Veterinary Technician II - Anesthesia

Colorado State University; United States; On-site; USD 52,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Colorado State University seeks an experienced Veterinary Anesthesia Technician to educate veterinary students and interns in safe anesthetic planning, drug selection, and monitoring across diverse cases. You will guide clinical evaluations, supervise IV catheterization and induction, and adapt plans for complex patients in a teaching hospital setting.

The role requires certification and state credentialing, with a strong emphasis on patient safety, teamwork, and hands‑on learning within a

Qualifications

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in veterinary technology.
• 2 years of experience in a primary anesthesia role.
• Registered as VT or PVT through DORA or eligible to obtain license by start date.
• Credentialed in Colorado or other eligible state.
• Graduate of accredited veterinary technician program with >2 years’ experience in veterinary medicine.
• Transcript or diploma must be attached to this application.
• Substitutions: 3+ years of veterinary medicine experience without graduation.

Responsibilities

• Instruct veterinary students and technician interns in safe, effective anesthetic planning and delivery.
• Guides DVM students and FRCC veterinary technician interns through evaluating patient status, labs, and selecting anesthetic agents for clinical patients.
• Coach students through anesthesia procedures and technical skills.
• Teach and supervise IV catheterization, induction, intubation, monitoring setup, and maintenance of anesthesia.
• Provide real‑time clinical guidance during complex anesthetic scenarios.
• Support students who are anxious with patients with comorbidities and explain drug selection.
• Evaluate and modify anesthetic plans to prevent unsafe practices.
• Develop anesthetic plans for small and large species and monitor during procedures.
• Administer and monitor general anesthesia for routine and emergency procedures.
• Lead resuscitative efforts during anesthetic emergencies.

Skills

IV catheter placement

Endotracheal intubation

Anesthetic monitoring

Anesthetic drugs knowledge

Animal restraint (fear-free)

Teamwork

Calm under stress

Attention to detail

Education

Associate or bachelor’s degree in veterinary technology

Job description

Job Description

This work unit exists to anesthetize animals for general elective procedures (dental work, cast application, etc.); diagnostic tests (physical exams, endoscopic exams, etc.); and for routine and emergency surgeries. The department also instructs veterinary students, visiting veterinarians, and technicians on the principles and practice of veterinary anesthesia by allowing students to anesthetize clinical animals, and guiding the students through preanesthetic patient evaluation, the choice of anesthetic agents, and the process of monitoring the anesthetized patient. We strive to provide exceptional patient care on a daily basis. This position has a flexible schedule with daytime hours between 7 am-5:30 pm Monday through Friday, offering either 4 (10) hour shifts or 5 (8) hour shifts, and is cross-trained in all areas of the Anesthesia service (i.e., large and small animal, research, and Continuing Education).

Conditions of Employment

Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires)

Supervision

None

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in veterinary technology
• 2 years of experience in a primary anesthesia role (academia or specialty practice)
• Registered as a Veterinary Technician (VT) or Provisional Veterinary Technician (PVT) through the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) or eligibility to obtain a state of Colorado DORA license by start date.
• Credentialed in the State of Colorado or other eligible state determined by CACVT.
• Graduate of accredited veterinary technician program with greater than two (2) years’ experience in veterinary medicine.
• *Please note, a transcript or diploma must be attached to this application to demonstrate graduation from the vet tech program.
• SUBSTITUTIONS: Candidates can qualify without graduation from a veterinary technician program if they demonstrate 3+ years of veterinary medicine experience.
• NOTE: VETERINARY PRACTICE ACT – Effective January 1, 2024, anyone wanting to use the titles Registered Veterinary Technician, Veterinary Technician, RVT, or VT will have to be certified through the Colorado Association of Certified Veterinary Technicians (CACVT) AND registered through the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). Please visit the CACVT website for more information: https://www.cacvt.org/registration-faqs

Preferred Qualifications

• Excellent Technical Skills
• Proficient in IV catheter placement
• Proficient in Endotracheal intubation
• Knowledge of proper anesthetic monitoring
• Knowledge of anesthetic drugs
• Knowledge of proper animal restraint including fear-free technique
• Ability to work well within a team environment.
• Ability to maintain a positive attitude and foster a healthy working environment.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment that is always changing.
• Ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• Strong attention to detail

Essential Job Duties

• Instruct veterinary students and technician interns in safe, effective anesthetic planning and delivery.
• Guides DVM students and FRCC veterinary technician interns through the process of evaluating patient status, interpreting lab work and diagnostics, and selecting appropriate anesthetic agents for clinical patients. This task ensures students develop competency while maintaining patient safety and removing it would eliminate essential hands‑on learning central to the hospital’s teaching mission.
• Coach students through anesthesia procedures and technical skills.
• Teaches and supervises the steps of IV catheterization, induction, intubation, monitoring setup, and maintenance of anesthesia, adjusting the level of assistance based on each student’s performance. This ensures students develop essential clinical skills while protecting patient welfare—work that cannot be delegated and is unique to the educational environment.
• Provide real‑time clinical guidance during complex or high‑risk anesthetic scenarios.
• Supports students who are anxious or uncertain when assigned patients with multiple comorbidities. Reviews the patient’s conditions, explains how anesthesia may impact each issue, and guides the student through appropriate drug and protocol selection. This occurs frequently throughout each shift and is critical to both patient safety and student development.
• Evaluate and modify student anesthetic plans to prevent unsafe practices. Reviews student‑created anesthetic plans and independently determines when changes are necessary due to medication contraindications, dosing concerns, or procedure complexity. This task protects patient safety and ensures that educational experiences meet hospital and accreditation standards.
• Develop and implement individualized anesthetic plans for small, large, and exotic species. Evaluates patient history, diagnostics, comorbidities, and procedural needs to select appropriate premedication, induction, and maintenance protocols. This task ensures safe anesthetic delivery and is central to the purpose of the position; removing it would eliminate the hospital’s ability to provide anesthesia‑supported procedures.
• Administer and monitor general anesthesia for routine, complex, and emergency procedures. Predicates, induces, intubates, and maintains anesthesia while continuously interpreting physiologic parameters and adjusting depth, ventilation, fluids, and analgesia to maintain patient stability. This highly specialized work is foundational to all surgical and diagnostic operations.
• Recognize and manage anesthetic complications in real time. Responds immediately to issues such as hypotension, blood loss, arrhythmias, and respiratory compromise by determining whether to administer fluids, blood products, ventilation changes, or emergency drugs. These situations occur frequently and require expert judgment; failure to perform this task would jeopardize patient safety.
• Lead initial resuscitative efforts during anesthetic emergencies. Initiates CPR, administers emergency drugs, and coordinates team response when patients arrest under anesthesia, such as during thoracotomies or other high‑risk surgeries. This rapid, specialized intervention is critical to patient survival and requires advanced skills not shared by general staff.

Salary Range $52,000 - $56,000

Employee Benefits

Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact. Review our detailed benefits information here. Explore the additional perks of working at CSU here. For the total value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, use our compensation calculator. Lastly, click here for more information about why Fort Collins is consistently ranked in the top cities to live in!

Background Check Policy Statement

Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

EEO

Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Inspired by its land-grant heritage, Colorado State University is committed to excellence and engagement, setting the standard for public research universities in teaching, research, service and extension for the benefit of the citizens of Colorado, the United States, and the world.