Veterinary Assistant

Overview

The Cupola Animal Hospital Veterinary Assistant is expected to assist in caring for our patients and supporting our doctors in performing the daily tasks that are essential within the veterinary clinic. In addition to completing all necessary functions of a Level 1 Veterinary Assistant, the Level 2 will be seen as having a more advanced skillset, as described below.

• Care for the Patient:
  • Provide primary patient care and assist our veterinarians with appointments, surgical procedures, and emergencies. Must also be able and willing to routinely and successfully perform the following procedures:
    • Perform various animal restraint techniques
    • Able to perform and assist with Intravenous blood draws
    • Administer oral medications
    • Understand aseptic principles and apply them to surgical patients, instruments, equipment, and rooms
    • Know the names of surgical instruments and equipment as well as where they are located.
    • Under the direction of doctors or technicians, prepare patients for surgery. Clip surgical fields with straight margins. Properly scrub and prepare surgical fields. Maintain clean fields when moving patients
    • Actively seek to support level 3 assistant, Licensed Technician and Veterinarian throughout the day
    • Able to understand and communicate basic veterinary medical terminology
    • Prepare medications and prescriptions for dispensing as directed by the doctor.
    • Clean and straighten exam rooms to prepare for incoming patients. Spray disinfectant on exam tables, wipe them clean, and dry them. Remove sources of offensive odors; empty trash if necessary. Check floors, walls, doors, and counters, and sweep or clean them as needed to remove hair, body fluids, and dirt
    • Obtain and record patient histories from clients into EzyVet software.
    • Assist with patient positioning for radiographic imaging o Grooming: bathe, nail buff, nail grind, nail trim
  • Care for boarded or hospitalized patients to include: feeding, watering, administering medication, and providing exercise opportunities.
  • Bathe dogs, as needed or requested.
  • Other duties as assigned.
• Care for the Customer:
  • Occasionally, answer phones
  • Occasionally, schedule appointments
  • Occasionally, take payments
  • Provide empathy and understanding to the customer without providing unauthorized direction or advice
• Invoice:
  • Invoice during doctors’ appointments
  • Ensure accurate and complete invoices for charges regarding patient visit
  • Facilitate veterinarian approval of invoice and/or treatment prior to patient check out
  • Support quarterly physical inventory practices
• Clean:
  • Clean and sanitize kennels for patients, as needed
  • Complete daily cleaning assignments before end of scheduled shift
  • Proactively seek opportunities to sanitize or straighten areas needing improvement
  • Restock supplies, food, and boutique items, as needed, once “received” by the site manager.

*Must be willing to support and perform other duties as assigned. Performing essential functions means – at a minimum – being able to perform the above tasks as well as the Specific Exertional/Physical Requirements below.

Minimum Job Requirements:

• 2+ Years of Animal handling in a clinical setting
• Must be at least 16 years of age with reliable transportation to and from work for scheduled shifts
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50-75% of the time
• Must be able to safely handle dogs and cats of all sizes and demeanors.
• The person in this position needs to occasionally move about inside the hospital to support doctors, patients, clients, and other team members
• Constantly positions self to access files, computers, animals, and other essential functions of the hospital
• Must be able to lift to 50lbs occasionally
• Must be able to lift and carry or otherwise move 25 pounds regularly
• Must be able to work effectively and positively in a team environment

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Experience:
-Veterinary assistant: 1 year (Required)
-Veterinary experience: 2 years (Required)