Veterinary Technician – Small Animal Inpatient Medicine

The Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy; Grafton (MA); On-site; USD 35,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus

Competitive hourly pay

Tufts University benefits

Job summary

The Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University is seeking an Inpatient Medicine Veterinary Technician II at the Foster Hospital for Small Animals. You will deliver advanced nursing care to hospitalized patients and work closely with clinicians, residents, interns, and students.

The role emphasizes teaching, mentorship, and collaboration within a fast-paced academic hospital, with opportunities for CE and professional growth.

Qualifications

• Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT) in good standing or AVMA-accredited program graduate with 1+ year in a fast-paced hospital
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and teamwork skills in a diverse academic environment
• Ability to learn electronic medical record systems and hospital software applications

Responsibilities

• Provide advanced nursing care to hospitalized small animals and exotics
• Monitor patient status and communicate changes to the care team
• Perform diagnostic procedures including sample collection and point-of-care testing
• Educate clients on treatment plans and discharge instructions
• Assist in clinical training and mentorship of students and technicians

Skills

CVT credential

Teamwork

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Microsoft Office

Education

CVT credential

AVMA-accredited program graduate

Tools

EMR systems

Job description

Overview

Advance Your Career in Veterinary Medicine

Looking for a place where you can grow your skills, work alongside leading specialists, and make a meaningful impact every day?

At The Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, veterinary technicians are valued members of the healthcare team. Our technicians provide exceptional patient care, teach future veterinary professionals, and collaborate with some of the most respected clinicians in veterinary medicine.

Whether you're an experienced technician looking to build specialty skills or a recent graduate seeking mentorship and support, you'll find opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive in our collaborative academic hospital environment.

Why You'll Love Working at Tufts

Grow Your Career at Any Stage

We're committed to helping veterinary technicians build rewarding, long-term careers.

You’ll have opportunities to:

• Develop advanced nursing skills through hands-on experience with complex medical and specialty cases
• Learn from board-certified specialists, residents, interns, and experienced veterinary nurses
• Explore interests across multiple specialty services
• Participate in continuing education and professional development opportunities
• Explore future pathways in leadership, education, research, and specialty nursing

Specialty Training Opportunities

Interested in expanding your skills beyond general practice?

Our teaching hospital environment provides exposure to advanced diagnostics, specialty procedures, complex medical cases, and multidisciplinary patient care. You'll have opportunities to cross-train, learn from specialists, and develop expertise in areas that interest you most.

This position qualifies for a $3,5000 sign on bonus following successful completion of 6 months of employment for newly hired employees.

What You’ll Do

As an Inpatient Medicine Veterinary Technician II, at The Foster Hospital for Small Animals, you'll provide advanced nursing care to hospitalized patients while working closely with specialists, residents, interns, students, and fellow technicians.

Essential Functions

Provide Exceptional Patient Care

• Deliver advanced nursing care to hospitalized small animal and exotic patients in a fast paced academic and specialty hospital environment.
• Monitor patient status, implement clinician-directed treatment plans, and promptly communicate changes in condition to the healthcare team.
• Perform a variety of technical and diagnostic procedures, including sample collection, point-of-care testing, and bench-top laboratory diagnostics.
• Collaborate with clinicians, technicians, students, and support staff to ensure timely, coordinated, and compassionate patient care.
• Educate clients on treatment plans, medications, and discharge instructions to support positive patient outcomes.

Teach, Mentor, and Support Learning

• Assist in the clinical training of veterinary students and veterinary technician students by demonstrating and teaching patient care and technical skills.
• Support the onboarding, training, and mentorship of new veterinary technicians and animal care attendants.
• Foster a collaborative learning environment that encourages professional growth and development.

Support Hospital Operations

• Maintain treatment and patient care areas to ensure a safe, organized, and efficient clinical environment.
• Monitor and maintain inventory of medical supplies and pharmaceuticals.
• Handle controlled substances in accordance with hospital policies and regulatory requirements.
• Assist with the maintenance and troubleshooting of clinical equipment.

Contribute to Innovation and Professional Growth

• Support clinical and academic research activities as appropriate.
• Participate in hospital and service-wide initiatives that advance patient care, education, and operational excellence.
• Engage in continuing education and professional development opportunities, including a minimum of six hours of RACE-approved continuing education annually.
• Provide cross-service support throughout the hospital as needed to meet patient care and operational needs.

Current open schedules include:

• Overnight Thursday, Friday, Saturday 6:00 PM - 6:00 AM

OR

• Afternoon swing Wednesday - Saturday 2:00 PM - 11:00 PM

What We’re Looking For

Basic Requirements

Candidates must meet one of the following qualifications:

• Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT) in good standing

OR

• Graduate of an AVMA-accredited Veterinary Technology, Veterinary Nursing, or Veterinary Science program with at least one year of experience in a fast paced hospital

OR

• 3 years of experience in a large academic, specialty or emergency hospital

In addition, successful candidates will demonstrate:

• Ability to work independently while performing routine clinical duties and technical procedures, with the judgment to seek guidance when managing more advanced cases.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and teamwork skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively in a diverse academic and clinical environment.
• Working knowledge of veterinary medical terminology and pharmacology.
• Commitment to providing outstanding service to clients, colleagues, students, and clinicians.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and the ability to learn electronic medical record systems and other hospital software applications.

Required Technical Skills

Candidates must be able to perform at least 90% of the following skills upon hire or to be able to trained successfully in the following skills in the first three months of employment:

• Safely restrain and handle canine and feline patients (and exotic species when applicable).
• Assess patient attitude, mentation, and responsiveness.
• Obtain and interpret vital signs, including temperature, pulse, respiration, and capillary refill time.
• Recognize signs of pain, distress, or changes in patient condition.
• Place intravenous catheters.
• Perform venipuncture, including cephalic, saphenous, and jugular blood collection.
• Calculate medication dosages, fluid therapy rates, and continuous rate infusions (CRIs).
• Set up, administer, and monitor fluid therapy.
• Monitor patients recovering from sedation and general anesthesia and identify abnormal physiologic parameters.
• Demonstrate knowledge of commonly used medications, sedatives and tranquilizers.
• Assist with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and demonstrate knowledge of CPR procedures.

Preferred Qualifications

• CVT, LVT, or RVT credential
• Experience in specialty, emergency, referral, or academic medicine
• Fear Free or Low Stress Handling Certification
• Experience with exotic animal species

Join a Team That Values Veterinary Nursing

At Tufts, veterinary technicians are more than support staff. They are educators, patient advocates, skilled clinicians, and essential members of the healthcare team.

If you’re looking for challenging medicine, opportunities for growth, meaningful mentorship, and a collaborative culture that supports your professional goals, we’d love to hear from you.

Compensation: Starting pay is based on the candidate’s knowledge, skills, experience, and placement within the hospital’s Veterinary Technician career ladder. Minimum starting rates for each level are as follows:

• Veterinary Technician I: $26.00/hour
• Veterinary Technician II: $29.00/hour
• Veterinary Technician III: $32.50/hour
• Veterinary Technician IV: $37.00/hour

Final placement on the career ladder will be determined based on the candidate’s qualifications and demonstrated competencies.

Pay Range

Minimum $25.20, Midpoint $30.10, Maximum $34.90

Salary is based on related experience, expertise, and internal equity; generally, new hires can expect pay between the minimum and midpoint of the range.