Veterinary Anesthesia Recovery Technician
About The Position
The Veterinary Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) Technician is responsible for providing attentive, compassionate care to patients recovering from anesthesia. Working within the Anesthesia department, this role focuses on monitoring vital signs, managing pain, recognizing and responding to complications, and ensuring patient safety throughout recovery. The technician communicates effectively with hospital services to facilitate smooth patient transfers or discharge and maintains a clean, organized recovery environment. This full-time, benefited position is considered essential personnel and requires professionalism, teamwork, and ongoing commitment to learning and quality patient care. A post-offer education verification, background check, and health assessment are required. The PACU technician is responsible for providing safe, attentive care to patients recovering from anesthesia. This includes monitoring vital signs, managing pain, and preparing patients for transfer back to their service or for discharge. The technician must be observant, proactive, and able to work independently while knowing when to seek assistance. Patient safety and comfort are priorities, with efforts made to reduce fear, stress, and anxiety during recovery.
Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalent and one year relevant experience.
- Appropriate college coursework or vocational/technical training may substitute at an equivalent rate for the required experience.
- Must be able to lift a minimum of 40 lbs, bend, kneel, pull, push, twist and stand for an extended period of time.
Nice To Haves
- Credentialed veterinary technician (CVT/LVT/RVT) preferred.
- Proficiency in intubation and extubating techniques.
- Expertise in pain assessment protocols (e.g., Glasgow Composite Pain Scale).
- Experience with advanced anesthetic monitoring equipment (e.g., capnography).
Responsibilities
- Monitor patients closely through their anesthetic recovery until extubated, normothermic, fully conscious, and ambulatory.
- Track temperature, heart rate, and respiration; use advanced monitoring equipment as needed.
- Administer prescribed sedation and analgesics via approved routes as directed by a veterinarian.
- Identify and respond quickly to complications such as respiratory distress, cardiac arrest, or hypothermia.
- Maintain clean bedding, perform catheter care, and check surgical sites for hemorrhage or complications.
Benefits
- health insurance
- paid time off
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
High school or GED
