Animal Care Technician - Comparative Medicine
About The Position
Penn State is searching for a full time Animal Care Technician - Comparative Medicine - Grade 5 to join the team. This role involves observing animals in an intensive care setting, monitoring animals with artificial organs, administering medications, collecting samples, maintaining records, restraining animals for procedures, assisting with veterinary treatments, operating and maintaining equipment, preparing rooms for returning surgical patients, maintaining supply inventory, and keeping the work area and animals clean. The position also includes assisting with training new technicians and performing duties of an Animal Caretaker C as needed.
Requirements
- Requires the use of commercial English, grammar and arithmetic such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, including decimals and fractions; simple use of formulas, charts, tables, drawings, specifications, schedules, wiring diagrams, together with the use of adjustable measuring instruments, graduates and the like requiring interpretation in their various applications; or the posting, preparation, interpretation, use and checking of reports, forms, records and comparable data.
- 2 to 3 years of effective experience
- Requires that you operate a motor vehicle as a part of your job duties.
- A valid driver’s license and successful completion of a motor vehicle records check will be required in addition to standard background checks.
- Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.
Responsibilities
- Observe animals in an intensive care setting and report changes to veterinary staff or supervisor; notify on-call veterinarian in emergency situation; as appropriate, take immediate action such as controlling bleeding or seizures, administering oxygen or medication, etc.
- Monitor animals with artificial organs and associated equipment; react properly to alarms and change in status; notify veterinarian or on-call engineer.
- Under veterinary staff direction, use proper aseptic techniques to administer medications orally, intramuscularly, and intravenously; draw up, dilute, or mix medications at the proper levels; monitor blood pressure and heart rate for abnormal conditions.
- Collect blood, urine, and fecal samples; conduct diagnostic tests as directed including blood gases, hematocrits, clot times, etc.
- Maintain records of animal data, vitals, medications, intake and output, etc.; follow orders written by veterinary staff and supervisor.
- Restrain, position, and prepare animals for medical/research procedures.
- Assist with veterinary treatments and activities as directed.
- Operate and perform routine user maintenance on equipment such as blood pressure monitors, fluid pumps, etc.; notify supervisor of malfunctions.
- Prepare room for animals returning from surgery; ensure availability of stanchion with clean mat, oxygen tank, and other equipment/supplies required for animal recovery.
- Maintain a stock of regularly used supplies; request additional supplies to replenish inventory, as necessary; make recommendations to supervisor when new equipment and supplies may be needed.
- Maintain work area and equipment in a clean and orderly condition; keep animals in clean state; promptly remove animal waste.
- Assist with training newly hired Animal Care Technicians.
- Perform the duties of Animal Caretaker C as needed.
Benefits
- Comprehensive medical coverage
- Dental coverage
- Vision coverage
- Robust retirement plans
- Substantial paid time off (holidays, vacation, sick time)
- 75% tuition discount for employees, eligible spouses, and children
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
