Veterinary Technician - ICU

VCA Animal Hospitals; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

Pet discounts

Paid time off

Job summary

VCA Emergency Animal Hospital & Referral Center in San Diego, CA is seeking an experienced Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) to join its fast-paced ICU/ER team. The role emphasizes critical thinking, precise patient handling, and collaboration with veterinarians and staff to deliver high-quality emergency care.

Responsibilities include ICU patient management, anesthesia monitoring, in-house lab work, and clear client communication on treatment plans and discharge instructions.

Qualifications

• RV T licensure and experience in an emergency/ICU setting.
• Strong critical thinking and client communication skills.
• Excellent restraint and handling of small animals, incl. recumbent patients.
• Experience monitoring anesthesia and using specialized ICU equipment.
• Ability to run in-house labs and coordinate with external labs.

Responsibilities

• Support doctors in ICU with ongoing case management and treatment plans.
• Perform anesthesia monitoring and assist during procedures.
• Collect and process lab samples, and liaise with external labs as needed.
• Communicate clearly with clients about histories, treatments, and discharge instructions.
• Maintain patient records and ensure proper medication handling.

Education

Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) certification

Tools

MRI equipment

In-house lab

Surgical ventilator

Venipuncture/IV placement

Job description

VCA Emergency Animal Hospital & Referral Center is a fast-paced, 24-hour emergency/specialty referral practice in beautiful San Diego, California. We offer competitive compensation and great benefits for all employees. We are adding to our Swing and Overnight team with an experienced Registered Veterinary Technician for our Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Department.

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

Salary: $26.50 - $35 with differential for Swing and Overnight Shifts

7 pm - 11:59 pm- $2.50/hour

12 am - 5:59 am- $5.50/hour

Schedule: Full-Time, 4 x 10-hour work week, Swing shift, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Friday from 3:30 PM to 2:00 AM

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!

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