Veterinary Assistant, Specialty Surgery
VCA Animal Hospitals
- Pearl City, HI
- $20.00 per hour
- Permanent
- Full-time
- Previous experience or training/education working in a veterinary facility preferred.
- Must be friendly, outgoing, “people oriented.”
- Excellent communications skills.
- Must be capable of being cross-trained for front office receptionist duties that will be
- Telephone and computer skills are necessary.
- Must be a team player willing to learn new techniques and treatments and to accept
- High School Diploma.
- Dependable attendance is required.
- Any allergies to animals must be controllable through medication.
- Must be able to lift 40 pounds.
- Must be willing to work long or irregular hours under pressure conditions.
- This position requires the ability to walk, bend, stand and reach constantly during a
- Visual acuity sufficient to maintain accurate records, recognize people and understand
- Ability to speak and hear sufficiently to understand, give information in person and over
- Fine motor skills adequate for utilizing hospital equipment such as electric clippers,
- Agree to incorporate the principles of the VCA Mission Statement, Three Steps of
- Demonstrate excellent relations with clients/pets in waiting and/or exam rooms:
- Compassionate nursing care is the top priority for all patients.
- Make certain all patients are kept clean and as comfortable as possible.
- Assist in treating hospitalized animals under veterinary supervision.
- Continuously monitor all patients admitted to the hospital.
- Ensure all patients are clearly identified including entry on hospital day sheet, cage card,
- Assist veterinarians to direct traffic (patients and care) and leverage staff time.
- Efficiently organize daily duties and medical-surgical procedures to best utilize staff’s
- Participate in client communication and education, explaining administration of
- Flexibility in working hours is required to ensure that the job is done properly.
- Make certain entire hospital both inside and outside, including treatment, surgery,
- Advise Medical Director or Technical Supervisor of any conditions that are unsafe,
- Ability to perform a cursory examination of an animal.
- Ability to use a stethoscope and otoscope.
- Ability to recognize fleas, ticks and other external parasites.
- Ability to recognize other potential health care issues, i.e., dental or exam by a
- Clearly communicate your findings to doctor. Refuse to make a diagnosis.
- Keep records up to date. This includes client records with charges, medical history,
- Maintain all log books (radiology, surgery, anesthesia, laboratory and controlled
- Handwriting must be neat and legible.
- Understand how to maintain and use our inhalation anesthetic machines.
- Administer certain anesthetics under direct doctor supervision.
- Monitor anesthesia under direct doctor supervision.
- Familiarity with procedures and antidotes for an anesthesia emergency.
- Understand how to prep animals for aseptic surgery.
- Understand aseptic technique in the surgery room and participate in maintaining sterile
- Know the names and general uses of surgical instruments and equipment.
- Maintain and sterilize surgical instruments and packs.
- Be willing and able to assist the doctor with certain surgical procedures.
- Position animals properly to the radiographs.
- Know how to properly use positioning devices so that patients may be radiographed
- Develop radiographs.
- Maintain and care for all radiology equipment.
- Practice all safety regulations in regard to radiology.
- Understand how to set up and use a Dental Prophylactics unit.
- Perform routine dental prophylactics.
- Draw blood samples.
- Collect stool and urine samples.
- Prepare lab request forms.
- Create prescription labels, fill prescriptions and dispense medications as directed by a
- Control inventory and assist in ordering medications and supplies.
- Maintain proper storage and safekeeping of drugs as directed by a doctor.
- Understand, participate and support planned VCA marketing events and programs.
- Present marketing promotions to clients in a professional manner.