Emergency Veterinary Technician (Overnights)

We’re looking for someone who stays calm under pressure, works well with a team, and brings a positive attitude to overnight shifts.

Applicants should submit a resume in addition to the names, email addresses, and telephone numbers of three (3) professional references.

Duties: and Responsibilities:

• Hospital
• Monitor status and well-being of all assigned hospitalized patients.
• Administer treatments and oversee care, cleanliness and feeding of patients.
• Administer fluid therapy and blood products.
• Assist with general anesthesia and medical, imaging and surgical procedures.
• Perform specimen collection and laboratory tests, including blood work, microbiology, urinalysis and fecal analysis. Complete administrative tasks for outside laboratory work.
• Keep treatment records up to date, and the appropriate veterinarians and staff informed of any changes.
• Communicate with clients and other involved parties regarding the status and plan for all assigned hospitalized patients.
• Clean, maintain and sterilize instruments, equipment and supplies.
• Assure that all equipment is functioning and in good repair.
• Help with cleaning and re-stocking of exam rooms. Make sure that appropriate instruments and equipment are available.
• Ensure that cages and runs are clean and disinfected.
• Re-stock the hospital area, laboratory, central supply and pharmacy and keep track of inventory.
• Maintain hospital cleanliness by performing laundry duties and ensuring the parking lot, west patio, and fenced yard remain orderly.

• Appointments
• Greet clients warmly and weigh the patient. Escort them to a clean, prepared exam room. Explain the Four Seasons appointment process.
• Recognize when an incoming patient requires immediate medical attention and action.
• Provide assistance to clients as needed with patient transport from their vehicle into the hospital.
• Review and make needed corrections to patient and client information.
• Obtain history, diagnostic test results and any other pertinent information. Have any radiographs and other images ready to display.
• Utilize active listening skills. Discern any potential questions or concerns and clearly communicate to resolve them proactively. Offer reassurance to distressed clients.
• Knowledgably answer questions about our hospital’s services and fees. Promptly refer more specific or in-depth questions to the appropriate veterinarian or staff.
• Review pertinent information with the receiving veterinarian.
• Assist with patient restraint and any other needed tasks during the appointment.
• Prepare estimates and review with clients. Answer any questions.
• Prepare and dispense prescription medications. Explain their administration and answer any questions.
• Explain any other instructions and treatment plans. Answer any questions.
• Escort clients and patients to the reception area and explain the checkout process.
• Be respectful and show interest in clients, treating them as friends.
• Practice patience and kindness.

• Administrative
• Courteously and professionally answer incoming telephone calls, using Four Seasons standard phone etiquette.
• Smoothly operate a multiline telephone system, being mindful of those waiting on hold.
• Knowledgably answer questions about our hospital’s services and fees. Refer more specific or in-depth questions to the appropriate staff using established guidelines.
• Utilize active listening skills. Discern any potential questions or concerns and clearly communicate to answer/resolve them proactively. Offer reassurance to distressed callers.
• Engage callers who are new clients or new referring veterinarians in a positive, energetic and informative way. Encourage them to visit our website.
• Exercise sound clinical judgment to identify patients requiring immediate medical intervention; proactively seek a second opinion to ensure the highest standard of care when uncertain.
• Transfer calls to appropriate staff or take a complete and detailed message when necessary.
• Ask for patient and client information and accurately enter it into the computer system database.
• Schedule appointments using the computer scheduling program. Give pre-appointment instructions using established guidelines.
• Accurately re-schedule and cancel appointments. Communicate schedule changes to affected staff, when appropriate.
• Help to keep database information up-to-date and accurate.
• Find ways to enhance the client and patient experience and exceed our clients’ expectations.
• Conduct tours of the hospital.
• Participate in staff meetings.

Qualifications

Required

• Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT)
• Minimum 2 years recent experience in a veterinary practice with increasing responsibility.
• Skilled in animal handling, lifting, restraint, and able to stand for extended periods.
• Proficient in IV catheter placement, blood draws, lab work, anesthesia monitoring, medication administration, and triage.
• Solid knowledge of veterinary procedures and terminology; committed to continued learning.
• Understanding of OSHA, DEA, and animal health regulations.

