Veterinary Assistant
The Veterinary Assistant supports the veterinarians and veterinary technicians in ensuring quality veterinary care for all pets, advocates for pets, educates clients on all aspects of pet health, and ensures a safe and effective hospital environment.
Essential Responsibilities and Tasks :
Live and exemplify the Five Principles of Mars, Inc. within self and team. Act as the extra eyes, ears and hands for the veterinarian and veterinary technician to ensure the best quality pet care and to maximize the veterinarian's and veterinary technician's productivity. Communicate with veterinarian, veterinary technicians and all other associates to maintain the flow of patients. Provide professional, efficient and exceptional service at all times. This includes performing or preparing procedures that do not require veterinarian or veterinary technician assistance, completing preparatory work for other procedures, ensuring that clients and pets are comfortable in the hospital, and monitoring hospitalized or surgical pets as allowed in the state practice acts. Educate clients about Optimum Wellness Plans, preventive care, pet health needs, hospital services and other issues. Obtain relevant information and history from clients and maintain proper and complete medical charts. Ensure the safety of pets, clients and associates by utilizing safe restraining techniques, following standard protocols, and maintaining clean, sterile and organized treatment areas, exam rooms and labs. Assist with surgery as applicable. Utilize technical skills to the fullest, within state practice acts and as outlined in the NAVTA guidelines for veterinary assistant skills and duties. Mentor other paraprofessionals in the hospital. Other job duties as assigned.
Hiring Qualifications Competencies :
Leadership, Action Oriented, Customer Focus, Listening, Peer Relationships, Personal Learning, Functional Skills, Priority Setting.
Capabilities and Experience (Can Do) :
Ability to multi-task, communication skills, organizational ability, problem-solving skills, client service skills, intellectual ability, mathematical ability, computer skills.
Attitudes (Will Do) :
Initiative, integrity, cooperativeness, flexibility, independence, tolerance for stress / resiliency.
Special Working Conditions :
Ability to work at a computer for long periods, confident around pets, ability to work more than 40 hours per week, special hours including weekends and evenings, mental processes for reasoning, remembering, mathematics and language ability, ambulatory skills, ability to lift and manipulate up to 50 pounds, specific vision abilities, exposure to pets, anesthesia, radiation, biological hazards and medication / controlled substances.
Experience, Education and / or Training :
Certificate of completion from a NAVTA approved Veterinary Assistant program, or the equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. High School Diploma or equivalent preferred. Must be able to perform all required skills of NAVTA approved veterinary assistant programs at a level in which to aid in the efficiency of the practice. Must be at least 18 years old to perform duties involving radiography (x-ray) and exposure to radioactive substances. One year related experience required with customer service preferred.
We are a drug-free, smoke-free, equal opportunity employer. Company Policy, Federal and State Laws Forbid Discrimination Because of Age, Color, etc.
Veterinary Assistant • Vancouver, WA, US