Veterinary Assistant - LAC After Hours

Duties & Responsibilities

Provide basic patient care in a professional and courteous manner under the supervision of a veterinarian or veterinary technician:

• Work as a team with veterinary technicians, students, interns, residents and faculty to provide care for patients which may include, but is not limited to post-surgical, chronic conditions, and isolation, which may include zoonotic diseases.
• Use problem solving skills to assist with patient care in emergent and non-emergent situations.
• Directly monitor patient status, under veterinary supervision, including those hospitalized and recovering from anesthesia.
• Recognize and report physical abnormalities such as, but not limited to; respiratory difficulty and distress, change in mentation, abnormal physical exam findings, dystocia and signs of shock.
• Recognize and report pulmonary or cardiopulmonary arrest.
• Restrain patients using appropriate restraint techniques.
• Operate hydraulic, manual chutes and gate systems to facilitate safe movement when unloading, loading, and moving animals within the ward.
• Assist in walk-by observations and administer treatments as directed on the patient's care plan under the supervision of the veterinarian and/or veterinary technician. Report abnormal findings when something is not within the set call parameters.
• Report issues and assist veterinary technicians, veterinarians, and veterinary students with the set up and maintenance of intravenous catheters, feeding tubes, nasal oxygen, and fluid pumps.
• Assist with set up of IV fluids, and other medications as directed by the veterinarian.
• Provide support to veterinary technicians and veterinarians in the administration of oral fluids via stomach tubing, nasoesophageal feedings, and bottle feedings.
• Assist with set up for patient treatments and procedures under the direct or written orders of the veterinarian.

Facilities Maintenance:

• Maintain the cleanliness of animal and work areas, instruments and equipment based on set infection control protocols and hospital standards, as well as complete daily, weekly and monthly cleaning assignments.
• Bed and clean patient stalls as needed.
• Clean, sterilize, and package instruments. Operate instrument sterilizers as necessary.
• Stock and maintain clinical supplies and maintain inventory records.
• Assist with documenting and troubleshooting issues with equipment.
• Maintain patient logs and inpatient daily charges.

Clinical service and facilities support:

• Record treatments, procedures, supplies, and thorough notes on patient's medical record.
• Record and enter charges for supplies and procedures into the Electronic Medical Record (EMR).
• Register and discharge patients, including taking payment.
• Perform electronic submission of samples to clinical pathology and the diagnostic laboratory.
• Facilitate processing of laboratory samples such as venous and arterial blood gases, packed cell volume (PCV)/total solids (TS), blood glucose (BG), lactate, ketostick etc.

Other duties as assigned:

Work Schedule

The work schedule for this position will be Monday through Thursday overnights with hours To Be Determined.