Veterinary Assistant - 005015

Banfield Pet Hospital•Banfield Glisan Street Station OR|005015, OR

21d•$17 - $21•Onsite

About The Position

The Veterinary Assistant supports the veterinarians and veterinary technicians in ensuring quality veterinary care for all pets, advocates for pets, educates clients on all aspects of pet health, and ensures a safe and effective hospital environment. The role involves acting as an extra set of hands for veterinarians and technicians to ensure the best quality pet care and to maximize their productivity. Communication with the veterinary team and other associates is crucial for patient flow. The assistant provides professional, efficient, and exceptional service by performing or preparing procedures, ensuring client and pet comfort, and monitoring hospitalized or surgical pets as allowed by state practice acts. Client education on wellness plans, preventive care, and hospital services is also a key responsibility. Maintaining a safe environment through proper restraining techniques, protocols, and cleanliness of treatment areas, exam rooms, and labs is essential. The role may include assisting with surgery and mentoring other paraprofessionals.

Requirements

Ability to multi-task and shift attention among multiple tasks under distracting conditions without loss of accuracy or appearance of frustration.
Reads, writes, and speaks fluent English, using appropriate grammar, style, and vocabulary.
Correctly spells commonly used English words and job-specific terms.
Demonstrates exceptionally strong written and verbal communication skills.
Demonstrates a systematic approach in carrying out assignments.
Demonstrates a strong ability to identify, analyze, and solve problems.
Consistently ensures the team provides the client with attentive, courteous, and informative service.
Accurately and consistently follows instructions delivered in an oral, written, or diagram format.
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide, and to compute rate, ratio, and percent; ability to convert units of measurement.
Comfortably and confidently uses a computer and specialized medical software, as well as Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel.
Shows willingness and aptitude to take appropriate steps in finding solutions to problems; presents options and ideas to enhance current processes or procedures.
Takes on additional responsibility when both big and small tasks need to be done.
Firmly adheres to the values and ethics of Banfield Pet Hospital.
Exhibits honesty, discretion, and sound judgment.
Willing to work with others, collaborating and compromising where necessary; promptly share relevant information with others.
Is open to changing situations and opportunities and is willing to perform all tasks assigned.
Able and willing to perform tasks and duties without supervision as appropriate.
Maintains a positive “can do” outlook, rebounds quickly from frustrations and unpleasantness, and maintains composure and friendly demeanor while dealing with stressful situations.
Ability to work at a computer for long periods of time.
Ability to be confident around pets (i.e., dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, etc.).
Must have mental processes for reasoning, remembering, mathematics and language ability (reading, writing, and speaking the English language) to perform the duties proficiently.
Requires sufficient ambulatory skills in order to perform duties while at hospital.
Ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and climb as well as manipulate (lift, carry, move) up to 50 pounds.
Requires good hand-eye coordination, arm-hand-finger dexterity with the ability to grasp, and visual acuity to use a keyboard and operate equipment.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
Associate is routinely exposed to a variety of pets that may bite or scratch, and on occasion, exposed to anesthesia, radiation, biological hazards and medication/controlled substances.
2 years experience working with animals.
Must be able to perform all required skills of NAVTA approved veterinary assistant programs at a level in which to aid in the efficiency of the practice.
Must be at least 18 years old to perform duties involving radiography (x-ray) and exposure to radioactive substances.
One year related experience required with customer service preferred.

Responsibilities

Support veterinarians and veterinary technicians in providing quality veterinary care.
Advocate for pets and educate clients on pet health.
Ensure a safe and effective hospital environment.
Act as support for veterinarians and veterinary technicians to ensure quality pet care and maximize productivity.
Communicate with veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and other associates to maintain patient flow.
Perform or prepare procedures that do not require veterinarian or veterinary technician assistance.
Ensure clients and pets are comfortable in the hospital.
Monitor hospitalized or surgical pets as allowed by state practice acts.
Educate clients about Optimum Wellness Plans, preventive care, pet health needs, hospital services, and other issues.
Obtain relevant information and history from clients.
Maintain proper and complete medical charts.
Ensure the safety of pets, clients, and associates by utilizing safe restraining techniques and following standard protocols.
Maintain clean, sterile, and organized treatment areas, exam rooms, and labs.
Assist with surgery as applicable.
Utilize technical skills to the fullest within state practice acts and NAVTA guidelines for veterinary assistant skills and duties.
Mentor other paraprofessionals in the hospital.
Other job duties as assigned.