Ward Veterinary Assistant

University of Pennsylvania•Philadelphia, PA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

This position involves assisting with various tasks within the ward area, including stocking, laboratory work, patient restraint, walking animals, charge capture, and managing patient admissions and discharges. The role is structured into two levels: Veterinary Nurse Assistant A and Veterinary Nurse Assistant B. Assistant A primarily handles foundational support tasks such as maintaining supplies, cleaning, cage setup and breakdown, preparing heparinized flushes, laundry, cleaning medical equipment, performing pharmacy and clinical lab runs, and safely walking patients. This level also includes proper handling and transport of deceased patients, patient restraint, and conducting basic lab tests like Nova samples, PCV/TP, blood smears, glucometer, and Idexx tests, with bloodwork always requiring nurse verification. Assistant A is expected to prime fluid bags on a cassette, anticipate nurses' needs (e.g., setting up for IV or blocked catheters), communicate with nurses about expectations, and assist with patients triaged for immediate care and outpatient discharges after training. Any changes or abnormalities in patient status must be reported to a nurse. Assistant B encompasses all responsibilities of Level 1, along with room organization and the ability to perform some supervised medical treatments on stable patients. This level may also require working in any of the 24/7 nursing areas (Emergency Services, Intensive Care Unit, Wards) during peak times. Assistant B is expected to develop familiarity with normal and abnormal physical parameters (mucous membranes, capillary refill time, pulses, heart rate, respiratory rate and effort, lung sounds) and become proficient with monitoring equipment such as pulse oximeters, ECG setups, and doppler/Cardell devices. A key focus for Assistant B is anticipating nurses' needs, including setting up for various medical procedures. All treatments and findings performed by Assistant B must be checked and approved by the nurse on duty, and while they can prime IVF bags, they are not permitted to start infusions or administer medications.

Requirements

A High School Diploma
1-2 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience (for Veterinary Nurse Assistant A)
2-3 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience (for Veterinary Nurse Assistant B)
Experience working in a veterinary setting
Experience with patient restraint
Experience working with difficult-to-handle patients
Proven ability to multitask
Ability to follow directions
Strong interpersonal and communication skills

Responsibilities

Assist with stocking, lab work, patient restraint, walking of animals, charge capture, admits and discharges in the ward area
Stocking supplies
Cleaning
Cage set up/breakdown
Make heparinized flushes
Laundry
Cleaning medical equipment (alcohol wipes only; no Rescue)
Pharmacy, clinical lab runs
Walking patients in appropriate areas, double-leashed
Proper labeling and transport of deceased patients to the appropriate cooler
Patient restraint
Proper handling and running of Nova samples, PCV/TP, blood smears, glucometer, and Idexx tests
Ensure bloodwork is always checked with a nurse after being analyzed
Prime fluid bags on a cassette
Anticipate nurses' needs, including setting up for an IV catheter and a blocked catheter setup
Talk with the nurse on duty about their expectations
Assist nurses with patients triaged to the treatment area who need immediate care
Assist with discharge of outpatients once properly trained
Bring ANY changes/abnormalities/questions on patient status to the attention of nurse
Room organization (Veterinary Nurse Assistant B)
Perform some supervised medical treatments on stable patients only (Veterinary Nurse Assistant B)
Assist nurses with unstable patients (Veterinary Nurse Assistant B)
May need to work in any of the 24/7 nursing areas during busy times (ES, ICU, Wards) (Veterinary Nurse Assistant B)
Become familiar with normal and abnormal physical parameters including mucous membranes, capillary refill time, pulses, heart rate, respiratory rate and effort, and lung sounds (Veterinary Nurse Assistant B)
Feel comfortable with all monitoring equipment including normal results for the pulse oximeter, ECG set up, doppler/Cardell (Veterinary Nurse Assistant B)
Focus on anticipating nurses’ needs, including setting up for an IV catheter, blocked cat set up, fluid bag set up, etc… (Veterinary Nurse Assistant B)
Ensure all treatments/findings are checked and approved by nurse on duty (Veterinary Nurse Assistant B)
May perform treatments on stable patients under direct nurse supervision: TPR, ECG, Doppler, connect/disconnect IVF (Veterinary Nurse Assistant B)
Prime IVF bags (cannot start infusions) (Veterinary Nurse Assistant B)
No medication administration (Veterinary Nurse Assistant B)

Benefits

Comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits
Flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars
Tuition assistance for employees, spouse, and dependent children at Penn
Tuition assistance for dependent children at other institutions
Generous retirement plans (Basic, Matching, and Supplemental)
Ability to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis
Wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard
Substantial amount of time away from work (relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family)
Long-term care insurance (for faculty and staff and eligible family members)
Wellness and Work-life Resources (programs and resources to help balance work and personal life)
Professional and Personal Development resources
Access to a wide range of University resources (libraries, athletic facilities, arboretum, art galleries)
Free/discounted admission and memberships to Penn arts and cultural centers and museums
Substantial savings on other goods and services (new cars, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, admission to theme parks)
Flexible work options (non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures)
Forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia (for closing costs or home improvements)
Reimbursement for qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child (up to two adoptions)