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
• Time anesthesia begins, ends and how many minutes
• Lab test results
• Dental charts
• Injections, medications, fluid therapy, pain management

• Note homecare instructions given to and reviewed with client
• Create estimates/treatment plans
• Collect signatures on consent forms and estimates/treatment plans

Housekeeping Duties,

• Maintain cleanliness of surgery suite, treatment area and exams rooms for all surfaces, including lights, tables, cabinets, walls, and floors
• Maintain equipment cleanliness and longevity by vacuuming pet hair from keyboards, wheels, and equipment
• Clean glass windows and doors in surgery suite, treatment area and exam rooms
• Sweep and mop floors in surgery suite, exam rooms and treatment area
• Keep food and drinks out of treatment area and surgery suite
• Discard syringes in proper containers
• Empty trash
• Clean cage, water, bedding, and food bowls for hospitalized pets
• Organize radiology gowns, gloves, and badges, making sure they are neatly hung or stored
• Clean scrub sinks daily after surgery is done
• Wipe down walls and baseboards in the surgery suite, treatment area and exam rooms
• Clean cages
• Do laundry

Administrative Duties,

Inventory

• Log controlled drugs
• Assist with inventory physical count
• Unpack deliveries, reconcile against packing slip, and restock supplies
• Restock shelves and drawers in exam rooms and treatment area

Safety

• Follow OSHA and AAHA requirements
• Follow practice’s health and safety protocols

• Maintain Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

Administrative

• Be proficient in using our veterinary practice-management software
• Assist receptionists when they need extra help
• Attend staff and department meetings

Professional Growth Duties,

• Belong to professional societies
• Attend continuing education for technicians (conferences, online courses, videos, in-clinic seminars, etc.)
• Network with technicians from other practices
• Read veterinary and technician journals

Mission, Vision, Core Values and Behaviors:                         

• 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