Registered Veterinary Technician
Full-Time and Part-Time
Summary:
The registered veterinary technician is the veterinarian’s primary medical support. They begin the examination process by obtaining the patient’s history and continue to assist the doctor throughout the examination, diagnosis and treatment phases. The registered veterinary technician aids the veterinarian in achieving greater efficiency by relieving them of technical work and administrative detail. They have a very significant role in communicating with and educating clients about their pets while performing their duties according to hospital protocols and values.
Job Duties & Requirements
Essential Functions:
- Employees must be responsible to work the schedule they are assigned. Excessive tardiness or absence is disruptive to patient care and client service and cannot be accommodated for this position.
- Must be able to attend work with 98% reliability.
- Hourly employees must maintain accurate records of time worked by clocking in and out for each shift. Must track hours worked per week and inform a supervisor if extended shifts will result in over time.
- Carry out all duties in a professional and courteous manner and remain respectful and polite in speech, tone, and actions under all circumstances
- All patients must be handled and treated with kindness and respect at all times.
- Remain productive during slow times by seeking additional duties such as cleaning, stocking, or other tasks. Be proactive and find projects or things to work on to improve hospital efficiency.
- Attend and participate in staff and team meetings
- Use your own password identification to enter the practice-management software and your own unique initials on all paperwork, treatment sheets, etc. to signify your work
- Communicate openly and honestly with other staff, management, and clients.
- Must understand computer system and be able to enter accurate medical records into computer.
- Have knowledge of contagious diseases and isolation protocols
- Handle client’s medical questions with confidence and direct to Doctors when appropriate.
- Prepare estimates for procedures and discuss financial commitments with clients supporting hospital financial policies.
- Smile and project a polite, friendly demeanor during client interactions.
- Give price quotes by explaining the services contained in standard estimates and educating the client about the value of following the recommendations
- Listen actively and convey concern, empathy, and compassion to clients
- Be patient, polite, and compassionate with a client who is emotional or discourteous
General Responsibilities:
- Read and comply with the policies of the Family Veterinary Care of Oakdale Employee Handbook
- Follow all hospital standard procedures and protocols, both current and future, as contained within the training manuals or as written or communicated by doctors or other supervisory staff
- Remain flexible and willing to implement new or changing procedures in the future
- Maintain a groomed and neat professional appearance while at work, including clean and neat scrubs and a name tag or badge. Name tag or badge must always be visible.
- Maintain the cleanliness and sanitary condition of the entire hospital, including the parking lot, sidewalks, and entries. Trash, urine, feces, blood or other such things should be cleaned and sanitized immediately.
- Must be able to interact with many types of pets and should not be overly fearful of unfamiliar animals.
- Follow OSHA standards and be familiar with Material Data Safety Sheets.
- Employees must follow all safety guidelines contained in the employee handbook and posted in hazardous areas.
- Inform the Hospital Manager or a Doctor immediately of all bite or deep scratch wounds you suffer so that reports can be made and you can be referred for timely medical care by a physician if necessary.
- Train other staff members or new employees in the skills listed in the job description or in the training manuals
- Maintain a pleasant and cooperative attitude toward co-workers. Be willing to help any staff member with a task if requested.
- Maintain confidentiality regarding clients, patients, medical and financial records, and hospital procedures, policies, and protocols.
- Maintain and project a positive attitude about the hospital, clients, patients, co-workers and other hospitals. Avoid gossiping, condemning, judging, and making negative comments or participating in such discussions. Instead of complaining about problems, be proactive and come up with solutions.
- Take breaks as directly by Supervisor but be willing to stay late or work through breaks if needed for critical or emergency care of patients.
- Conduct oneself in a confident and professional manner even when stressed and focus on individual task.
Customer Service:
- Be able to explain vaccinations, preventative care, and spay/neuter/surgical recommendations
- Become familiar with dog and cat breeds and coat colors. Know and be able to communicate which species of pets are treated by our hospital
- Explain and answer questions about proper surgery aftercare
- Be familiar with responses for client complaints or comments regarding their bill or their service
- Immediately remove loudly complaining or angry clients to a private area where they may speak with a supervisor or doctor.
- Give progress reports on hospitalized patients as directed by the doctor
- Know how to access and navigate the Internet to find veterinary websites and access information for clients.
- Be familiar with the practice’s website and direct clients there for more information on relevant topics or to download forms and estimates
- Convey information in an accurate and professional way between the doctor and the client when the doctor is unavailable to speak with the client directly
- If you are not absolutely confident that you know the answer to a client’s question, do not answer it–ask another staff member for assistance.
