Veterinary Assistant Surgery

VCA Animal Hospitals; Kalamazoo (MI); On-site; USD 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Paid vacation

Sick leave

401(k)

CE allowance

Licensure tuition assistance

Vet discounts

Job summary

VCA Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center of Kalamazoo is seeking an experienced Veterinary Assistant to join our surgery team in Portage, MI. This 24/7 hospital supports career development and offers pathways toward becoming a licensed veterinary technician.

The role involves assisting with pre-op prep, anesthesia support, instrument sterilization, patient monitoring, and post-operative care, while maintaining clear records and client communication.

Qualifications

• Experience restraining and handling patients during pre-op prep and recovery.
• Ability to prep patients for surgery including clipping and positioning.
• Support anesthesia and surgical team during procedures.
• Sterilize, pack, and organize instruments; operate autoclave.

Responsibilities

• Assist with pre-op preparation and positioning to maintain a clean, organized surgery area.
• Support anesthesia and surgical team to keep cases running smoothly.
• Monitor patients during recovery for comfort, wounds, and status.
• Maintain accurate patient records and communicate with the surgical team.
• Assist with client updates and discharge coordination.

Skills

Patient handling

Surgical prep

Anesthesia support

Instrument sterilization

Surgical suite setup

Patient monitoring

Post-operative care

Record keeping

Client communication

Fast-paced environment

Tools

Autoclave

Monitoring tools

Imaging tools

Job description

VCA Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center of Kalamazoo is a 24/7/365 emergency, critical care and specialty practice, located in Portage, MI.

We are seeking an experienced Veterinary Assistant to join our surgery team!

We are passionate about supporting our associates and are committed to your personal career development. Are you interested in becoming a licensed veterinary technician in your future? This is the hospital for you! We offer discounted rates to Penn Foster’s online veterinary technician associate’s degree program, as well as provide scholarship opportunities to assist with tuition. We have created a hospital culture that prides itself on being a positive and supportive learning environment, where training the next generation of veterinary technicians is our passion.

Compensation: $19.00 - $25.00 / hour dependent on experience and skill set

Schedule: Monday thru Thursday

Please visit our website to learn more: https://vcahospitals.com/kalamazoo

Veterinary Assistant Skills - Surgery Department

• Restrains and handles patients safely and calmly during pre-op prep, procedures, and recovery
• Preps patients for surgery, including clipping and positioning, while maintaining a clean and organized environment
• Supports the anesthesia and surgical team throughout procedures, assisting wherever needed to keep cases running smoothly
• Sterilizes, packs, and organizes surgical instruments and equipment, including autoclave operation
• Sets up and breaks down surgical suites, maintaining supplies and equipment readiness between cases
• Assists with patient monitoring during recovery, observing comfort, wound sites, and overall status
• Supports post-operative patient care, including bandaging assistance, comfort care, and husbandry for recovering patients
• Maintains accurate records and communicates clearly with the surgical technician and veterinary team
• Assists with client updates and coordination around surgical patient intake and discharge
• Stays composed and efficient in a fast-paced, high-stakes surgical environment

What Makes VCA Kalamazoo Unique?

Our hospital leadership team is compassionate and dedicated to your success. With a true team of experienced professionals, attainment in the pursuit of your career goals is our passion. We pride ourselves on practicing gold standard medicine and patient care directed by our Veterinary Technician Specialist in Emergency and Critical Care (VTS ECC), and an onsite technician trainer is here for additional support in your skill development.

Here at Kalamazoo we work hard, and play hard too! Our vet tech week is a celebration of your dedication to patient care with contests, food, games and prizes. We often have team building events such as group paint nights, bowling, holiday egg hunts, and a crafty leprechaun that leaves behind gifts to find. These are just a few examples of how we show our gratitude to our dedicated patient care professionals.

The Benefits Continue to Grow!

• Leadership opportunities (career growth potential)
• Hefty discounts to VetGirl, and Fear Free Certification
• Free NAVTA membership
• $750 CE allowance for credentialed associates
• Licensure tuition support and scholarships
• LVT license reimbursement
• Free wellness subscriptions (Head Space)
• Referral bonuses
• Competitive wage
• Medical, dental & vision insurance
• Life, long and short term disability insurancePaid parental leave
• Infertility Benefits
• Paid vacation and sick time
• 401(k)
• Free access to Plumbs, and education platforms such as Vetfolio

VCA is a community of dedicated professionals that will encourage you to explore everything a Veterinary Assistant career has to offer. We create and support an inclusive work environment where you can focus on your career, your happiness, and the patients you serve.

The successful candidate will be a believer in the possibilities of high quality veterinary medicine and patient care—with the expertise and technical know-how to make them happen.

In this position you will be supporting our Doctors and Technician team by creating a positive, low-stress atmosphere for our clients and patients.

• You will enjoy exposure to a diverse and stimulating caseload, employ the most advanced imaging and monitoring tools, and tap into the expertise of more than 4,500 doctors, including 600+ boarded specialists.
• You will sharpen your skills—and even learn some new techniques—and explore career options that only VCA can offer, such as continuing education, transfer, specialization, and leadership opportunities.

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

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