Veterinary Assistant

AAVMP; El Cajon (CA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Care & Comfort Veterinary Hospital, a Thrive Pet Healthcare partner, is hiring an experienced Veterinary Technician or Veterinary Assistant. The role supports veterinarians in patient care, labs, and clinical procedures, with emphasis on accurate record keeping and client education.

Ideal candidates will have credentialed veterinary technician training or equivalent experience, with strong communication skills and the ability to assist with anesthesia and surgeries as needed.

Qualifications

• Must be able to assist veterinarians in medicine and surgery.
• Experience with in-hospital labs and sample processing is a plus.
• Strong client communication and anesthesia monitoring skills are helpful.

Responsibilities

• Assist veterinarians in medicine and surgery.
• Perform in-hospital lab testing and prepare specimens.
• Take patient histories, vital signs, and weights when needed.
• Provide nursing care for in-hospital patients.
• Conduct pre-admission exams and discharge hospitalized patients.
• Maintain cleanliness and organization of exam rooms and surgery suite.

Skills

Vet patient care

Surgical assistance

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Associate’s degree in veterinary technology

State license/certification

Job description

Care & Comfort Veterinary Hospital, a Thrive Pet Healthcare partner, is hiring an experienced Veterinary Technician or Veterinary Assistant.

Position Summary

A certified or non-certified veterinary technician directly handles inpatient and outpatient care, working hand-in-hand with veterinarians. The technician may assists in exam rooms by taking patients’ history, vital signs and weight; preparing vaccines; collecting samples and running diagnostic tests; providing client educations; and assisting with animal restraint. Technicians also may see their own appointments for procedures such as suture removal, nail trim, vaccine administration when a doctor exam is not required, long-term medication monitoring testing, surgery admission and discharge and boarding check-in exams. Technicians directly impact doctors’ productivity, client service and patient care.

Reports to Technician Supervisor, Office Manager and all Doctors.

Job Duties

• Assist veterinarians in the practice of veterinary medicine and surgery
• Perform in-hospital lab testing and prepare specimens for outside labs
• Assist veterinarians without patient exams by taking histories if needed, vital signs and weighs as well as providing client education
• Provide nursing care for in-hospital patients
• Conduct pre-admission exams and discharge hospitalized patients
• Maintain proper care and medication administration of boarding animals and assist

Exams

• Help front staff when needed prepare and maintain exam rooms and assist in exam rooms by taking vital signs and getting patient history
• Collect samples and run in house testing (fecal/giardia test, HWT, etc.)
• Fill prescriptions per veterinarian’s instructions
• Educate clients about medication instructions and administration
• Perform admission exams form patients being hospitalized, here for boarding/grooming, including weight, vital signs and when needed pre-surgical exams
• Preform pre-anesthetic exam on surgery and dental patients if the veterinarian has not already assessed patients
• Discharge Patients for dentistry, spay/neuter and declaw surgeries, when needed

Lab

• Responsible for in-hospital lab testing such as fecal/giardia testing , pre-anesthetic test, senior screens, complete blood count, urinalysis, heartworm test, felv/fiv test, cytology etc.
• Collect and prepare samples
• Report diagnostic testing results to veterinarians
• Maintain quality controls and record keeping on in- house lab equipment
• Keep lab area clean
• Complete proper sample preparation and paperwork for outside diagnostic lab tests

Treatment

• Perform treatments noted on treatment board and in medical records (hospitalized patients, surgeries, dentistry patients, boarding medications
• Assist veterinarians with daily treatments
• Monitor intensive care patients
• Provide nursing care
• Take and process x-rays
• Use and maintain IV pumps

Surgery

• Admit patient scheduled for surgery and dentistry
• Keep surgical materials stocked
• Prepare gown and surgical packs
• Check oxygen lines and waste gas scavenger system
• Prepare surgery suite
• Prepare instruments Know type of surgical instruments required for specific surgeries
• Assist veterinarians with patient restraint
• Assist veterinarians with induction/intubation or perform induction/intubation
• Surgical preparation of patient
• Monitor anesthesia closely with monitoring equipment
• Help maintain anesthesia machine
• Assist veterinarian performing surgery
• Monitor patients waking up from anesthesia; assist with treatment if patient has reaction to anesthesia
• Clean surgery site and surgical instruments after each procedure following hospital sterilization protocols
• Keep accurate anesthesia/surgical medical records
• Ensure hospital patients go home well-groomed and in an appropriate medical state

Dentistry

• Clean, scale and polish teeth using dental equipment and hand instruments
• Perform fluoride treatments
• Record dental problems in medical records and report them to veterinarians for instructions
• Assist veterinarians performing oral extractions or other dental procedures
• Take before-and-after digital photos for client handouts
• Take and process dental x-rays

Medical Records

• Update medical records with progress notes
• Communicate with doctors and technicians through notations in medical notes
• Record information for hospitalized patients
• Write in treatment that have been done in proper template

House keeping

• Maintain cleanliness of surgery suite, treatment area and exam rooms for all surfaces including lights, tables, cabinets, walls and floors
• Maintain Equipment cleanliness and longevity by vacuuming or removing hair from keyboards, wheels and equipment
• Sweep or vacuum treatment area, lab/pharmacy, exam rooms, laundry area dog runs and cat condos etc.
• Clean glass windows and doors in surgery suite, treatment area and exam rooms
• Sweep and mop floors in all the same above areas
• Keep food and drinks out of treatment area and surgery suite
• Discard syringes in proper containers
• Empty trash
• Clean and sanitize food/water bowls
• Clean cages and bedding for patients
• Organize radiology gowns, gloves, badges
• Scrub and polish sinks
• Wipe down walls and baseboards
• Clean cages
• Do laundry

Administrative Duties

• Log controlled drugs
• Assist with inventory physical count - write on white board when low on an item
• Unpack deliveries, reconcile against packing slip and order sheet
• Restock shelves and drawers

Safety

• Follow OSHA requirements
• Follow practices’ health and safety protocols
• Maintain Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

Administrative

• Be proficient in using our veterinary software
• File lab results
• Send out x-ray badges monthly if needed
• Assist CSR when needed
• Attend staff and department meeting

Profession Growth Duties 2%

• Attend continuing education for technicians ( CE)
• Network with other technicians from other practices
• Read veterinary and technician journals

Educational Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Experience in field/training
• Associate’s degree in applied science, veterinary technology
• State License to work as certified/licensed/registered veterinary technician

Skills Needed

• Ability to assist veterinarians and fellow staff in the practice of veterinary medicine and surgery

Physical Obligations

• Able to lift patient and carry equipment up to 40 pounds; ability to lift patients or carry equipment over 40 pounds with assistance
• Endure sitting, standing and walking on hard surfaces for extended periods
• Type information for patient records
• Able to work in noisy work conditions with sound from animals and equipment
• Take Safety precaution for exposure to toxin, drugs, anesthesia and radiation

Compensation negotiable based on credentials and experience with a hourly pay range from $20-$25 hour. The actual rate offered will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.