Veterinary Assistant

A Caring Doctor (Minnesota), P.A.; Mehlville (MO); On-site; USD 22,027 - 28,158; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

Banfield Pet Hospital is seeking a Veterinary Assistant to support veterinarians and technicians in delivering high-quality pet care.

You will educate clients, maintain medical records, and help ensure a clean, safe hospital environment while adhering to state practice acts and hospital policies.

Qualifications

• NAVTA approved Veterinary Assistant program or equivalent experience.
• High School Diploma or equivalent preferred.
• Must be able to perform NAVTA-approved skills with efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Support veterinarians and technicians to ensure quality care.
• Educate clients on pet health and preventive care.
• Maintain medical charts and safe hospital environment.
• Assist with procedures and monitor hospitalized pets.

Skills

Leadership

Action Oriented

Customer Focus

Listening

Peer Relationships

Personal Learning

Ensure medical quality

Effective communication

Drive for results

Priority Setting

Education

NAVTA Veterinary Assistant program

High School Diploma

Tools

Outlook

Word

Excel

Job description

If you are a current associate, you will need to apply through our internal career site. Please log into Workday and click on the Jobs Hub app or search for Browse Jobs.

Job Purpose and Function

The Veterinary Assistant supports the veterinarians and veterinary technicians in ensuring quality veterinary care for all pets, advocates for pets, educates clients on all aspects of pet health, and ensures a safe and effective hospital environment.

Essential Responsibilities and Tasks

• Live and exemplify the Five Principles of Mars, Inc. within self and team.
• Act as the extra eyes, ears and hands for the veterinarian and veterinary technician to ensure the best quality pet care and to maximize the veterinarian's and veterinary technician’s productivity.
• Communicate with veterinarian, veterinary technicians and all other associates to maintain the flow of patients.
• Provide professional, efficient and exceptional service at all times. This includes performing or preparing procedures that do not require veterinarian or veterinary technician assistance, completing preparatory work for other procedures, ensuring that clients and pets are comfortable in the hospital, and monitoring hospitalized or surgical pets as allowed in the state practice acts.
• Educate clients about Optimum Wellness Plans, preventive care, pet health needs, hospital services and other issues.
• Obtain relevant information and history from clients and maintain proper and complete medical charts.
• Ensure the safety of pets, clients and associates by utilizing safe restraining techniques, following standard protocols, and maintaining clean, sterile and organized treatment areas, exam rooms and labs.
• Assist with surgery as applicable.
• Utilize technical skills to the fullest, within state practice acts and as outlined in the NAVTA guidelines for veterinary assistant skills and duties.
• Mentor other paraprofessionals in the hospital.
• Other job duties as assigned.

The Five Principles

• Quality – The consumer is our boss, quality is our work and value for money is our goal.
• Responsibility – As individuals, we demand total responsibility from ourselves; as associates, we support the responsibility of others.
• Mutuality – A mutual benefit is a shared benefit; a shared benefit will endure.
• Efficiency – We use resources to the full, waste nothing and do only what we can do best.
• Freedom – We need freedom to shape our future; we need profit to remain free.

Hiring Qualifications and Competencies

• Leadership
• Action Oriented
• Customer Focus
• Listening
• Peer Relationships
• Personal Learning
• Ensure medical quality
• Effective communication
• Drive for results
• Priority Setting

Capabilities and Experience (Can Do)

• Ability to multi-task – manages multiple tasks at one time; quickly and accurately shifts attention among multiple tasks under distracting conditions without loss of accuracy or appearance of frustration.
• Communication skills – reads, writes and speaks fluent English, using appropriate grammar, style and vocabulary. Demonstrates exceptionally strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Organizational ability – a systematic approach in carrying out assignments; is very orderly and excels at cutting through confusion and turning chaos into order.
• Problem solving skills – strong ability to identify, analyze and solve problems; translates problems into practical solutions.
• Client service skills – consistently ensures the team provides the client with attentive, courteous and informative service.
• Intellectual ability – accurately and consistently follows instructions delivered in an oral, written or diagram format. Can provide directions.
• Mathematical ability – add, subtract, multiply and divide, and compute rate, ratio and percent; convert units of measurement.
• Computer skills – confidently uses a computer and specialized medical software, as well as Microsoft Outlook, Word and Excel.

