Job Description

Job Description

About River Ridge Animal Hospital:
Our practice is the area’s leading companion animal hospital providing progressive, full service, medical care along with grooming, boarding and daycare. We have a wonderful clientele and treat a wide variety of medical and surgical conditions. Our state of the art, 17,000 square foot facility is designed to carry us into the future. We offer a full in house Idexx lab, DR digital radiography, a new Sonoscape ultrasound, CO2 laser, 2 companion therapeutic lasers, Petmap blood pressure, Cryopen, rhinoscope, and a Tonopen. Our practice utilizes a paperless record system via Cornerstone. We perform extensive orthopedic and soft tissue surgery, chemotherapy and manage complicated medical cases as well.

Hours of operation
Monday-Friday 7:30am-5:30pm & alternating Saturdays 7:30am -12:30pm

Pay range
$17-$22

Position Purpose The Veterinary Assistant assists the veterinarians and technicians with patient care and treatment, monitors hospitalized pets, maintains inventory, prepares prescriptions, performs routine in-house laboratory work, educates clients regarding veterinary care and procedures, and assists with surgical procedures.

Veterinary Assistant Competencies

• Patience & Compassion: Remaining professional while still making teammates, clients, and patients feel as comfortable as possible regardless of the situation or challenges presented. Responding quickly and calmly to crisis while maintaining a high standard of patient care.
• Collaboration & Teamwork: Carefully coordinating actions with veterinarians and practice team members. Providing feedback appropriately and in a timely manner. Quickly incorporating feedback to ensure positive results. Sharing ideas and being open to other’s ideas.
• Communicating : Conveying instructions to clients and teammates to ensure successful patient care.
• Active Listening: Following the instructions of veterinarians and sometimes patient owners. Picking up the needs of veterinarians and teammates based on prior experiences and feedback.
• Organization Skills : Clear tracking of lab specimens, medications, patient instructions, workflow, and other job-related items while managing multiple patients and clients.
• Client Satisfaction: Ensuring all activities and interactions result in the highest level of client satisfaction.

Essential Responsibilities

• Assist veterinarians in the practice of veterinary medicine and surgery and other tasks as needed.
• Assist veterinarians in outpatient exams by taking histories, vital signs, and weights, as well as providing client education.
• Prepare patients for surgery and monitor vital signs of the patient during surgery.
• Obtain blood, stool, and other samples; perform in-hospital laboratory testing and prepare specimens for outside laboratories.

• Take, develop, and maintain radiographs following proper safety procedures.

• Provide basic animal handling and restrain animals during exams.
• Administer and monitor medications, anesthesia, vaccines, and treatments at the discretion of the veterinarian.

• Clean and straighten exam rooms, treatment, and lab areas; restock exam rooms with supplies. Assist other team members to keep the public areas of the practice clean; clean and maintain all medical equipment.
• Demonstrate warmth, courtesy and professionalism in all interactions with clients; exercise compassion and care in all interactions with patients.
• Communicate with veterinarians and practice team members including client discussions, patient plans, client concerns, etc.

• Any other duties as assigned.

Requirements / Qualifications

• Previous veterinary experience preferred
• Ability to lift patients and carry equipment up to 25 pounds; ability to lift patients or carry equipment over 25 pounds with assistance
• Practice OSHA safety techniques including proper PPE
• Basic math and the ability to calculate medication dosages
• Basic computer skills, familiarity with MS office applications, etc.
• Strong communication skills to ensure patient safety

 

Job Tags

Saturday, Monday to Friday,

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