Veterinary Assistant, Surgery

Ethos Veterinary Health; Parker (SD); On-site; USD 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

401k Matching

EAP

CE opportunities

Uniform allowance

Shift differential pay

Paid time off

Holiday pay

On-call incentives

License reimbursement

Referral program

Job summary

Animal Emergency & Specialty Center (AESC) in Parker, CO is seeking a Veterinary Assistant for the Surgery team. This role supports surgeons and technicians, prepares the surgical service, restrains animals, and assists with anesthesia transport of patients.

You will work full-time, 7:30am–5:30pm, with a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, 401(k) with matching, CE opportunities, uniform allowance, and paid time off.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 1 year of animal experience required in a veterinary setting.
• Fluent English (spoken and written) is required; multilingual skills are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Assist the surgeon and technicians by preparing the surgery service and restraining animals for treatments.
• Prepare surgical packs and instruments, and ensure sterilization and readiness of equipment.
• Maintain operating room cleanliness and assist as a scrub nurse in various procedures.
• Take medical histories, monitor vitals, and assist with radiographs as needed.
• Coordinate with DVMs and technicians to keep timelines and equipment ready for procedures.

Skills

Animal experience

English fluency

Team orientation

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

EasyVet

Job description

Veterinary Assistant, Surgery
$18 - $22/hr. | Animal Emergency & Specialty Center | Parker, CO

Welcome to Animal Emergency & Specialty Center (AESC)! We are a 24/7 Emergency Care Veterinary Hospital with 7 different Specialties. The AESC Team is growing, and we are seeking motivated, positive and compassionate individuals to join our team. Our Nursing staff is essential and important to us, just as the care they provide to the pets and clients in our community. We are offering competitive wages, opportunities for professional growth, and a supportive environment with an empathic and positive Management team

Compensation

• $18 - $22/hr, based on experience

Benefits:

We're committed to supporting our team's well-being and professional growth with a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance to keep you and your family covered.
• 401(k) with Matching to help you plan for your future.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for additional personal and professional support.
• Continuing Education (CE):
  • Annual CE hours to advance your skills.
  • CE allowance for training and certifications.
• Uniform Allowance to ensure you're always prepared.
• Shift Differential Pay for added compensation.
• Generous paid time off, including:
  • Sick Days
  • Vacation Days
  • Bereavement Leave
• Holiday Premium Pay for working during special times of the year.
• On-Call Incentives for additional opportunities.
• License Reimbursement for required certifications.
• Referral Program to reward you for helping us grow our team.

Schedule

• Full Time
  • Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
  • 7:30am -5:30pm

Job Description

The Surgery Assistant supports the Surgeons and Technicians by preparing the surgery service for animals receiving surgery, proper restraint of animals for treatments, assisting in safe transportation of anesthetized patients, supporting the Surgeon with surgical procedures, and preparing surgical packs for surgery. Communicates with DVMs and Technicians to coordinate equipment and procedure timelines for their patients.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Technician with induction to include assisting in intubation and placing monitoring on patients.
• Clean, organize and maintain the pack-n-prep area. Including putting together and wrapping surgical packs, cleaning and organizing instruments.
• Set up and take down OR’s
• Help prepare patients for their surgical procedures
• Prep and maintain surgical equipment to include sterilizers.
• Maintain cleanliness of all operating rooms, flipping and cleaning between surgeries.
• Circulate in procedures opening instruments and packs with sterile technique.
• Performs animal restraint for blood draws, catheter placement, and pre-medicating patients.
• Assists as surgical scrub nurse in a variety of soft tissue and orthopedic procedures.
• Facilitates the appropriate stocking of pack and prep, treatment and operating rooms.
• Run an appointment column that includes taking a proper medical history, interpreting medical records and obtaining vitals.
• Perform diagnostic radiographs alongside a technician.
• Maintains cleanliness of the hospital and the department.
• Other duties as directed

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

• At least ONE YEAR of animal experience is required
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Fluent English skills (speaking & reading) are required for the role; fluency in multiple languages a plus!

Preferred Qualifications:

• Two years of experience as a veterinary assistant with job responsibilities that required animal restraint and taking radiographs
• Experience in a emergency/specialty setting
• Knowledge of EasyVet or similar medical record systems.

Why Choose AESC?

• Work alongside a compassionate, dedicated team of veterinary professionals.
• Thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment where no two days are the same.
• Make a direct impact on the lives of pets and their families during critical times.
• Receive continuous training and growth opportunities - we're passionate about teaching!
• Enjoy a competitive salary and benefits package.

About AESC

Founded in 2001 to meet the growing need for after-hours veterinary care in the Parker, Franktown, and Elizabeth communities, Animal Emergency & Specialty Center (AESC) has evolved from a small emergency hospital into a leading 24/7 emergency and specialty referral center. What began in a facility of less than 1,000 square feet has expanded into a state-of-the-art, 20,000-square-foot hospital offering advanced emergency, critical care, surgery, internal medicine, oncology, neurology, rehabilitation, diagnostic imaging, and anesthesiology services.

Following a major renovation completed in 2021, AESC features cutting-edge technology, including a 23X MRI, 16-slice CT scanner, mobile fluoroscopy, multiple surgical suites, and a dedicated rehabilitation center with underwater treadmills. Supported by a collaborative team of board-certified specialists and experienced veterinary professionals, AESC remains committed to delivering exceptional patient care while continuing to grow and advance specialty medicine for pets throughout the region.

Nearby Communities

• Parker, CO
• Aurora, CO
• Centennial, CO
• Castle Rock, CO
• Elizabeth, CO
• Franktown, CO
• Lone Tree, CO
• Highlands Ranch, CO
• Englewood, CO
• Greenwood Village, CO
• Littleton, CO
• Denver, CO
• Castle Pines, CO
• Foxfield, CO
• Commerce City, CO
• Bennett, CO

About Ethos Veterinary Health

Ethos Veterinary Health, part of the NVA Group, is where you come to practice world-class medicine, and help shape what veterinary care becomes next. Across our network of 140 specialty and emergency hospitals, science moves forward, standards are elevated, and innovation is put into practice every day. You'll work alongside respected veterinary leaders in academic-caliber hospitals designed for learning, teaching, and discovery. Here, mentorship is a two-way street. You'll share your expertise, learn from others, and continue to grow, clinically, professionally, and personally. At Ethos, you inspire hope, deliver exceptional care, and pursue veterinary medicine at its highest level, together.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Ethos is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Ethos does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided based on qualifications, competence, merit, and business need.