Veterinary Technician

Do you love animals and feel passionate about giving them the top-level care they deserve? Are you a team player who loves learning new skills and thrives in a fast-paced environment? Do you want your work to make a difference? Then Shore Haven Veterinary Hospital may be the place for you.

We’re growing and currently hiring Veterinary Assistants and Veterinary Technicians! 

The Veterinary Assistant or Veterinary Technician reports directly to the Practice Manager and Veterinary Technician Leads. They work to support the efforts of our veterinarian staff and serve our clients/patients by using both a technical understanding of patient care and outstanding customer service.

Veterinary Assistant: 

• Register incoming clients/patients and book new appointments, assisting CSRs (client service representatives) as needed  

• Maintain medical records and perform patient intake (completing subjective history) 

• Understanding of cat/dog/exotic behavior 

• General care of patients including feeding, walking, and obtaining vital signs 

• Learn how to use the practice management software (Avimark) to enter services, medications, procedures, and updates into the patient record 

• Recognize and utilize proper medical terminology 

• Perform housekeeping/sterilization of work areas and equipment, ensuring patient treatment areas are adequately stocked with necessary medical and other materials 

• Prepare cleaning solutions for the hospital and patient areas 

• Follow all hospital protocols, including disinfecting and ISO (isolation unit) 

• Learn the fundamentals of assisting with physical exams, including safely restraining patients 

• Learn to obtain necessary specimens for lab testing  

• Communicate effectively with internal teams and clients—bilingual candidates, a plus. 

 Veterinary Technician: 

• Must be proficient in all skills of the Veterinary Assistant job descriptions.  

• Assist with physical exams of patients; restrain patient(s) during exams/procedures, and collect necessary specimen(s)  

• Effectively communicate post-op/discharge instructions and care, lab-results, and cost estimates to clients 

• Collect, prepare, and label specimens for lab testing 

• Perform in-house laboratory testing on blood, urine, and feces, such as urinalysis, chemistry, blood smear, to assist in diagnosing and treating patient 

• Manage and monitor patient records 

• Detail appropriate patient costs 

• Create patient treatment plans per veterinarian direction and ensure clients understand those treatment plans and all associated costs 

• Fill prescriptions and educate clients on dosage instructions and side effects per veterinarian direction 

• Administer medications, vaccines, and treatments prescribed by our veterinarian(s). 

• Perform nail trims, ear cleanings, and anal gland expression 

• Operate and maintain equipment, including but not limited to laboratory equipment, anesthesia, and dental and radiographic equipment.  

• Set up supplies for common procedures 

• Obtain radiographs with proper positioning and practicing radiology safety 

• Clean, sterilize, and maintain surgical instruments, equipment, and materials 

• Place and maintain an IV catheter and perform phlebotomy skills 

• Recognize cardiopulmonary arrest and assist in CPR following RECOVER guidelines 

• Communicate and educate clients on various general topics, such as preventative care, diet, and spay/neutering 

• Monitor anesthesia patients while maintaining sterility 

• Carry out anesthetic induction duties 

• Knowledge of exotic husbandry, a plus 

• Help CSRs with answering/returning phone calls and answering basic questions 

• Complete all required Continuing Education annual training as assigned by hospital management. 

• Assist in providing training and support to other team members when requested—we’re a family and we all have our unique strengths to share! 

• Other duties as assigned. 

About Shore Haven 

Shore Haven Veterinary Hospital is a four-doctor practice (growing into a five-doctor practice) that serves the communities of East Haven, New Haven, Branford, and beyond. Most of our team members have been here for years. We believe a positive hospital culture is an essential building block for top-level patient care—because team members who feel respected and appreciated are better equipped to bring their best for our patients and clients. Shore Haven is owned by United Veterinary Care, giving our staff the best of both worlds. We operate like a privately owned hospital but can offer the benefits and support of a much larger organization. We love what we do; we love to make a difference! 

