Veterinary Assistant: Surgery

VCA Aurora Animal Hospital is expanding its Surgery Service and is seeking a Veterinary Assistant to join the surgery team!  

VCA Aurora Animal Hospital is located in Aurora, IL, and  is open 24/7, 365 days a year, and provides a wide range of specialty, critical care, emergency service, and primary care. Our services and medical equipment mirror what one would find at a human medical center.  

Our Surgery Service: 

VCA Aurora’s Surgery Service comprises of three board-certified surgeons, a surgical resident, Licensed Technicians, and Veterinary Assistants. Our board-certified surgeons perform intricate surgeries in the chest or abdomen, complex fractures, repair torn ligaments, remove cancerous growths, manage extensive non-healing wounds, reconstructive and neurologic surgeries.  

Day To Day Of Our Surgery Assistants:  

The skills that you will be utilizing include, but are not limited to: 

• Animal Restraint  

• Laboratory duties    

• Assisting with radiographs and other diagnostic testing

• Assist Veterinary Technicians with surgical preparation 

• Maintain proper sterile conditions  

• Preparing an operating room for surgery by making sure that the proper surgical equipment is in the room 

• Transports all surgical equipment to appropriate cleaning areas. Assists in sterile supply with cleaning and reprocessing of instrument sets.
• Gown and glove surgeons
• Assist surgeons in surgery, sterile scrub assist
• Restock all supplies once they are used on periodic basis

• Maintain patient records   

• Assisting with postoperative care of the patient  

Requirements:

• 2+ years of Veterinary Assistant experience 
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 30 pounds repeatedly throughout the day 
• Must be able to bend and kneel repeatedly
• Must be able to stand for a long of period of time
• Must be able to work under stressful conditions and work efficiently and effectively under those conditions
• Must be able to respond quickly to a variety of medical situations (with training)

Schedule: Full-Time, four 10-hour weekdays. Upon complete training with the Surgery Service (commonly three months), associates will train to perform on-call surgery duties. Bonuses apply! 

What Makes VCA Aurora Animal Hospital Unique: 

It is essential to our hospital that every Technician and Assistant feel supported in their professional development and growth. Our hospital has a Technician Training and Development Coordinator, who works closely with all Technicians and Assistants to provide aid in development, help set goals, and push our team to greatness. Whether it's learning new skills, understanding aspects of medicine, developing leadership/management skills, or education skills, our associates are supported and have the opportunity to build their desired professional pathway. 

As the Veterinary industry navigates this new normal of increasing need for patient care, we are proud to have an on-site social worker for our associates and our clients. Our Leaderships top priority is protecting our team's health and well-being. 

We offer a team approach to veterinary medicine where specialists work together to provide the most advanced care possible for every patient utilizing the newest diagnostic equipment and therapeutic techniques. 

Benefits of joining the VCA Aurora team: 

• Access to the people and financial resources of a large veterinary community 
• Leadership opportunities 
• Career development programs 

• Opportunities to give back through strong Shelter partnerships and VCA Charities 
• CE allowance 
• Tuition support and sponsorships 
• Vet Tech license reimbursement 
• Free wellness subscriptions (Head Space) 

• Referral bonuses 
• Competitive wage 
• Medical, dental & vision insurance 
• Life, long and short term disability insurance 
• Paid parental lea