Internal Medicine Credentialed Veterinary Technician

TUFTS VETERINARY EMERGENCY SERVICE•Walpole, MA

6d•$25 - $32•Onsite

About The Position

The Internal Medicine Veterinary Technician at Tufts VETS will play a crucial role in providing specialized care to patients with complex medical conditions. This position requires a strong background in veterinary medicine, exceptional technical skills, and a compassionate approach to patient care. The Internal Medicine Veterinary Technician will assist the internists, performing advanced diagnostics, administering treatments, educating clients, and collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to provide exceptional patient care. Your attention to detail and commitment to high-quality care will ensure that our patients receive the best possible treatment. You will collaborate closely with veterinary teams, contributing to a multidisciplinary approach to animal health. The ideal candidate will possess strong technical skills, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, a solid understanding of common veterinary medical conditions, and the ability to work efficiently under pressure. A passion for animal care and a dedication to continuous learning will further enhance your contributions to our team and the welfare of our patients.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent
Degree in Veterinary Technology and/or Animal Science preferred
Certification as a Veterinary Technician (CVT, RVT, or LVT) preferred
Minimum of 2 years working in the veterinary field as a Veterinary Technician
Minimum of 18 years old.
Genuinely enjoys working with animals and can treat them compassionately even when they are stressed, ill or in pain.
Must support and foster an environment of diversity, inclusion, collaboration, and empathy.
Must have excellent interpersonal relationship and communication skills.
Can multi-task in a fast-paced working environment.
Can stay calm and efficient under pressure.
Is detail oriented and reliable.
Has a high commitment to providing exceptional patient/client care.
Has excellent communication skills.
Must be professional, approachable, and maintain an optimistic outlook.

Nice To Haves

Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) desirable
Prior experience working in specialty medicine preferred
Advanced training and credentialing such as becoming a VTS is strongly encouraged.

