Veterinary Assistant

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Position Title: Veterinary Assistant

Reports To: Hospital Manager or Technical Supervisor

Department: Technical Support Staff

Employee Status: Non-Exempt

Job Summary:

Assist doctor and other hospital staff by care and cleaning of patients and facilities including

completing patient treatments, assisting in surgery and all other animal care functions as well as

other tasks involved in the operations of a veterinary hospital.

Starting wage range: $17.00-$22.00

If you are a current associate, you need to apply through our internal career site. Please log into Workday and click on the Career worklet on the landing page or search for Find Jobs.

Benefits: We offer competitive compensation along with a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision and paid vacation/sick days, 401(k), generous employee pet discounts and more!

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Previous experience or training/education working in a veterinary facility preferred.

• Must be friendly, outgoing, “people oriented.”

• Excellent communications skills.

• Must be capable of being cross-trained for front office receptionist duties that will be

expected in the job.

• Telephone and computer skills are necessary.

• Must be a team player willing to learn new techniques and treatments and to accept

change.

Education and Experience:

• High School Diploma.

Physical Requirements:

• Dependable attendance is required.

• Any allergies to animals must be controllable through medication.

• Must be able to lift 40 pounds.

• Must be willing to work long or irregular hours under pressure conditions.

• This position requires the ability to walk, bend, stand and reach constantly during a

minimum 8-hour day.

• Visual acuity sufficient to maintain accurate records, recognize people and understand

written directions.

• Ability to speak and hear sufficiently to understand, give information in person and over

the telephone.

• Fine motor skills adequate for utilizing hospital equipment such as electric clippers,

syringes, radiology equipment, laboratory equipment, computers, etc.

Duties:

The following is a list of essential job requirements. This list may be revised at any time and

additional duties not listed here may be assigned as needed. Job functions and job

responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Veterinary Assistant Job Description

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1. Client Relations

2. Nursing Care

3. Housekeeping/Maintenance

4. Examinations/Assessments

5. Record Keeping

6. Anesthesia

7. Surgery

8. Radiology

9. Dentistry

10. Laboratory

11. Pharmacy

12. Marketing

Client Relations:

• Agree to incorporate the principles of the VCA Mission Statement, Three Steps of

Service and VCA Standards of Client Service in their daily job performance.

• Demonstrate excellent relations with clients/pets in waiting and/or exam rooms:

- Assist receptionists with client/patient checking in and checking out of hospital.

- Ensure that clients and pets feel welcome and comfortable.

- Service as “Ambassadors” of creating and maintaining goodwill for the hospital.

- Build rapport with clients and pets.

- Greet clients and pets by name.

- Help new clients completely fill out the registration form. Inform new clients

about the hospital’s services, etc.

- Exceed the client’s expectations of service.

- If there is a delay, keep clients informed of expected waiting time.

- Must support reception staff by providing telephone support to ensure that

clients’ calls and requests are being processed in a timely manner.

- Provide support to reception staff in appointment scheduling.

- Ability to effectively communicate and educate clients on general animal

husbandry and answer non-medical questions:

- General dietary requirements and feeding schedules.

- Vaccines.

- Basic dietary recommendations.

- Dental care instructions.

- Routine laboratory tests, i.e. fecals, heartworm, leukemia, etc.

- Housebreaking techniques.

- General flea and tick control.

Nursing Care:

• Compassionate nursing care is the top priority for all patients.

• Make certain all patients are kept clean and as comfortable as possible.

• Assist in treating hospitalized animals under veterinary supervision.

• Continuously monitor all patients admitted to the hospital.

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• Ensure all patients are clearly identified including entry on hospital day sheet, cage card,

and ID