days, 401(k), generous employee pet discounts and more!

The information in this position description indicates the general nature and level of work to be performed. It is not designed to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of associates assigned to this job. Management reserves the right to revise the job description or require that other tasks be performed when the circumstances of the job change (for example, emergencies, change in personnel, workload, or technical development)

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer - Veterans / Disabled. For a complete EEO statement please see our career page at vcacareers.com