Emergency Veterinary Assistant - Overnights - Fort Lauderdale, FL

Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG)•Fort Lauderdale, FL

8d•Onsite

About The Position

VEG is a rapidly growing emergency veterinary company with hospital locations across the United States. Our mission is helping people and their pets when they need it most. We are revolutionizing emergency medicine with a “customer first” mentality and a true, employee-centric work environment. We want people and their pets to feel safe, secure, and valued; we want our employees to feel the same way. VEG is committed to providing the best experience possible for both customers and employees, aiming to be the place where the best and brightest in the emergency world not only want to work, but stay and grow. We strive to find a way to say, “yes” to our customers and their pets, and we do the same and more for our teams. VEG is a nominee for INC Magazine’s Best Places to Work.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required.
Minimum of one year of recent hands-on experience in a veterinary hospital required.
Experience providing direct patient care rather than primarily performing kennel, reception, or administrative responsibilities.
Working knowledge of veterinary medical terminology, patient restraint, physical assessments, vital signs, sample collection, medication administration, hospitalized patient care, and infection prevention practices.
Ability to recognize changes in a patient's condition and communicate concerns promptly and effectively to the veterinary team.
Comfortable working with critically ill, injured, and emergent patients while supporting pet parents during emotionally challenging situations.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with veterinarians, credentialed veterinary technicians, veterinary assistants, and pet parents.
Basic computer proficiency and experience working with practice management software and electronic medical records (EMR).
Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize multiple tasks, adapt quickly, and remain effective in a fast-paced emergency environment.
Demonstrated commitment to learning, continuous professional development, and building advanced emergency and critical care skills.
Flexibility to work a variety of shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays, based on hospital needs.
Ability to perform the physical requirements of the role, including: Standing and walking for extended periods of time. Frequently bending, kneeling, crouching, and working on the floor. Safely lifting up to 25 kg (55 lbs.) independently and assisting with lifting up to 40 kg (88 lbs.). Possessing the fine motor skills and manual dexterity necessary to safely handle patients, medications, and medical equipment.
Ability to work in a busy hospital environment that may include loud noises, strong odors, exposure to bodily fluids, and emotionally stressful situations.

Nice To Haves

At least two years of hands-on clinical experience.
Emergency, specialty, urgent care, or other high-volume veterinary experience strongly preferred.
Previous experience with venipuncture, peripheral IV catheter placement, radiology, anesthesia monitoring, emergency triage, and other emergency nursing skills is strongly preferred.
Enrollment in or graduation from an AVMA-accredited Veterinary Technology program is a plus but is not required.

Responsibilities

Treat every patient and pet parent with the highest level of compassion, empathy, and care.
Directly participate in the triage and initial assessment of incoming emergency patients.
Collect vital signs, recognize changes in patient condition, and promptly communicate concerns to the veterinary team.
Provide hands-on nursing care for both outpatient and hospitalized patients.
Safely restrain and position patients for examinations, procedures, diagnostic imaging, and treatments.
Collect, process, and prepare blood, urine, and other diagnostic samples.
Perform or assist with diagnostic procedures, including in-house laboratory testing, point-of-care diagnostics, radiographs, ultrasonography, paracentesis, and other diagnostic imaging based on demonstrated competency and state law.
Place and maintain peripheral IV catheters and perform advanced vascular access techniques—including jugular, central venous, arterial, and intraosseous catheter placement—based on demonstrated competency and state law.
Administer subcutaneous, intramuscular, and intravenous medications under veterinary direction while understanding appropriate monitoring parameters and potential adverse effects.
Set up, administer, and monitor intravenous fluid therapy, including constant rate infusions (CRIs), blood transfusions, and other prescribed treatments.
Prepare for and assist with emergency procedures, sedation, and anesthesia, including monitoring patients through anesthesia, recovery, and mechanical ventilation when applicable, based on demonstrated competency and state law.
Perform nursing care tasks such as placing and maintaining urinary catheters, nasal oxygen tubes, and other patient support devices.
Set up, monitor, maintain, and troubleshoot oxygen cages and other oxygen delivery systems.
Participate in developing and implementing patient treatment, anesthesia, and nursing care plans alongside the veterinary team, as permitted by state law.
Participate in patient rounds and communicate relevant updates to support continuity of care.
Maintain accurate, timely, and thorough patient records within the electronic medical record (EMR).
Communicate clearly, professionally, and compassionately with pet parents throughout their pet's emergency visit.
Maintain treatment areas, medical equipment, and supplies while following appropriate infection prevention and biosecurity standards.
Respond to critical and emergent patients as an active member of the CPR team and complete RECOVER Rescuer Certification through VEG-provided training.
Work collaboratively alongside credentialed veterinary technicians, veterinarians, and the entire hospital team to deliver exceptional emergency patient care.
Continue developing advanced emergency and critical care skills through VEG's clinical training pathways, with opportunities to grow into roles such as trainer, community outreach, coordination of care, leadership, and veterinary technician credentialing support.
All responsibilities are based on demonstrated competency and are performed as permitted by state law.