Emergency Veterinary Assistant

PetVet Care Centers•Santa Cruz, CA

36d•$23 - $27

About The Position

PetVet Care Centers' Pacific & Santa Cruz Veterinary Specialists is currently seeking Emergency Veterinary Assistant to join their team. At Pacific & Santa Cruz Veterinary Specialists, our team shares a passion for exceptional patient care and a deep sense of teamwork. We work closely across departments to ensure every pet receives the highest quality of care and every client feels supported. Our culture is built on collaboration, respect, and learning. Team members are encouraged to grow their skills through mentorship, continuing education, and hands-on experience in a supportive environment. At PetVet Care Centers, our mission is to improve the lives of animals and people - providing exceptional and compassionate care at every stage - for all the moments that matter. Because life is better with pets. We deliver the Ultimate Care Experience - every pet, every client, every time. That starts with a Culture of Care that supports our team members as much as the pets and clients we serve. With more than 420 locally led hospitals and over 11,000 team members nationwide, we offer: Local autonomy with national support Career mobility and development opportunities A collaborative, inclusive environment where your wellbeing comes first You care for pets. We care for you. Position Overview Emergency Veterinary Assistant are under the direct guidance and supervision of the doctor. Incumbents of this position are required to assist the practitioners to the fullest possible extent, to help improve the quality of care given to the patients of Pacific and Santa Cruz Veterinary specialists and to aid the practitioners in achieving greater efficiency by relieving them of technical work and administrative detail.

Requirements

TPR/ physical assessment
Drug administration/ dosage calculation
Venipuncture
Catheter placement - both venous and urinary
Cystocentesis - "blind" stick and ultrasound guided
CPR
Critical care and emergency assessment skills
Record/ interpret ECG
Radiology
Anesthesiology
Surgical assisting
Post surgical care/ monitoring
Perform laboratory tests; CBC, Chem, UA, viral tests, PT/PTT, etc.
Set up and monitoring of equipment such as Doppler, Cardell, SpO2, ECG, IV fluid pumps, anesthesia machines, suction pumps, crash cart, O2 cage
Recognition and knowledge of infectious/ zoonotic disease
Customer service/ communication skills

Responsibilities

Prepare for shifts by stocking drawers in exam rooms and treatment area. By setting up flush syringes, catheter kits and assuring that drugs and equipment are ready. Provide restraint of pets for examination and treatment by veterinarian. Prepare medications (both injections and dispensed medications) for both outpatients and inpatients. Log controlled substances.
Help doctor administer anesthetics; prepare patients for surgery; monitor patients during surgery and recovery; assist in surgery; administer fluids; perform support therapy to patients in surgery and post-op;
Properly clean, pack and autoclave all surgical materials after they are used. Keep the operating room properly stocked and prepared for surgery.
Assist the doctor with treatment of patients; assist in medical or surgical procedures such as irrigating, cleansing, and bandaging wounds, administering and monitoring anesthesia for critical and injured animals, monitoring fluid administration and urine output, reading an ECG and blood pressure (Doppler and cardell), placing urinary and intravenous catheters, administering emergency medications and performing doctors' orders in extreme emergency situations, and pain assessment.
Keep accurate and timely charts of all patient progress and treatments. Enter all charges into the computer system during every shift.
Perform clinical laboratory procedures such as blood chemistries, CBC, electrolytes, heartworm checks, skin scrapings, urinalysis, fungal cultures, draw blood for laboratory analysis. Prepare samples for shipment to laboratory and prepare laboratory forms. Perform other in-house tests such as parvo virus tests, and feline leukemia virus tests. Ensure patient records have test results recorded in them through CS.
Take radiographs.
Provide for the care and comfort of all patients in the ICU and kennels, including changing bedding, assessing pain and discomfort, and providing pain medications.
Admit and discharge patients on the doctor's orders, being especially careful to ensure that patients being discharged are well-groomed and in a medically appropriate state. Answer client questions one-on-one on various aspects of animal care up to, but not including, controversial items and/or those best left to the veterinarians. Pass on information/advice from the practitioners; explain dosage/purpose of medications; reinforce thorough discussion of the proper care and procedures that should be followed at home. Provide follow-up and updates on the progress of hospitalized patients with clients concerning certain patients; recommend additional visit and/or follow up with doctor's recommendation if patient's progress does not appear satisfactory.
Assist the receptionist when necessary and assume her duties during her absence.
Maintain an appropriate inventory of all supplies as dictated by the inventory control system. Inform inventory manager as needed about items that need to be ordered. Unpack boxes of medical supplies, check expiration dates, rotate stock and ensure that all ICU areas are appropriately stocked and clean. Make sure all products and literature are identified with labels. Keep abreast of over-the-counter products and their usage such as flea control and skin products, vitamins, and pet foods. Also understand usage and recommendations for prescription drugs.
Maintain hospital cleanliness by performing cleaning tasks on daily, weekly and monthly lists that are located within the department.