Veterinary Assistant, Surgery
Tacoma, WA
Full Time
Surgery - VA
Experienced
Summary:
The Veterinary Assistant plays a critical role within the Surgery department at Summit Veterinary Referral Center. This position supports the veterinary team by assisting with surgical procedures and ensuring excellent perioperative care for patients. The Veterinary Assistant will be responsible for tasks ranging from preparing patients for surgery, assisting with recovery, and ensuring a smooth workflow in the operating room. The ideal candidate will be adaptable, demonstrate excellent communication skills, and possess a passion for animal care.
Compensation:
- $18.00-26.00/hr depending on experience
- 10 hour shifts 4 times per week
- On-call shift rotation required once trained
- Competitive hourly salary
- 401k
- PTO
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Employee assistance plan with focus on mental health
- Plus more employee perks!
- Assist with the preparation of patients in the surgery department efficiently and effectively.
- Perform perioperative patient care, including but not limited to:
- Obtaining vitals.
- Patient restraint (canine/feline).
- Blood collection and IV catheter placement.
- Setting up the OR for surgical procedures.
- Appropriate shaving and aseptic prep of the surgery site.
- Safely move sedated or anesthetized patients to/from the OR.
- Opening sterile instruments and equipment.
- Assist with recovery and OR daily/weekly/monthly maintenance.
- Maintain and prepare sterile fields as needed.
- Be familiar with the instruments and equipment used in the surgery department.
- Perform in-house lab work as required.
- Assist with advanced imaging (X-ray, Ultrasound, CT), including:
- Radiograph positioning for orthopedic procedures (e.g., TPLO), chest radiographs, chest tube placements, urethral catheterization, etc.
- Prepare prescriptions and communicate discharge orders to clients clearly and compassionately.
- Communicate effectively with doctors about patient care and any problems or concerns.
- Engage in client communication when necessary for the department.
- Other duties as assigned by management.
- Knowledge of veterinary medical terminology, anatomy, and pharmacology preferred.
- Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced, often chaotic, and stressful environment.
- Team player with strong attention to detail, reliability, dependability, and trustworthiness.
- Excellent communication skills within the team and with clients.
- Prior veterinary experience preferred, especially in a specialty hospital, but willing to train the right candidate.
- Current WA state medical clerk license preferred; must be willing to obtain within 3 months of hire.
- Ability to sit, walk, stand, kneel, and climb stairs during shifts.
- Must be able to lift up to 40 pounds and work on feet for extended periods.
- Exposure to low to moderate noise levels, including animal sounds.
- Exposure to hospital supplies, including anesthetic gases and X-ray irradiation, within OSHA standards.
- Risk of injury from handling animals.
- Flexibility with scheduled working hours.
- High school diploma or GED required.
- Veterinary Assistant certification preferred.
- Prior experience in veterinary medicine preferred.
- Experience working in a specialty hospital is preferred, but we will train the right candidate.
- Must be available for either 3 twelve-hour shifts or 4 ten-hour shifts.
- On-call rotation required once fully trained.
- Flexibility is required, as surgery times may extend beyond scheduled hours.
Summit Veterinary Referral Center is the largest Emergency and Specialty Center in the South Puget Sound. With specialists in Anesthesia, Cardiology, Emergency/Critical Care, Internal Medicine, Neurology, Nutrition, Oncology, Ophthalmology, Surgery and Radiology, we work as a team to provide the most comprehensive patient and client care in our region. Grand rounds occur daily and our specialists are regularly available to consult on cases (even in the middle of the night). We have 7 surgical suites, CT/MRI, endoscopy, telemetry, digital radiography, echocardiography, ultrasound, fluoroscopy and more.
Our culture is all about collaboration, and a thriving passion for best medicine. We embrace your learning and development with a robust CE budget and opportunities for growth (VTS support). We strive for sustainable excellence with multiple structures in place to aid in reducing burnout and helping you live your best life!
We have grown steadily in our 13-year history, but we are still a young developing practice with a lot of heart. We need talented folks like you and your friends (don’t worry…we have PLENTY of room to fit in more folks like you) to help us keep growing, thriving, and delivering the absolute best in patient and client care.
Interested in joining our team?
If you are interested in applying and meet the qualifications, please complete the application and make sure to include an updated resume.
Ethos Veterinary Health is at the forefront of innovation and world-class medicine. As the premier network of over 140 specialty and emergency hospitals across North America, Ethos brings together a dedicated community of more than 1,500 specialized doctors providing care for nearly 2 million pets annually. The integrated and collaborative network of veterinary professionals utilize state-of-the-art technology and a scientific, evidence-based approach to deliver compassionate, unparalleled care and rewarding careers. Committed to revolutionizing veterinary medicine, Ethos sets the standard in veterinary excellence. Discover more at EthosVet.com.
Ethos Veterinary Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and any other state or local hiring regulations, we will consider for employment any qualified applicant, including those with arrest and conviction records, in a manner consistent with the applicable regulation.
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