Attitudes (Will Do)

• Initiative – shows willingness and aptitude to take appropriate steps in finding solutions to problems.
• Integrity – firmly adheres to the values and ethics of Banfield Pet Hospital.
• Cooperativeness – willing to work with others, collaborating and compromising where necessary.
• Flexibility – is open to changing situations and opportunities and is willing to perform all tasks assigned.
• Independence – able and willing to perform tasks and duties without supervision as appropriate.
• Tolerance for Stress / Resiliency – maintains a positive “can do” outlook, rebounds quickly from frustrations and unpleasantness, and remains composed and friendly while dealing with stressful situations.

Special Working Conditions

• Ability to work at a computer for long periods of time.
• Ability to be confident around pets (dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, etc.).
• Client needs and work volume may often require more than 40 hours per week to complete essential duties.
• Position requires special hours, including working weekends and evenings.
• Must have mental processes for reasoning, remembering, mathematics and language ability to perform the duties proficiently.
• Noise level in the work environment is moderately high.
• Requires sufficient ambulatory skills to perform duties while at hospital.
• Ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and climb as well as manipulate up to 50 pounds.
• Requires good hand-eye coordination, arm-hand-finger dexterity and visual acuity to use a keyboard and operate equipment.
• Specific vision abilities required: close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• Associate is routinely exposed to a variety of pets that may bite or scratch, and may be exposed to anesthesia, radiation, biological hazards and medication/controlled substances.

Experience, Education and/or Training

• Certificate of completion from a NAVTA approved Veterinary Assistant program, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
• High School Diploma or equivalent preferred.
• Must be able to perform all required skills of NAVTA approved veterinary assistant programs at a level in which to aid in the efficiency of the practice.
• Must be at least 18 years old to perform duties involving radiography (x‑ray) and exposure to radioactive substances.
• One year related experience required with customer service preferred.

Compensation

The pay range for this role is $15.99 – $20.44 hourly. The pay range listed reflects a general hiring range for the area, with the specific rate determined based on the candidate’s experience, skill level and education and may vary depending on location or applicable minimum wage laws.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance: Enjoy peace of mind knowing your health and wellness are our top priorities. Your essential medical, dental, and vision care are covered.
• Generous Retirement Plans (401(k) and Roth): Invest in your future and enjoy a generous company match to help you build a secure financial future.
• Best‑in‑Class Student Debt Relief Program (for Full‑Time DVMs): Supports veterinary professionals in addressing student debt.
• Paid Time Off and Holidays: Take a break, recharge and celebrate personal significance with paid time off and holidays.
• Top‑Tier Mental Health and Wellbeing Resources: Access industry‑leading resources, including free coaching and counseling sessions.
• Associate Life Insurance (company‑paid) & Supplemental Life Insurance: Protect your loved ones with company‑paid life insurance and optional additional coverage.
• Company‑Paid Short‑ and Long‑Term Disability: Financial protection if you face temporary or long‑term disability.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA): Save on healthcare and dependent care expenses with pre‑tax money.
• Health Savings Account (HSA): Pay for medical expenses with a tax‑advantaged account.
• Paid Parental Leave: Pay for parental leave for birth and adoption.
• Continuing Education Allowance (for Eligible Positions): Financial assistance for continuing education opportunities.
• Back‑Up Child and Elder Care & Family Support Resources: Backup care and support when life's unpredictable moments arise.
• Fertility and Family Building Support: Support for fertility treatments and family‑building options.
• Digital Exercise Therapy: Stay active and healthy with a digital exercise therapy program tailored to a busy lifestyle.
• Voluntary Protection Benefits: Financial protection against the unexpected during hospital stays, critical illness, and accidents.
• Legal Plan: Affordable and accessible legal coverage.
• Identity Protection: Safeguards personal information by alerting to suspicious activity and providing support if stolen.
• Commuter Benefits: Reduce commuting stress with convenient and cost‑effective benefits.
• Three Free Optimum Wellness Plans for Pets: Enjoy three free wellness plans for your pets.
• Exclusive Discounts: Savings on a wide range of products and services.