Qualifications/Requirements:  

• High School Diploma or GED.  

• Veterinary Assistant: Previous experience in the client service industry, animal hospital or grooming facility preferred. 

• Veterinary Technician: Minimum 1 year of experience as a veterinary assistant or technician.   

• Experience with Microsoft Office suite products. 

• Experience with Avimark, ezyVet, CoVet, a plus. 

• Understanding of proper cleaning protocols.  

• Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and use time management skills.  

• Ability to work within a team setting. 

• Ability to communicate effectively. 

• Vocational Education granting of a diploma in Veterinary Technician Assistance preferred. 

• Basic K9 and feline restraint experience preferred. 

Required Qualifications and Skills:  

 Credentialed: 

• Must have graduated from an AVMA accredited program and have a current license.  

• Credentialed technicians must be graduates of an accredited training school or program. They must be licensed in good standing and must complete all professional requirements to maintain their license. Must have competency in the skills required for veterinary technician licensure.  

• Advanced K9 and feline restraint experience. 

• Venipuncture (blood draw); and anesthesia knowledge and applied competency.  

• An understanding of veterinary software—Avimark, ezyVet, CoVet experience, a plus. 

• Forward-facing customer service experience. 

• Excellent written and communication skills. 

Non-Credentialed (required):  

• Non-credentialed technicians must have accumulated enough on-the-job training experience to be able to perform the duties described.  

• Basic K9 and feline restraint experience.  

• Venipuncture (blood drawing).  

• An understanding of veterinary software.  

• Forward facing client experience. 

• Competency in obtaining vital signs. 

• Administration of medication including oral, injectable, and topical, and an understanding of animal vaccinations. 

• Obtaining sample collection including venipuncture (blood draw) cytology, urine, and feces.  

• Understanding knowledge base of radiology skill set, safety, and positioning.  

• Knowledge of and ability to use common medical terminology. 

Physical Requirements:  

• Tolerate walking and standing for at least 30 minutes at a time, multiple times per hour.  

• Lift and/or carry up to 50 pounds from floor to waist level or higher at least several times per day. 

• Lift objects weighing up to 50 pounds to a height of several feet or higher and carry the object or animal for a distance of several feet without assistance.  

• Use hands and arms to handle, install, position, and move materials, equipment, and supplies without assistance.  

• Be able to have sustained contact with multiple species of animals and be amenable to learning the safe handling, restraining, and working with these animals. 

• The physical requirements and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by a team member to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Core Competencies:  

1. Attitude  

1. Judgement  

1. Teamwork  

1. Results  

Definitions: 

1. Attitude – demonstrate a positive attitude, resilience and openness to change. Adapt your approach as requirements of a situation change, be comfortable in ambiguous situations and work effectively with various individuals or groups of diverse backgrounds and experiences.  

1. Judgement – use professional experiences to make assessments of facts, data, credibility and situations. Applies professional knowledge to analyze issues, clarify positions and determine workable options or reach reasoned decisions. Applies sound judgement with assessment of credibility.  

1. Teamwork – the ability to develop, maintain, and strengthen partnerships with others inside and outside of the organization, while providing information, assistance and support. Seek to understand and build on differing perspectives of others; fostering collaboration and teamwork, enhance team effectiveness, ensure alignment, proactively assist, involve and support others, resolve conflict, build bridges and collaboration between teams. Empower other team members with confidence to be successful, especially at challenging new tasks, delegate significant responsibility and authority, while allowing team members freedom to decide how they will accomplish goals and resolve issues.  

1. Results – maintain focus on key performance drivers, continuously improve processes, and consistently deliver results. Apply strategic thinking to organizational and business perspectives to identify and focus on key drivers of organizational performance and results that are scalable. 

United Veterinary Care (UVC) and Shore Haven Veterinary Hospital are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or military or veteran status, or any other legally protected status. UVC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled. 

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