Veterinary Technician - Surgery

BluePearl Pet Hospital; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 29,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus up to $5,000

Shift differential pay for nights/week

Education allowance

Job summary

BluePearl Pet Hospital in Pittsburgh North is seeking an exceptional Veterinary Technician to join our Surgery Team. The role involves outpatient and anesthesia duties, patient admissions, and post-operative care.

A rotating on-call schedule follows training, with opportunities for advancement within our CareerTrax leveling system. We offer a starting pay of $21.10–$40.60 per hour, depending on experience, plus a sign-on bonus up to $5,000 and shift differentials for nights and weekends.

Qualifications

• Minimum two years of experience in a veterinary hospital.
• Credentials include LVT, CVT, RVT, LVMT, or VTS.

Responsibilities

• Admit patients for surgical procedures and place IV catheters.
• Facilitate new consults and recheck exams; obtain patient history.

Skills

LVT

CVT

RVT

LVMT

VTS

Tools

Anesthesia equipment

Job description

BluePearl Pet Hospital in Pittsburgh North is hiring an exceptional Veterinary Technician to join our Surgery Team.

Pay: $21.10 - $40.60 / hour

This pay band is a starting point and is dependent on experience and advancement through our CareerTrax leveling system.

Sign-on bonus of up to $5,000, based on experience and applicable licensure. Eligible credentials include LVT, CVT, RVT, LVMT, or VTS.

We also offer competitive shift differential pay for eligible hours worked for nights and weekends.

*Shift differentials are based on a 4-hour minimum.

For example:

• Mon – Fri: 6pm to 8am = $3.00 Shift Differential
• Sat & Sun: 6pm to 8am = $4.50 Shift Differential
• Sat & Sun: 8am to 6pm = $3.00 Shift Differential

A BluePearl Surgery Technician is responsible for some post-operative client communication and must be able to work independently while contributing to a larger team goal. Prefer to have a minimum of two or more years of experience in a veterinary hospital. A rotating on call schedule is required once training has been completed.

As a Surgery Veterinary Technician, you will perform the following:

Outpatient Technician

• Admit patients to the hospital for surgical procedures, place IV catheters
• Facilitate new consult appointments and recheck exams
• Speak to clients to obtain patient history
• Restrain animals for exam and diagnostics
• Perform blood draws, take radiographs, obtain vitals
• Assist with bandage changes

Recovery

• Monitor post-operative vitals to include pain score, mentation, temperature, pulse, respiration rate/effort, blood pressure, pulse oximetry
• Operate and trouble shoot fluid pumps, connect/disconnect patients

Discharge post-op patients from the hospital

• Review paperwork, side effects, activity restrictions, and physical therapy exercises with owners
• Prepare medications as instructed or call medications in to outside pharmacy
• Answer client calls, address questions; serve as liaison between doctor and pet owner, ensure all updates and conversations are clearly documented in the medical record
• Monitor sedated patients for minor procedures or advanced diagnostics/imaging

Anesthesia Technician: Once all outpatient responsibilities are mastered or for qualified candidates:

• Perform calculations for induction drugs, continuous rate infusions, and emergency drugs
• Properly and safely intubate and extubate animals
• Proficient in operating and monitoring patients on an anesthetic ventilator
• Place arterial catheters, prepare and assist with epidurals, local blocks, and other anesthetic techniques
• Monitor anesthesia for routine, orthopedic, and emergency procedures: recognize normal vs. abnormal vitals and communicate with doctor for intervention
• Perform daily safety maintenance on anesthesia machines and systems
• Aseptically prep and prepare patients for various soft tissue and orthopedic procedures
• Assist and perform induction procedures
• Recognize various arrhythmias on ECG and communicate with doctor
• Complete Recover CPR training modules and be prepared to apply to real life situations
• Maintains surgical readiness by identifying and handling instruments appropriately, preparing and wrapping surgical packs, and performing sterilization using both autoclave and gas systems

Structured anesthesia training is offered with a dedicated mentor. Once fully trained, anesthesia technicians will participate in on-call responsibilities.

Why BluePearl?

• Our passion is pets. We offer Trupanion pet insurance and discounts to our associates for pet treatments, procedures, and food.
  • We encourage you to grow with us. Our associates are leveled by their skillset and move up in level as they gain more skills and experience. We are focused on developing our associates into leaders through talent development programs and leadership workshops. As a member of Mars Veterinary Health, our associates have endless opportunities to advance in their career.
  • To transform and lead the industry through innovative quality medicine and care, we understand the importance of continuous learning. We offer annual continuing education allowance, free continuing education sessions, our own BluePearl University for training, and our clinicians have access to over 2,000 medical journals.
  • We value your health and well-being as an associate by providing you with the following:
  • Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance options.
  • Parental leave benefits
  • Flexible work schedules
  • 401k and retirement planning
  • Time to reset, rewind, and reflect through our paid time off and floating holiday plans
  • A regional licensed social worker who can provide guidance, advice, and tips/tricks on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle while working in a fast-paced emergency and specialty care environment
  • We promote a family-like culture in our hospitals. We believe in working together to lead the industry by enriching lives through remarkable care for pets

BluePearl is committed to a diverse work environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. We are an equal opportunity employer and you will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and a Drug Free Workplace.