Veterinary Technician - Surgery

Arista Non-DVM•Durham, NC

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Veterinary Technician is responsible for maintaining excellent patient care and operational productivity by helping the Veterinarian leverage their time and efforts to meet the needs of their clients and patients. The Veterinary Technician helps relieve the Veterinarian of technical work and administrative details, achieving greater efficiency in daily practice. The Veterinary Technician helps facilitate and streamline communication from the treatment area to the Client Experience Concierge and, most importantly, the client.

Requirements

3+ years of experience working as a veterinary professional
When state required, current Veterinary Technician License (must be provided prior to start date)
Ability to follow directives and plan of care established by the Veterinarian, even if there are differing treatment opinions
Knowledgeable on veterinary medical terminology and medication
Exceptional interpersonal skills demonstrated through the ability to build trust, foster positive working relationships, and navigate sensitive conversations with professionalism and empathy
Ability to remain calm and empathetic in stressful/emergency situations
Commitment to exceptional customer service, high-quality care, and overall excellence
High emotional intelligence and highly personable and flexible communication style to serve the needs of pet owners as well as general practice, specialty, and emergency veterinary teams
Self-motivated, takes initiative, and effectively works with minimal supervision and direction
Ability to work nights, weekends, holidays, and on-call shifts as needed
Ability to lift up to 50 lbs independently and over 50 lbs with assistance
Ability to work effectively in environments with noise, animal odors, and other sensory stimuli
Ability to meet any position-specific screening requirements, such as a clinical acumen assessment
Must be at least 18 years of age at time of hire

Nice To Haves

Experience in both general practice and specialty/ ER veterinary medicine preferred

Responsibilities

Assist in the care and monitoring of surgery patients, including preparing for and supporting surgical procedures, sterile field setup, and maintaining proper surgical instruments
Monitor and maintain anesthesia levels as directed by the veterinary surgeon, including patient vital signs before, during, and after surgery (heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, blood pressure, ETCO2, and anesthetic depth)
Prepare and maintain surgical equipment and supplies
Appropriately use and maintain autoclaves, gas sterilization, and ultrasonic cleaners
Assist with pre-surgical patient assessments and prepare patients for surgery, including placement of IV catheters and diagnostic testing
Provide post-surgical care, including pain management, monitoring recovery, and educating clients on aftercare instructions
Collect diagnostic samples (blood, urine, biopsy, etc.) for testing and assist with diagnostic imaging procedures (X-rays, CT scans, Ultrasounds, etc.)
Ensure that Surgery and surgical-related supplies are stocked and properly maintained
Effectively, and in an efficient manner, administer proper patient triage and/or care protocol based on the client and the facility's needs and capabilities
Effectively collaborate with veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and support staff to ensure a high standard of care
Administers proper dosages for fluids, oral medications, and injections as directed by the Veterinarian
Accurately record and maintain patient records in the medical chart, such as Veterinarian directives, treatments, patient notes, and client communication
Collect specimens for laboratory testing, manage samples for in-house and reference lab testing, and ensure test results are recorded in patient charts
Monitor health, physically and behaviorally, and rapidly identify any issues or changes that may require special action and report the information to supervisor immediately
Communicate with pet owners about treatment plans, medication administration, side effects, and post-treatment care instructions
Admit and discharge patients under the advice and plan of care drawn up by the Veterinarian and communicate to the client through both written and verbal education all information, including illness, medication dosage, the purpose of the medications prescribed, and what to expect in the coming days after discharge
Prepare and present treatment estimate to the client and properly capture all charges for invoicing once the plan of care is agreed upon and documented in the patient’s chart
Refill all prescriptions as approved by the treating Veterinarian in a timely manner and safely store them until they are retrieved by the client
Support the Veterinarian as needed and maintain a positive and cooperative relationship with other Team Members