Summer Student Patient Care Associate

BluePearl Pet Hospital•Olympia, WA

21h•Onsite

About The Position

BluePearl Pet Hospital is seeking a dedicated Summer Student Patient Care Associate to join their team! This role is for a student enrolled full-time in an AVMA accredited Doctor of Veterinary Medicine/veterinary medical doctor training program or veterinary technician/technologist/nursing training program. Students will be employed as temporary associates for 8-12 weeks, between May and September. The role involves immersion in specialty and emergency medicine to augment the medical knowledge and technical skills acquired in school. The summer student patient care associate will assist doctors, technicians, and advanced patient care associates with patient care and client communication.

Requirements

Must be a full-time student enrolled in an AVMA accredited DVM/VMD or veterinary technician/technologist/nursing program
Must be available for a minimum of 8 weeks and a maximum of 12 weeks during May – September
No prior emergency or specialty medicine experience is required
Applicants must possess unrestricted, current authorization to work in the U.S. and not require future sponsorship for an employment-based green card.

Nice To Haves

Passion for animals
Looking to improve skills and learn more about the veterinary health industry
Enjoy working in a fast-paced, team environment
Animal experience is preferred

Responsibilities

Possess knowledge of basic veterinary terminology and abbreviations
Able to appropriately and safely restrain canine and feline patients
Able to perform a basic physical examination to collect patient vital signs
Triage patients over the phone and in-person
Collect a basic history from a client
Ability to input patient data into the medical record system
Document treatments administered, treatment adjustments per the attending doctor, and communication with the doctor, client, or primary care veterinarian
Assist clinician and technicians through the exam and diagnostic workup process
Effectively communicate discharge instructions to a client
Support clinician and client through the euthanasia process
Participate in the delivery of basic and advanced life support as directed by the clinician
Perform phlebotomy
Place intravenous catheter
Accurately perform basic medical math
Administer subcutaneous fluids
Administer SQ, IM, or IV injections
Operate basic equipment including fluid pumps, syringe pumps, SpO2 monitor, ETCO2 monitor, indirect blood pressure monitors (Doppler and oscillometric)
Run basic in-house diagnostic tests including CBC, chemistry panel, urinalysis, coagulation profiles, blood gases, and process slides for cytologic interpretation
Obtain diagnostic quality radiographs using proper techniques and personal protective equipment
Placement of the indwelling urinary catheter
Bandage application
Endotracheal intubation
Anesthesia monitoring
Assist clinician in advanced procedures such as endoscopy or surgical assist