Responsibilities

Demonstrate a commitment to high quality patient care.
Assist with case workups and creation of individualized anesthetic plans to be approved by the anesthesiologist or clinician on the case.
Familiar with disease processes and conditions, procedures, medications, and equipment related to Internal Medicine.
Able to perform drug calculations, including fluid rates, CRI’s, and medications.
Perform anesthetic and/or sedation monitoring during pre-op, intra-op and recovery.
Able to use/maintain/troubleshoot multiparameter anesthetic monitors and anesthetic machines.
Ability to perform venipuncture and catheter placement proficiently.
Take digital radiographs following appropriate safety protocols.
Obtain and prepare various blood and urine samples for diagnostic testing.
Assist with appointments: performing a physical exam, effectively communicate with client, admit and discharge patients, and prepare and completion of paperwork.
Perform procedure nursing care during endoscopy including aseptic prep, setup/maintain/breakdown of scoping tower, aseptically open instruments/equipment, and care for instrument: cleaning/wrapping/sterilization.
Assist the doctors throughout the shift with appointments, procedures, workups, client communications, and general workflow efficiencies.
Keep work areas organized and exercise time management skills to maximize efficiency within the hospital. Prioritize your tasks and handle them in a calm and organized manner.
Clean and straighten treatment/lab/examination areas. Clean and maintain medical equipment.
Prepare and enter internal medicine schedule
Schedule appointments/work with client liaison for schedule coordination
Obtain a comprehensive history from clients along with TPRW
Hold/restraint of patients
Venipuncture
Cystocentesis
Urinary catheter placement
IV Catheter placement
Assist with feeding tube placement and management
Administration of medications via various routes
Patient workups
Assist ER/ICU technicians with treatments of Internal Medicine patients
Record patient parameters and events on treatment sheets
Round with other Internal Medicine technicians and ER/ICU technicians on inpatients and day cases
Schedule and prepare paperwork for any future procedures (drop offs)
Create estimates for procedures and inpatients and submit for clinician approval
Fill out and submit anesthesia requests
Cytology
Microscope operation
Run various in-hospital bloodwork, including submitting samples to external labs
Obtain radiographs using both manual and non-manual restraint
Coordinate consults from other departments when needed
Prepare prescriptions /refills
Enter charges for client invoice for both inpatients and outpatients
Prepare samples/ order lab work
Track lab samples
Ensure results get to clinician as quickly as possible
Stock / clean exam room and treatment area
Maintain department’s supplies and special orders
Prepare supply list for ordering
Monthly audit expiration dates on supplies
Client education /explain treatment plan /review discharge instructions with owner/discuss medications.
Communicate with referring veterinarians and other specialty practices as needed.
Call backs, confirmation calls and follow up calls.
Demonstrate critical thinking skills when talking with clients to assess concerns, urgency, and interventional needs.
Follow through with client conversations to assure appropriate action has taken place and questions have been answered.
Record all client communications in communication log.
Assure that doctors receive all messages from clients.
Demonstrate an ability to work efficiently under pressure in a fast-paced work environment.
Demonstrate an advanced ability to multi-task and prioritize tasks.
Display superior communication skills with other internal medicine technicians and internists to assure that all daily tasks are completed, and client needs are met.
Display an ability to navigate challenging conversations with clients.
Display advanced knowledge of common internal medicine disease processes so that client questions and concerns can be answered accurately and efficiently.
Demonstrate sound knowledge of veterinary medical terminology.
Demonstrate advanced knowledge of anatomy and physiology.
Demonstrate advanced knowledge of pharmacology.
Pain assessment and familiarity with CRI pain management protocols.
Demonstrate a sound ability to clinically assess a patient. Anticipate and recognize subtle changes in patient status. Take appropriate action (such as obtaining blood pressure, TPR, blood glucose, etc.) without direction.
Demonstrate a critical thought process using advanced monitoring equipment (CVPs, Doppler, SpO2, and ECG). Understand values and alert veterinarian of abnormalities.
Master catheter placement to include blood sampling catheters and central lines.
Demonstrate superior venipuncture skills in chronically ill and chemotherapy patients.
Understand and know normal of basic in house and send out laboratory tests. Alert veterinarian to abnormalities or trends. Anticipate abnormalities based on patient clinical assessment/disease.
Demonstrate ability to critically analyze orders based on patient condition and disease process. Review treatment sheets and anesthetic requests for consistency, accuracy and completeness. Review treatment sheets daily to ensure completeness/accuracy by ECC technical team. Consult with veterinarians about concerns.
Sedation of animals in all ASA statuses.
Inhalant Anesthesia of animals in I-III ASA statuses.
Preform pre-anesthesia evaluations and examinations to determine safety and risk for internal medicine cases.
Develop and propose to internist’s balanced anesthetic plans for internal medicine cases, including potential complications and contingency options.
Implement prescribed anesthetic plans for internal medicine cases, from pre anesthesia until recovery, monitoring throughout.
Work with anesthesiologist to further anesthesia knowledge base and skill set.
Set-up for procedures.
Assist with procedures.
Aseptic surgical area preparation.
Clean up after procedures including scope cleaning.
Drug calculations.
Chemotherapy administration.
Safe chemotherapy handling, waste management.
Properly collect and handle excretion, secretion, effusion, cytology, histology and blood samples.
Hematology (manual CBC differentials and morphologies).
Set up and assist with ultrasonography, CT, and fluoroscopy.
Ensure that the department has all supplies, and equipment needed for all appointments scheduled.
Maintain department equipment /instruments (all scopes, scope processor, instruments)
Inform the Lead Internal Medicine Technician and/or Specialty Technician Supervisor of any mechanical problems with equipment, assist with/track repairs.
Assist internists and fellow technicians in all day-to-day operations as required.
Work closely with the Lead Internal Medicine Technician and/or Specialty Technician Supervisor to continually improve and develop the Internal Medicine Department.
Coordinate and refill of prescription medications
Assist in training new team members and veterinary students.
Collaborate effectively with internists to provide comprehensive patient care.
Participate in continuous education to stay updated with advancements in veterinary internal medicine practices.
Meet with supervisor and Clinical Services Manager regularly to review any concerns or issues.
Assist in training new team members and veterinary students.
Collaborate effectively with veterinary staff to provide comprehensive patient care.
Participate in continuous education to stay updated with advancements in veterinary practices.
Participate in regular team meetings.
Follows appropriate leadership structure when communicating, reporting, and resolving concerns and issues.
Maintain an optimistic attitude and follow TVETS policies including the Employee Code of Conduct. Your conduct and interaction with team members and clients is a top priority and is continually evaluated.
Adhere to all hospital policies and standards as required by the employee manual.
Serve as a representative of the hospital. Display courtesy, tact, consideration, and a positive attitude in all interactions with clients, patients, and team member.
Adhere to your work schedule. Be on the floor ready to work at the start of your shift.
Demonstrate initiative and teamwork in your duties each day.
Demonstrate professionalism and discourage gossip/rumors.
Maintain strict confidentiality.
Follow all hospital safety protocols.
Providing compassionate care to patients and clients.
Conducting oneself in a professional and confident manner, even under pressure.
Maintaining positive, cooperative working relationships with all team members.
Communicate openly, effectively, and regularly with all management/supervisors and specialists.
Maintain positive rapport between all hospital team members and clients.
Maintain open, positive, and productive communications.
Performs other duties as assigned by the Specialty Technician Supervisor.