Recovery Team Level 2 Veterinary Assistant
About The Position
DoveLewis Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Hospital is seeking a Recovery Team Veterinary Assistant Level 2 (VA2) to join a team focused on one of the most important moments in a patient’s journey — recovery. This role supports surgical and hospitalized patients as they transition safely following anesthesia and procedures. Working alongside Recovery Team Certified Veterinary Technicians (CVTs), veterinarians, surgery teams, and specialty services, Recovery Team VA2s help patients heal comfortably, move efficiently through care, and prepare for successful discharge. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment, enjoy hands-on patient care, and want to be part of a highly collaborative team focused on exceptional patient experiences, we would love to meet you. DoveLewis is the largest 24-hour veterinary emergency and specialty hospital in the Pacific Northwest and a nonprofit teaching hospital dedicated to compassionate care, clinical excellence, and advancing veterinary medicine. Our teams care for medically complex patients while supporting the human-animal bond through every stage of treatment and recovery. We believe excellent medicine happens through teamwork, curiosity, and continuous learning.
Requirements
- Minimum one year of veterinary experience preferred, including experience with phlebotomy and IV catheter placement, or enrollment in an AVMA-accredited veterinary technician program.
- Strong interest in patient nursing care, surgery, recovery, or specialty medicine.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, team-oriented hospital environment.
- Strong communication, organization, and attention to detail.
- Compassionate approach to patient care and client interactions.
- Valid Oregon or Washington driver’s license required for patient transport responsibilities.
Responsibilities
- Assist Recovery Team CVTs and veterinarians with recovery of patients following anesthesia and sedation procedures.
- Monitor recovering patients under supervision and communicate concerns related to comfort, pain, mentation, or changes in condition.
- Support patient comfort through positioning, warming, bedding changes, cleanliness, and attentive nursing care.
- Administer approved medications, subcutaneous fluids, and low-risk IV medications within VA2 scope.
- Perform technical skills including IV catheter placement and phlebotomy with supervision as appropriate.
- Assist with inpatient treatments and nursing care to support continuity of care and patient flow.
- Work closely with surgery, anesthesia, specialty, and recovery teams to support seamless patient handoffs.
- Safely transport patients throughout the hospital for diagnostics, procedures, hospitalization, recovery, or discharge.
- Help prepare patients for transfer to inpatient teams or discharge.
- Participate in patient rounds and team communication to support continuity of care.
- Assist with patient discharges, medication preparation, and client education support.
- Complete callback communication to check on patient recovery following discharge.
- Communicate professionally and compassionately with clients regarding recovery and care needs.
- Support communication with referring veterinary hospitals as directed.
- Maintain clean, organized, and well-stocked recovery and treatment areas.
- Support cleaning and turnover of treatment and recovery spaces to help patients move efficiently through care.
- Prepare and maintain clean kennel environments.
- Assist with laundry, stocking, and general hospital organization.
- Drive the DoveLewis transport van as needed to support patient care.
- Contribute to a collaborative, fast-paced team environment focused on excellent patient outcomes.
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What This Job Offers
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
