A certified veterinary technician directly handles inpatient and outpatient care, working hand-in-hand with veterinarians. The technician assists in exam rooms by taking patients’ history, vital signs, and weight; preparing vaccines; collecting samples and running diagnostic tests; providing client education; and assisting with animal restraint. Technicians also may see their own appointments for procedures such as suture removal, nail trim, vaccine administration when a doctor exam is not required, long-term medication monitoring testing, surgery admission and discharge and boarding check-in. Technicians directly impact doctors’ productivity, client service and patient care. Technicians play a key role in communicating with clients in person and by phone for follow-up care and patient monitoring.
Job Responsibilities
Technical Duties,
Assist veterinarians in the practice of veterinary medicine and surgery
Perform in-hospital lab testing and prepare specimens for outside labs
Assist veterinarians in outpatient exams by taking histories, vital signs and weights as well as providing client education
Provide nursing care for in-hospital patients and medical boarders
Perform client callbacks and follow ups
Maintain legally defensible medical records in cooperation with veterinarians
Exams
Prepare and maintain exam rooms (cleanliness and stocking of supplies and brochures)
Assist veterinarians in exam rooms by taking patients’ history, vital signs and weight; preparing vaccines and medications; and assisting with medical records
Educate clients on prevention and wellness topics
Collect samples and run heartworm, intestinal parasite tests
Fill prescriptions per veterinarians’ instructions
Educate clients about medication instructions and administration
Discharge patients from dentistry, spay, neuter, general surgery and declaw surgeries and hospitalized patients
Lab
Responsible for in-hospital lab testing such as intestinal parasite screens, pre-anesthetic testing, senior screens, complete blood count, urinalysis, heartworm, tick-borne diseases, Feline Leukemia, FIV, cytology, etc.
Collect and prepare samples
Report diagnostic testing results to veterinarians
Complete proper sample preparation and paperwork for outside diagnostic lab tests
Treatment
Perform treatments noted on treatment sheets and in medical records (hospitalized patients, surgeries, dentistry patients, boarding medications)
Assist veterinarians with daily treatments
Monitor intensive care patients
Provide nursing care
Take x-rays
Use and maintain IV pumps
Surgery
Admit patients scheduled for surgery and dentistry
Keep surgical materials stocked
Prepare gown and surgical packs
Check oxygen lines and waste gas scavenger system
Prepare surgery suite for surgery
Prepare instruments; know type of surgical instruments required for specific surgeries
Assist veterinarians with patient restraint
Assist each other with induction/intubation or perform induction/intubation
Surgical preparation of patient
Monitor anesthesia closely with monitoring equipment such as pulse oximeter and electrocardiogram
Help maintain anesthesia machine
Assist veterinarian performing surgery
Monitor patients waking up from anesthesia; assist with treatment if patient has reaction to anesthesia
Clean surgery suite and surgical instruments after each procedure following hospital sterilization protocols
Keep accurate anesthesia/surgical medical records
Ensure hospital patients go home well groomed and in an appropriate medical state
Dentistry
Clean, scale and polish teeth using dental equipment and hand instruments
Perform fluoride treatments
Record dental problems in medical records and report them to veterinarians for instructions
Assist veterinarians performing oral extractions or other dental procedures
Take dental x-rays
Medical Records
Update medical records with progress notes
Communicate with doctors and technicians through notations in medical records
Record information for hospitalized patients including:
Daily status each time a technician touches a patient, with initials, time, procedures, and observations
Boarding information
Hospitalized procedures such as surgeries, radiographs, and dentistry
Exemplifies the organization’s core value of service, by acting toward coworkers, clients, patients, doctors and others in ways that are consistent with the organization’s mission.
Relates to others in a cooperative, supportive, respectful and non-judgmental manner.
Displays a willingness to assist coworkers with a team-oriented philosophy.
Demonstrates appropriate written and verbal communication skills in a manner consistent with professionalism and respect even during times of disagreement.
Understands and observes safety rules, including those published by OSHA.
Follows established processes and procedures or seeks to learn correct process/procedure where it has not been previously presented.
Maintains attendance and observes working hours, starting times, lunch breaks and quitting times.
Maintains appropriate personal and professional appearance including compliance with uniform requirements. Performs any other duties requested by the doctor or practice manager
Educational Requirements:
High school diploma or equivalent
Associate degree in applied science, veterinary technology
State license to work as a certified/licensed/registered veterinary technician
Skills Needed:
Ability to assist veterinarians in the practice of veterinary medicine and surgery
Physical Obligations:
Able to lift patients and carry equipment up to 25 pounds; ability to lift patients or carry equipment over 25 pounds with assistance
Endure sitting, standing and walking on hard floor surfaces for extended periods
Type information for patient records and prescription labels into the computer
Able to work in noisy work conditions with sounds from animals and equipment
Take safety precautions for exposure to toxins, drugs, anesthesia and radiation
