Veterinary Assistant (VA)

LOCATION:

CityVet Briargate + Urgent Care

9235 N Union Blvd STE 170

Colorado Springs, CO 80920

PAY:

$18-$20 per hour

STATUS:

Full-time

SCHEDULE:

Four-ten hour or three-twelve hour shifts, rotating weekend shifts

JOB SUMMARY

The Veterinary Assistant (VA) is responsible for maintaining excellent patient care and operational productivity by helping the Veterinarian leverage their time and efforts to meet the needs of the clients and patients. The Veterinary Assistant (VA) works to relieve the Veterinary Technician (VT) and Veterinarian from technical work and administrative detail to achieve greater levels of efficiency in daily practice. Veterinary Assistant (VA) help facilitate and streamline the communication from the operating room, to the front office staff and most importantly, the client. 

RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES

• Assists in preparing clients for medical, surgical, and dental surgeries, by assisting in the administering of anesthesia and properly restrains the animals as needed for examination and treatment 
• Effectively partner with the Veterinarian and Veterinary Technician (VT) Teams to administer proper patient triage protocol based on the client and facilities needs and capabilities in a fast paced and effective manner
• Help to coordinate operational duties that facilitate the work of the Veterinarian, Animal Care Attendant (ACA), and Groomers – all who provide patient care and client service
• Collects specimens for laboratory testing, manages samples for in-house and outside lab testing, and ensures that test results are recorded in patient charts for labs including, but not limited to fecal, heartworm, skin scrapings, urinalysis, fungal cultures, and blood draws
• Assists with administering radiographs, EKGs and EEGs
• Monitor patient health, physically and behaviorally, and rapidly identify any issues or changes that may require special action and report the information to the supervisor immediately, through properly monitoring the vital signs for all animals under the care of the clinic for hospitalization 
• Aid Veterinarians and Veterinary Technicians (VT) with booked appointments, walk-ins, and work-ins, including recording observations/treatment plans in the patient file, and aid in the performance of medical treatments under doctor supervision
• Support the medical team by admitting and discharging patients under the advice and plan of care drawn up by the Veterinarian and communicated to the client through client education, both written and verbal, on proper wound care, wellness protocol, vaccination expectations, illness, medication dosage, the purpose of the medications prescribed, and what to expect in the coming days after a surgery
• Work with the Veterinarian and the Veterinary Technician (VT) to prepare and present treatment estimate to the client and properly invoice the client once the plan of care is agreed upon and documented in the patients’ chart
• Partner with the medical team to maintain an appropriate inventory of all medical supplies as determined by the inventory control system in all exam rooms and surgery areas
• Provide consistent and on-going support to the medical team as needed and maintain a positive and cooperative relationship with other facility staff
• Maintain facility cleanliness and sanitation standards by organizing product, keeping the staff areas clean and organized, vacuuming, dusting, mopping, washing/drying of facility laundry, washing patient dishes and discarding of trash/waste materials on a continuous basis to meet the CityVet policies 

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS

• Unwavering interpersonal skills 
• Ability to follow directives and plan of care established by Veterinarian, even if there are differing treatment opinions
• Exudes confidence and decisiveness while practicing
• Displays critical thinking ability and active listening skills 
• Strong verbal and written communication abilities 
• Extremely detail oriented
• Ability to remain calm and empathetic in stressful/emergency situations
• Maturity, good judgment, and professional demeanor   
• Self-driven, takes initiative, working with minimal supervision and direction 
• Strong physical stamina to remain on your feet for longer periods of time
• Availability to work weekends & holidays
• Ability to demonstrate and uphold CityVet's core values

REQUIREMENTS

• High school diploma or GED
• Lift 50 lbs to waist height 
• Understanding and ability to properly and safely restrain animals
• Knowledgeable on veterinary medical terminology and medication 
• At least 1 year of veterinary industry experience 
• Frequent standing, bending, walking, lifting, carrying, and reaching
• At least 18 years of age at the time of hire 

PREFERRED SKILLS

• Experience with dental radiography
• Familiarity with therapeutic laser treatments
• Experience in urgent care settings
• Experience with exotic animals including pocket pets, reptiles, birds, etc.

BENEFITS HIGHLIGHTS

• A fantastic employee pet discount program
• Health, vision, and dental benefits for full-time employees
• License reimbursement
• 401(K) matching
• Paid Time Off/Sick Leave
• Pet food discount program through Hill's, Purina, and Royal Canin
• A supportive team that fosters an environment to learn
• Frequent team building events

ABOUT US

CityVet Briargate believes the best patient care comes from a team that feels supported and empowered to grow. Our clinic fosters a collaborative environment where learning is encouraged and every team member plays an important role in the success of the hospital. Professional development and open communication are a priority for us. We strive to establish goals and identify opportunities for our employees with monthly meetings.

We also value the relationships within our team just as much as the care we provide to our patients. We host frequent team events to strengthen connections and create opportunities to unwind together outside of the daily clinic environment.

Our goal is to create a workplace where people feel supported, challenged in the best ways, and excited to continue to learn in the veterinary field.

To see more about our core values, please go to https://www.cityvet.com/our-culture/.