Veterinary Technician

Nashville Zoo•Nashville, TN

9d•Onsite

About The Position

The Nashville Zoo is seeking an experienced Veterinary Technician to join our team at our new 24,000 square foot state of the art Veterinary Hospital. The Veterinary Technician, as part of the Veterinary Team consisting of two Veterinarians, a Hospital Manager, two technicians, and two hospital keepers provides quality care to over 400 species. The Nashville Zoo is a recognized leader and supporter of animal conservation and is an AZA accredited institution. Our beautiful park offers a unique variety of animal exhibits with experienced staff and volunteers committed to providing superior animal care and guest experiences. This position is Full Time and offers a competitive total compensation package that includes medical, dental, vision, life, long term and short term disability; 401(k) plan with match; Company funded Heath Reimbursement Accounts and Health Savings Accounts, paid holidays, and paid time off. This position provides veterinary technical support to the veterinary and animal management staffs both within the hospital and in the field. Responsibilities include assisting staff veterinarians with all aspects of a comprehensive animal health program for a wide variety of species. This includes, but is not limited to the following: animal restraint, sample collection, clinical procedures, product purchasing, anesthesia, radiology, surgical and pathology services support. Opportunities exist for assisting with conservation research. The individual will also be expected to complete laboratory procedures and maintain area compliance with USDA and AZA regulations and standards, including record keeping, husbandry care, training, enrichment, quarantine procedures, etc. Veterinary staff are required to work weekends and holidays as the animal care schedule necessitates. This position reports to the Hospital Manager. Applicants for this position are required to submit to a criminal background check and pass a drug test.

Requirements

Degree as a graduate Veterinary Technician or Equivalent
Tennessee State License or ability to receive licensing in nine months from date of hire
Minimum of two years experience as a veterinary technician working with exotics with an emphasis on zoo medicine
Strong laboratory skills
Strong organizational skills
Above average written and verbal communication skills
Ability to self-direct work tasks while ensuring safety and productivity.

Responsibilities

Maintain professional conduct at all times and consistently model the organization’s values in all interactions with colleagues, guests, and stakeholders.
Maintain regular and reliable attendance
Perform monitoring on anesthetized animals using pulse oximetry, EKG, blood pressure, and blood gas machines, and to recognize normal and abnormal values
Assist veterinary staff in recognizing and correcting animal medical emergencies
Provide intensive care for critical animals under the direction of the veterinary staff
Assist with the care of hospitalized and quarantined patients
Perform basic animal handling techniques and assist veterinarians in administering treatments
Understand setup, use and cleaning procedures for medical equipment and instruments
Provide laboratory support including but not limited to hematology, parasitology, and cytology
Assist veterinarians in basic necropsy procedures and sample collection
Maintain comprehensive computer based medical records and daily animal logs (including Zims)
Assist with teaching and training of interns at various veterinary levels