Preferred

• 2+ years of Emergency and/or Critical Care experience.
• Familiarity with Fear Free handling techniques.
• Experience with Instinct software.

Knowledge and Skills

• Ability to work well as part of a team, to ensure that the team supports the Four Seasons mission and vision. The team includes all departments within the hospital.
• Ability to work in an organized way, prioritizing tasks, and managing time to maximize efficiency.
• Ability to work in a busy and/or stressful environment calmly and productively.
• Ability to show initiative, think ahead and look for ways to help the team.
• Possess excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of small animal nursing care, patient monitoring and administration of therapy.
• Knowledge of standard protocols for providing support to veterinarians and other staff during patient procedures and treatment.
• Knowledge of the use, care and storage of veterinary medical, surgical, laboratory and imaging equipment and instruments.
• Knowledge of sterilization techniques for various instruments and materials.
• Knowledge of general office practices and telephone techniques.
• Familiarity with computer and multi-line telephone systems.
• Knowledge of handling payment transactions.
• Knowledge of veterinary medical terminology and procedures.
• Familiarity with federal and state animal health laws, including OSHA and DEA regulations.
• Regular and reliable on-site attendance of scheduled shifts.
• Practice tact, diplomacy, empathy and patience.
• Exercise appropriate veterinary medical knowledge and knowledge of the hospital’s programs, products and services.

• Technical Skills
• Venipuncture
• IV catheter placement
• In-house laboratory analysis (IDEXX) - proper handling of tissue samples for submission, blood smear differential analysis, collection & evaluation of urine samples
• Anesthesia monitoring including ECG, SpO2, etCO2, resp, temp, BP and recognition of common abnormalities
• Fluid therapy – including administration and calculations of rates, CRI’s and ancillary therapies
• Knowledge of pharmaceuticals - proper calculations and administration
• Radiology – including safety, knowledge of DR, patient positioning and restraint
• Knowledge of instrument and equipment cleaning, storage and sterilization methods, including autoclave and ETO

• With Four Seasons being a specialty hospital, advanced skills are needed to provide our highest quality of patient care. The candidate may not possess these skills at the time of hire, but training will be provided for the right candidate. A few of these skills include:
• Long catheter placement and care
• Arterial catheter placement and care
• Feeding tube placement, administration and care
• Thoracic tube monitoring and care
• Urinary catheter placement and care
• Blood and blood product administration and monitoring
• Advanced anesthesia monitoring including ventilators, invasive blood pressure, blood gas analysis
• Advanced knowledge of endoscopic, laparoscopic, thoracoscopic, arthroscopic and advanced imaging techniques, equipment and procedures
• Advanced knowledge with specialty dental procedures and equipment
• Advanced knowledge of emergency protocols and procedures

Safety

• Follow OSHA and USP guidelines for safety and handling of hazardous materials
• Follow established hospital safety protocols for animal handling, controlled substances, radiation protection, bite wounds, and equipment use
• Maintain familiarity with federal and state animal health laws, including OSHA and DEA regulations

Physical Demands

The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Veterinarians and staff at Four Seasons are regularly required to

• stand; walk; sit; use hands to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear.
• The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance and taste or smell.
• The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move more than 100 pounds with assistance.

Work Environment

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is frequently exposed to risk of radiation.
• The employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles and toxic or caustic chemicals.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Employees may encounter animals or work in environments where zoonotic diseases could be present, posing a risk of transmission. Proper safety protocols and protective measures must be followed at all times to minimize this risk.
• Involves scheduled on-call, overnight, and weekend coverage depending on hospital needs.

Personal Conduct

• Adhere to all hospital protocols and standards.
• Shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences.
• Promotes a harassment-free environment.
• Serve as a representative of the hospital, displaying tact, consideration, courtesy, compassion, professionalism, and a positive attitude in all interactions with patients, clients and all members of the hospital staff.
• Demonstrate teamwork and initiative by assisting other employees and proactively search for additional work during periods of down time

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or physical requirements. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Three, 12 hour shifts per week 36 hours per week