Veterinary Technician - Emergecny

VCA Animal Hospitals; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 73,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Paid vacation/sick days

401(k)

Pet discounts

Job summary

VCA Emergency Animal Hospital & Referral Center in San Diego seeks an experienced Emergency Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) to join our fast-paced Receiving Department. You will work within the Emergency team to support diagnostics, treatments and complex case management.

The role is Full-time with 4/10-hour shifts from 4 pm to 2:30 am, offering competitive wages and shift differentials. Join a 24-hour hospital committed to compassionate, high‑quality care.

Qualifications

• Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) with emergency experience.
• Ability to work full-time 4/10 hour shifts, 4pm–2:30am.
• Strong skills in anesthesia monitoring, venipuncture and labs.

Responsibilities

• Join the Emergency team in the Receiving Department.
• Assist with diagnostics, treatments and patient management.
• Collaborate with clinicians and support staff in a fast-paced setting.

Skills

Critical thinking

Client communication

Patient restraint

Emergency care

Anesthesia monitoring

Lab sample handling

Venipuncture/IV access

MRI experience

Tools

MRI equipment

Job description

VCA Emergency Animal Hospital & Referral Center is looking for an Emergency Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) to join our Emergency Team in the Receiving Department.

Location: 7675 Mission Valley Rd, San Diego, CA 92108

VCA Emergency Animal Hospital & Referral Center is a 24-hour emergency and specialty referral hospital located in the heart of beautiful San Diego, California. As part of our continued growth and the recent opening of our brand-new, state-of-the-art facility in July 2025, we are seeking a dedicated and skilled Veterinary Technician to join our Emergency team.

Our hospital supports a wide range of advanced diagnostics and treatments, and we pride ourselves on offering compassionate, high-quality care to our patients and clients. The successful candidate will work closely with our emergency department and support staff to manage complex cases and provide exceptional care.

Schedule: Full-time 4/10 hour shifts, 4 pm - 2:30 am

Salary: $ 26.50 - $ 35 / hour, shift differentials for shifts below

• $2.50/hour for hours worked between 7:00 PM and 12:00 AM
• $5.50/hour for hours worked between 12:00 AM and 6:00 AM

Compensation is negotiable based on education, experience, and other relevant credentials.

For over 30 years, we have provided exceptional veterinary service and patient care. We take pride in what we do and are looking for a motivated individual willing to work with a strong team in a fast-paced environment. We are currently looking for an experienced Registered Technician (RVT) to join our Emergency team.

The skills that you will be utilizing include, but are not limited to:

• Strong critical thinking skills
• Client communication skills are a must: technicians obtain histories, present treatment plans, review discharge instructions and medications, and provide client education on more complex disease processes treated by Internal Medicine.
• Strong patient restraint and handling skills. Experience with recumbent, non-ambulatory patients is preferred.
• Monitor and perform treatments for patients requiring intensive management, recognize significant changes in the patient’s condition, and notify the Doctor.
• Experience in monitoring patients under anesthesia. Strong anesthetic skills with critical patients. Experience with a surgical ventilator.
• Run in-house lab samples and handle submissions to outside laboratories.
• Experienced with venipuncture and IV catheter placement
• Experience with specialized equipment care and use, and a willingness to learn new skills.
• Experience with MRI Studies is a plus!
• Assist the Doctor with ongoing dynamics of a specific case, including call-backs, prescription handling, medical records, etc. Strong communication skills.

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