Veterinary Assistant

Banfield Pet Hospital • Metuchen, NJ

56d • $18 - $24 • 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. This role involves acting as extra eyes, ears, and hands for the veterinarian and veterinary technician to ensure the best quality pet care and to maximize their productivity. The assistant communicates with the veterinary team and other associates to maintain patient flow, provides professional and efficient service, and performs or prepares procedures that do not require veterinarian or veterinary technician assistance. They also ensure clients and pets are comfortable, monitor hospitalized or surgical pets as allowed by state practice acts, and educate clients about wellness plans, preventive care, and hospital services. Maintaining medical charts, ensuring safety through proper techniques and cleanliness, and assisting with surgery are also key duties. The role requires utilizing technical skills within state practice acts and NAVTA guidelines, and mentoring other paraprofessionals.

Requirements

• 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.
• Certificate of completion from a NAVTA approved Veterinary Assistant program, or the equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• High School Diploma or equivalent preferred.
• 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.

Nice To Haves

• Customer service experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Supports veterinarians and veterinary technicians in providing quality veterinary care.
• Advocates for pets and educates clients on pet health.
• Ensures a safe and effective hospital environment.
• Acts as extra support for veterinarians and technicians to ensure quality care and maximize productivity.
• Communicates with the veterinary team and other associates to maintain patient flow.
• Provides professional, efficient, and exceptional service.
• Performs or prepares procedures that do not require veterinarian or veterinary technician assistance.
• Ensures client and pet comfort in the hospital.
• Monitors hospitalized or surgical pets as allowed by state practice acts.
• Educates clients about Optimum Wellness Plans, preventive care, pet health needs, and hospital services.
• Obtains relevant information and history from clients.
• Maintains proper and complete medical charts.
• Ensures the safety of pets, clients, and associates by utilizing safe restraining techniques and following standard protocols.
• Maintains clean, sterile, and organized treatment areas, exam rooms, and labs.
• Assists with surgery as applicable.
• Utilizes technical skills to the fullest within state practice acts and NAVTA guidelines.
• Mentors other paraprofessionals in the hospital.
• Other job duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Generous Retirement Plans (401(k) and Roth) with company match
• Paid Time Off and Holidays
• Top-Tier Mental Health and Wellbeing Resources (free coaching and counseling sessions)
• Associate Life Insurance (company-paid) & Supplemental Life Insurance
• Company-Paid Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for healthcare and dependent care
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Paid Parental Leave (for birth and adoption)
• Continuing Education Allowance (for Eligible Positions)
• Back-Up Child and Elder Care & Family Support Resources
• Fertility and Family Building Support
• Digital Exercise Therapy
• Voluntary Protection Benefits (hospital stays, critical illness, accidents)
• Legal Plan
• Identity Protection
• Commuter Benefits
• Three Free Optimum Wellness Plans for Pets
• Exclusive Discounts on products and services

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED