Veterinary Assistant, I (Salem)

Mac's List•Salem, OR

52d•$18 - $18

About The Position

The Veterinary Assistant (VA) is a vital member of the Salem Medical care team. Responsibilities include assisting with and performing patient exams, providing daily medical care to patients in the hospital facility, providing anesthesia, laboratory, pharmacy and radiology support, preparing patients for surgery and helping to maintain the hospital facility at the highest level of cleanliness and order. The VA also engages with the public to provide consultation and information. All OHS staff members contribute to the stewardship of the organization's mission and are expected to stay current on and understand issues related to animal welfare and OHS programs.

Requirements

Proven work experience providing direct care to animals in a veterinary medicine center or in an animal shelter environment.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills - able to communicate with a diverse population in a consistently informative, respectful and professional manner.
Proficiency using the Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, Excel.
Able to exercise sound judgment and maintain a professional demeanor during all interactions with the public, partner agencies, donors, staff and volunteers.
Available to work weekends, evenings, and holidays as needed.
Hold or obtain a Certified Euthanasia Technician (CET) license within one year from the date of hire. Able to maintain certification throughout the course of employment.
Hold or obtain Radiology Safety Certification within one year from the date of hire. Able to maintain certification throughout the course of employment.

Responsibilities

Work daily with animals of varying size and temperament, handling individual animals in a caring and respectful manner. Provide compassionate care for patients.
Perform any other duty as requested by management
Participate and assist with critical and emergency response situations.
Assist with public education events such as presentations and in-shelter types of education.
Provide clean bedding, water and litter pans for patients. Feed and water hospitalized patients as needed.
Receive and stock medical supply shipments. Maintain inventory and storage areas in a neat and orderly manner.
Prepare patients for dismissal according to established discharge protocols.
Prepare and transport patients for surgery, dentistry, radiology, and other prescribed procedures.
Perform radiological services.
Collect blood, urine, and fecal samples. Prepare and perform in-house laboratory tests. Prepare and submit samples for external analysis.
Place IV catheters on a consistent basis.
Fill prescriptions.
Readily adjust to change and contribute to the success of new programs, projects, and/or initiatives
Administer medications: intramuscularly, subcutaneously, topically, and orally.
Monitor the Medical Consultation phone as assigned. Perform pre-adoption medical consultations and/or euthanasia consultation with the public as needed.
Clean and sanitize cages and hospital facilities, including exam rooms, treatment rooms and surgical suites.
Ensure that animals with infectious diseases are handled safely and according to infectious medicine protocols.
Enter medical notes and treatment notes in a timely and accurate manner.
Monitor multiple anesthetized pets for surgical and post-op. Record and report physical signs of patients before, during and after surgery.
Prep and set up surgical suites, administer pre-anesthesia drugs, and ensure that all surgical and medical areas are clean and organized.