Technical Skills:
- Perform opening and closing procedures and complete daily checklists.
- Be able to anticipate the needs of each veterinarian and patient.
- Be able to complete and email referral information to specialists.
- Prepare and maintain exam rooms, treatment areas and surgical suites.
- Effectively restrain pets even when large or difficult with minimal stress or trauma to all parties.
- Understand all common vaccinations and vaccination protocols and can explain to clients.
- Understand all prescription diets and can explain to clients.
- Understand usage, dosage and common side effects for commonly used prescription medications and can readily explain them to clients.
- Give SQ, IM, IV injections and oral medications.
- Maintain IV catheters so fluids flow freely; flush and clean as needed.
- Be able to intubate and induce.
- Provide IV and SQ fluid therapy to patients.
- Apply wound dressings and treatments. Maintain a clean site. Understand the applications for wet, dry and wet-to- dry dressings.
- Explain necessary follow up and homecare instructions.
- Help maintain an appropriate inventory of all medical supplies as determined by the inventory control system.
- Assist the veterinarian in medical, surgical and dental procedures; prepares patients for surgery; administers anesthesia; monitors patients during surgery and recovery; administers fluids.
- Properly care for all surgical materials; keeping the operating room properly stocked and prepared for surgery.
- Perform emergency procedures such as control bleeding, resuscitation with oxygen, opening airways and external cardiac massage.
- Perform practical laboratory procedures such as heartworm checks, skin scrapings, urinalysis, and fungal cultures; draws blood for laboratory analysis; ensures that test results are properly attached to clients files in the computer system.
- Call/explain test results to clients if directed to by veterinarian.
- Effectively position for and take radiographs.
- Perform electrocardiograms.
- Place IV catheters and properly care for them. Understands the use and care of IV pumps as well.
- Perform suture removals, anal gland expressions and nail trims.
- Perform dental procedures and identify the different diseases to relay to the veterinarian.
- Draw up vaccinations and/or injections for administration and be able to administer if directed by veterinarian.
- Know the differences between controlled substances and who is able to handle/administer them.
- Maintain proper records of controlled substances used.
- Dispose of used needles and syringes and other sharp objects as set forth by the practice’s policy and OSHA standards.
- Know common disease states and can alert veterinarians when symptoms change or when concerns arise with hospitalized patients.
- Discharge patients based on the veterinarian’s orders, ensuring that patients are well groomed and in a medically appropriate state. Instruct clients on the care of patients at home, the timing of recheck appointments and warnings of adverse effects of surgeries or medications.
- Know the range of services the practice provides.
- Complete required forms and paperwork for our outsourced laboratory tests, and accurately file laboratory reports and clean up laboratory area
- Clean, maintain, and autoclave surgical instruments and packs. Thoroughly clean autoclave per hospital schedule.
Education & Qualifications:
- Must be a graduate of an AVMA accredited training school or program and be licensed with the state of California and complete all requirements to maintain licensure.
- Must be able to read, write legibly, and communicate clearly in English both in person and on the telephone. Must also learn to speak and write using proper medical terminology.
- Basic computer literacy including the ability to type on a computer keyboard, use a computer mouse, and view information on a computer screen is required. Experience with Microsoft Windows, Word, and Excel is helpful
- Must be able to operate equipment pertinent to carrying out duties, including but not limited to laboratory equipment, anesthesia and dental equipment, x-ray machine and processor.
- Must physically hold and restrain pets who may struggle, scratch, or try to bite.
- Ability to remain calm and compassionate with animals who are reacting to fear and/or pain.
- Maintain continuing education credits as required by practice or CA state.
- Be a minimum of 18 years old.
- Must be able to work well and communicate in a team setting.
Physical Demands:
- Occupational hazards may include but are not limited to animal bite or scratch wounds and exposure to x-rays, unpleasant odors, animal feces, animal bites, anesthetic gases, caustic or toxic materials, and zoonotic diseases.
- Employees must have the physical strength and ability to carry a pet or other object weighing up to 50 pounds without assistance.
- Must be able to assist in lifting patients or other objects weighing more than 50 pounds, and should be able to lift 40 pounds without assistance.
- Noise levels can be high, so must be able to tolerate animal noises while handling and working nearby.
- Must be able to stand or walk for extended periods of time and frequently works in a bent position.
