Veterinary Assistant - Emergency and Critical Care

Thrive Pet Healthcare; La Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Health insurance

Education support/CE library

Pet perks/discounts

Job summary

Thrive Pet Healthcare is seeking two full-time Veterinary Assistants for overnight/swing shifts at our La Mesa, CA location. You will support veterinarians, assist with outpatient treatments, and help with diagnostics, admissions, and discharges in a fast-paced emergency setting.

We offer a $1,500 sign-on bonus for qualified applicants, comprehensive benefits, and growth opportunities within our growing network of clinics.

Qualifications

• Proficient in triage.
• Experienced veterinary assistant with hands-on clinical skills.
• Proficient in IV catheter placement, blood work, and injections (IV/IM/SQ).
• Skilled with monitoring anesthesia and related equipment.
• Team player with strong communication.

Responsibilities

• Support veterinarians to ensure quality care and educate clients.
• Assist with hospital functions to maximize productivity and patient flow.
• Communicate with clients about health concerns and plans.
• Maintain accurate medical records using practice systems.
• Obtain health history from clients and manage medical charts.
• Maintain clean, sterile treatment areas and labs.
• Mentor and support fellow team members.

Skills

Triage

Vet assistant

IV catheter placement

Blood work

Anesthesia monitoring

Multitasking

Communication

Job description

Description

We are offering an up to $1,500 Sign-On Bonus for Qualified Veterinary Assistants. Location: La Mesa, CA.

Job Details

We are hiring two full-time Veterinary Assistants needed for the following shift:

• Overnights/Swing: Full-time 4, ten-hour shifts: Days TBD, Will include one weekend day.

At Pet Emergency & Specialty Center La Mesa, a Thrive Pet Healthcare partner, we take action to empower your best care for pets, their families, and yourself.

We are a community of 400 clinics forming an extraordinary network of unparalleled resources and people. Through outstanding learning and career options, comprehensive benefits, and abundant support, you’ll be nurtured and appreciated for who you are and what you bring to the table. We come together in both the joys and heartaches of our profession to lift each other up through laughter and empathy.

And, we have plenty of fun along the way!

Who We Are

At Pet Emergency & Specialty Center, our team is dedicated to providing quality care to our patients and elevating our client experience. We have several different specialists including Critical Care, Surgery, Internal Medicine, and Avian and Exotics. Collaboratively we strive to provide the highest level of care, education, and understanding to our clients, their pets, and our referring veterinarians.

What We Are Looking For

Pet Emergency & Specialty Center is looking for an experienced veterinary assistant to join our Emergency and Critical Care Team. As a Veterinary Assistant, you will play an important role in pets’ lives by providing care for our patients in need. Your life‑changing work will range from the hands‑on care of facilitating outpatient treatments and performing diagnostics, to support services including admitting for hospitalized treatments and discharging patients.

Role Responsibilities

• Support veterinarians to ensure quality veterinary care, advocate for pets, and educate clients.
• With each hospital function, assist veterinarians and the medical team to maximize productivity and maintain positive patient flow.
• Communicate with clients about individualized pet health concerns and treatment plans.
• Assist in maintaining relevant, comprehensive medical records with the support of practice systems.
• Obtain relevant health history and information from clients and maintain medical charts.
• Use safe restraining techniques, follow standard protocols, and sustain clean, sterile, organized treatment areas, exam rooms, and labs.
• Be willing to guide, mentor, and support fellow team members.

Experience & Skills Requirements

• Proficient in Triage
• Highly Skilled Veterinary Assistant
• Proficient in IV catheters placement, blood work, and IV, IM and SQ injections
• Proficient in monitoring anesthesia and working with various monitoring equipment
• Team player
• Eager to learn and is self‑motivated
• Enjoys a challenging and fast‑paced environment
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to multi‑task under pressure.

You’ll Grow With Us

Skills Development

• Our vast, diverse, and free library of continuing education courses - ThriveU
• Live, virtual interactive workshops to develop valuable leadership skills
• A program to designed to teach you the fundamentals of running a pet hospital
• Earn your AVMA-CVTEA Accreditation and become a Vet Tech through our fully accredited distance learning program for veterinary technicians
• Scholarship opportunities and tuition reimbursement.

Benefits – Our Care In Action

• Paid time offincluding 8-weeks of full-pay parental leave, bereavement to grieve both humans and pets, and time off for new pet adoptions
• Top quality medical, dental, and vision insurance plus health savings account and flexible spending account
• Pet perksincluding free exams, discounts on products and services up to 75 percent off, and more at all Thrive Pet Healthcare locations
• Milestone Award Program generous bonus received for dedication to company at 3,5,10 year
• Generously subsidized backup and ongoing care support for children, adults, and pets
• Mental health benefits including coaching and therapy sessions
• 401k with employer contribution and no waiting period
• Continuing education and development support through our library of free CE courses and paid time off to complete
• Scholarship opportunities and student loan support program.

Compensation

Compensation negotiable based on credentials and experience with a hourly pay rate starting at $20-$28/hour. The actual rate offered will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, and location. 4 Day Work Week (10 hour shifts). Will include 1 weekend day.

At Thrive Pet Healthcare, we celebrate and embrace the uniqueness and diversity of all of our team members, pet parents, and pets. We strive to create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture where all team members belong and feel empowered.