Veterinary Assistant, Internal Medicine
About The Position
Vista Veterinary Specialists is hiring a full-time Internal Medicine Veterinary Assistant to support the Internist and provide patient care. The role supports the diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing management of inpatients and outpatients with complex, chronic, and multi-system medical conditions. The assistant is expected to uphold high standards of care while respecting client circumstances and decisions, and to know and be able to perform and teach tasks covered in kennel assistant, veterinary assistant, and general practice veterinary technician roles. The position is based in a 24-hour emergency and specialty hospital with a 17,300-square-foot facility, five operating rooms, an on-site CT scanner, ICU and Intermediate Care units, and services including emergency and critical care, internal medicine, radiology, and cardiology. The hospital has an in-house laboratory, digital radiography, ultrasonography, CT, and endoscopy. The schedule is Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Compensation is $19.00–$25.00 per hour.
Requirements
- High school education or equivalent.
- At least 1 year of related job experience.
- Knowledge of veterinary medical practices, procedures, and terminology, including disease states, common clinical presentations, and standard treatment and isolation protocols.
- Ability to perform medical and mathematical calculations accurately, including drug dosages, client estimates, and invoices.
- Ability to meet physical demands, including walking and standing for up to 10 hours per day, sitting, reaching with arms and hands, and occasionally lifting up to 50 pounds.
- Ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally.
- Reliability and follow-through with work-related tasks and projects.
Nice To Haves
- Self-motivation, initiative, efficiency, and proactivity, including anticipating patient and team needs and following cases through to completion.
- Collaborative, team-oriented approach and ability to communicate effectively with veterinarians, technicians, assistants, and support staff.
- Excellent written and verbal communication, attention to detail, organization, and follow-through.
- Professional composure, adaptability, and a positive attitude in a fast-paced clinical environment with evolving priorities.
- Strong desire to learn and apply newly acquired knowledge and skills to daily work.
Responsibilities
- Assist Internal Medicine veterinarians with diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing management of inpatients and outpatients with complex, chronic, and multi-system medical conditions.
- Triage patients by assessing clinical status, collecting comprehensive medical histories, and participating in the development and implementation of individualized care plans.
- Recognize potentially contagious or zoonotic diseases and follow isolation, infection-control, and hospital safety protocols.
- Collect, prepare, and process laboratory samples according to hospital protocols.
- Maintain accurate and timely medical documentation, including patient vitals, treatments, medications, and diagnostic tests.
- Assist with diagnostic imaging, including radiography and CT, through patient preparation, positioning, monitoring, and post-procedure care.
- Support endoscopy procedures, including equipment setup, patient preparation, procedural assistance, sample handling, and recovery care.
- Assist with anesthetic procedures, including patient preparation, induction, monitoring, and recovery.
- Educate clients about diagnostics, treatment plans, procedures, and at-home care instructions.
- Perform and demonstrate technical procedures specified in Vista assistant protocols.
- Complete assigned work and projects reliably and follow through.
Benefits
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Disability insurance
- Life insurance
- Flexible spending accounts
- 401(k)
- Employee Assistance Program
- Accrued vacation time
- 5 days of sick time
- Uniform allowance
- Annual continuing education allowance for Veterinary Assistants and RVTs
- VetBloom access, including RACE-approved continuing education, training, and curriculum library
- RVT license application and renewal reimbursement
- Financial support and onsite mentorship toward pursuing VTS
- Health and wellness programs, including access to the League wellness app
- Opportunities for growth and advancement
- Employee pet discount
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
High school or GED
