Veterinary Assistant, Surgery

Ethos Veterinary Health; Short Pump (VA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

401(k)

Paid Time Off

CE Allowance

VetBloom access

Scholarship opportunities

VTNE reimbursement

Uniform allowance

Pet discount

Disability Insurance

Life Insurance

Job summary

Ethos Veterinary Health in Short Pump, VA is seeking a Veterinary Assistant (Surgery) to support the surgical team. You will assist in triage, prep, anesthesia support, and post-operative care while maintaining patient comfort and owner communication.

Full-time, 4x10s, Monday–Friday with rotating weekends; competitive hourly pay starting at $20/hr plus benefits including medical/dental/vision, 401(k) and CME support. Equal opportunity employer.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 1-year veterinary assistant experience required; ER or specialty preferred.
• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• Excellent communication with clients and hospital team members.
• Ability to work in a team; take direction and assist other team members.
• Strong work ethic, positive attitude.
• Able to multitask and work under pressure.
• Lift, push, and pull above 50lbs; stand for long periods.

Responsibilities

• Conduct triages and physical assessments to prioritize care.
• Recognize critical patients and facilitate timely care.
• Communicate with clients to obtain medical histories.
• Provide excellent client service and patient care; maintain owner communication.
• Monitor vital signs and alert staff of decompensation.
• Assist licensed technicians with outpatient procedures and diagnostics.
• Assist in initial hospitalization and hourly treatments with proper documentation.
• Restrain patients for diagnostics and exams.
• Complete Client Service Representative training for front desk tasks.
• Follow directions from DVMs and LVTs.
• Prepare operating rooms with surgical supplies for procedures.
• Set up equipment and restrain patients for imaging and pre-op diagnostics.
• Maintain sterile surgical suites and restock supplies.
• Work with team to complete end-of-shift cleaning and duties.

Skills

Communication

Teamwork

Multitasking

Patient care

Lifting 50 lbs

Education

High School Diploma

Job description

Veterinary Assistant (Surgery) – | $20/hr & up

Location: Short Pump, VA

Full-Time | 4x10's | Monday - Friday | Rotating weekends

Pay & Benefits for Veterinary Assistants

• $20/hr & up

Full-time benefits include:

• Medical, Dental, Vision
• 401(k)
• Paid Time Off
• CE Allowance + Free VetBloom (RACE-approved CE) access
• Veterinary Technician scholarship opportunities
• VTNE and/or license reimbursement
• Uniform allowance
• Employee pet discount
• Disability & Life Insurance

Schedule

• Monday - Friday
• 4x10-hour shifts per week
• Rotating weekends as needed

Veterinary Assistant Responsibilities

• Responsible for conducting triages and physical assessments on incoming patients to prioritize their clinical condition to determine their state of stability for immediate vs. non-emergent care
• Ability to recognize and facilitate critical patients to getting the care they need in a timely manner if assessed as a critical case during time of triage; Communicating and obtaining approval for Critical Care forms
• Responsible for communicating with clients to obtain adequate medical histories on a patient’s health and presenting complaints
• Provide excellent client service and patient care at all times; maintain constant communication with owners throughout their visit to our hospital;
• Understanding normal vs abnormal vital sign parameters and alerting appropriate team members to decompensating patients whether hospitalized or outpatient
• In between triages, assist licensed technician with outpatient procedures such as, but not limited to, diagnostics, subcutaneous fluid therapy, medication administration
• Assisting in initial hospitalization of patients and their hourly treatments while following proper hospital protocol regarding documentation of treatment sheets and Practice Management Software
• Restraining patients for diagnostic testing and physical examinations
• Completing Client Service Representative training to assist in client service-related tasks such as checking clients in and out, obtaining payments, answering phones, etc.
• Must adhere to guidance and delegation directed to them by their Licensed Staff (DVMs and LVTs)
• Prepare for the day by setting up the operating rooms with surgical supplies and appropriate materials needed for that surgery
• Setting up equipment and Restraining patients for diagnostic imaging and other pre-operative diagnostics.
• Helping to maintain a clean and orderly surgical suite per policy standards by cleaning prep areas and maintaining sterility within the suites.
• Help to restock supplies throughout the day to ensure proficiencies and efficiencies
• Work under the direct supervision and take orders from your surgeon and LVT on duty
• Assist the surgeon within the surgical suite by performing sterile scrub in techniques to help with instrument handling and providing surgical assistance in procedures.
• Learning and maintaining strong knowledge and understanding of common soft tissue and orthopedic surgeries.
• Learning and maintaining strong knowledge of all surgical instruments and their appropriate care, including cleaning, wrapping, sterilizing and storage.
• Responsible for managing workflow of new patient consultations and post-operative rechecks.
• Perform accurate and professional discharging procedures for all post-operative patients.
• Ability to address any phone calls and emails regarding client questions, concerns, and patient updates.
• Ordering and Maintaining inventory of orthopedic supplies, instruments, etc.
• Working with team to complete all end of shift cleaning and other daily department responsibilities.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 1-year veterinary assistant experience required, ER or specialty strongly preferred.
• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• Speaking directly with clients and other hospital team members, excellent communication skills is valuable and important.
• Ability to work in a team environment by taking direction and assisting other medical team members.
• Exemplifies a strong work ethic, with a positive attitude.
• Able to multitask and work under pressure.
• Ability to lift, push, and pull above 50lbs and stand for prolonged periods of time.

Based on employee interest, Veterinary Assistant Certification and/or Licensed Veterinary Technician Program Financial assistance may be available.

About VVC Short Pump

Since its conception in 1981, the Virginia Veterinary Centers teams have worked to invest in new technologies and training to stay on the cutting edge of Veterinary Medicine to provide the best quality care for their patients and families.

Our teams understand that when knowledge and care are shared across distance and discipline, your furry family member gets the best care available.

We recognize that to do this, we need adequately educated staff to maintain our highest standard of care.

Because of this, providing a culture that cultivates collaborative learning in a safe and inclusive hospital is of the utmost importance to our management team.

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.

Join Us

At Ethos, this isn’t just a job, it’s an opportunity to practice medicine at the highest level and help shape the future of veterinary care.

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