Level 1 Veterinary Assistant
About The Position
As a Veterinary Assistant Level 1 (VA1) you are responsible for providing our clients with a top-notch experience as well as assisting veterinarians and technicians with animal restraint, triaging incoming patients, procedures, maintaining a clean and sterile work environment, stocking the hospital, measuring and assessing patient vital signs, running diagnostic lab work, providing aftercare for deceased animals, and performing surgery prep and assisting in life-saving surgical procedures. This position builds on the skills developed as a Kennel Assistant while increasing your responsibility for client interactions, and more advanced technical skills including restraining animals for procedures, helping with lab work, and triaging and discharging patients. This is an ideal position for someone who already has some experience in the veterinary field or a high level of customer service experience and animal handling comfort in a related field such as a grooming.
Requirements
- A genuine love of and respect for all animals is required, as is an appreciation of the human-animal bond.
- A strong desire to problem solve and help others.
- Excellent client service and teamwork skills.
- Experience or education equivalent to a High School Diploma is required.
- Understanding of animal behavior and knowledge of safe animal handling and transport practices.
- 1+ year experience working in animal care work such as at a veterinary clinic, kennel, shelter, or grooming facility is required for our Veterinary Assistant Level 1 position.
- Any suitable combination of experience or education may substitute for the above.
Nice To Haves
- Valid Oregon driver's license for driving the DoveLewis transport van is strongly preferred.
Responsibilities
- Providing clients with a top-notch experience
- Assisting veterinarians and technicians with animal restraint
- Triaging incoming patients
- Performing procedures
- Maintaining a clean and sterile work environment
- Stocking the hospital
- Measuring and assessing patient vital signs
- Running diagnostic lab work
- Providing aftercare for deceased animals
- Performing surgery prep and assisting in life-saving surgical procedures
- Restraining animals for procedures
- Helping with lab work
- Triaging and discharging patients
Benefits
- Advancing your emergency and critical care skillset at a teaching hospital dedicated to the growth of our employees.
- Equitable Health Benefits including Medical Dental Vision
- $0 mental health copays preventative care
- LGBTQIA-friendly providers options for families
- Life Insurance
- Flexible Spending Account (medical and dependent care)
- Paid vacation and sick time
- Holiday pay
- Bereavement leave, including time off when a pet family member passes away
- 403(b) retirement account with free financial advising available
- Student debt repayment assistance for all employees
- As part of a nonprofit with community-focused services your work makes a difference to the animal-loving community and to individual pet owners on a daily basis.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
High school or GED
