Veterinary  Assistant– Emergency & Critical Care
$20-30/hour 
San Marcos, California
Schedule: Day or Overnight Shift Available

Join the exceptional team at Veterinary Specialty Hospital North County as a Registered Veterinary Technician in our Emergency & Critical Care department. You'll work alongside experienced Emergency Doctors and Critical Care Specialists in a collaborative, fast-paced specialty hospital where advanced medicine, teamwork, and compassionate patient care come together. This is an opportunity to build your skills, work with complex and rewarding cases, and make a meaningful impact for pets and their families every day.

Why Join Veterinary Specialty Hospital North County

At Veterinary Specialty Hospital North County, part of Ethos Veterinary Health, you'll join a close-knit team that values collaboration, learning, and clinical excellence. Our Emergency & Critical Care service manages a diverse caseload using advanced diagnostics and treatment options, giving technicians the opportunity to expand their skills while working alongside experienced specialists and emergency clinicians.

We invest heavily in our team through dedicated learning and development support, continuing education, mentorship, and opportunities for career advancement. Beyond the hospital floor, we foster an engaging culture with employee appreciation events, wellness resources, and exceptional benefits designed to support both you and your pets.

In your day-to-day, you will:

• Deliver exceptional nursing care for emergency and critically ill patients throughout hospitalization.
• Triage incoming emergency patients while providing compassionate support to clients during their visit.
• Partner with Emergency Doctors and Critical Care Specialists to perform patient assessments, diagnostics, treatments, and procedures.
• Obtain and process laboratory samples while utilizing diagnostic imaging to support patient care.
• Monitor and recover patients undergoing sedation and anesthesia.
• Provide advanced nursing care for intensive care patients, including those requiring dialysis and total plasma exchange therapies.
• Work closely with veterinarians, technicians, and support teams.
• Contribute to a positive, team-focused hospital culture.

What You Bring

• Minimum one year of veterinary assistant experience.
• Strong proficiency with:
  • Venipuncture
  • IV catheter placement
  • Drug calculations
  • Medication administration (IV and other routes)
  • Patient monitoring and vital signs
  • Medical history collection
  • Surgical preparation and anesthesia monitoring
  • Client education
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and safely restrain patients.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• A collaborative mindset and commitment to exceptional patient care.

Perks & Benefits

Benefits for this role may include health insurance (medical, dental, vision), retirement benefits, paid time off (including sick leave and vacation), short-term and long-term disability, and life insurance.

• Competitive compensation
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with employer match
• Three weeks of accrued paid time off
• CE allowance for RVTs and Veterinary Assistants
• VetBloom continuing education library
• Ethos-sponsored scholarships and professional development
• On-site Technician Learning & Development Specialist
• License application and renewal reimbursement for RVTs
• Employee Assistance Program
• On-site social worker
• Dedicated onboarding and leadership support
• 75% employee pet discount
• Pet feeding discount programs
• Free annual pet exams, vaccines, and laboratory work through the Blood Donor Program
• Employee appreciation events, holiday celebrations, birthday recognition, and more
• Opportunities for career growth and advancement

Location Highlight

Located in beautiful San Marcos, California, Veterinary Specialty Hospital North County offers the perfect balance of Southern California living with access to beaches, hiking trails, and vibrant communities. Enjoy a year-round mild climate while building your career at one of the region's leading specialty and emergency veterinary hospitals.

About Ethos Veterinary Health

Ethos Veterinary Health, part of the NVA Group, is where you come to practice world-class medicine and help shape what veterinary care becomes next.

Across our network of more than 140 specialty and emergency hospitals, science moves forward, standards are elevated, and innovation is put into practice every day. You'll work alongside respected veterinary leaders in academic-caliber hospitals designed for learning, teaching, and discovery.

Here, mentorship is a two-way street. You'll share your expertise, learn from others, and continue to grow clinically, professionally, and personally.

At Ethos, you inspire hope, deliver exceptional care, and pursue veterinary medicine at its highest level—together.