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Job Overview:

The licensed veterinary technician, provides caring, compassionate and detail-oriented nursing care for hospitalized patients and outpatients. They are responsible for correctly and efficiently executing treatments, diagnostics, and medication administration at the appropriate times. They must maintain detailed and correct medical records in Infinity, while ensuring all charges are included in invoice. Updates and communicates with client in a timely and respective manner.

Required Technical Skills:

Draw blood, place peripheral IVC, central lines, PICC lines and intraosseous catheters in small animals

Obtain sterile urine samples through urinary catheters or cystocentesis in dogs and cats

Monitor and maintain PICC lines and triple-lumen central jugular catheters in dogs and cat

Place, monitor and maintain temporary and indwelling urinary catheters in male and female cats and dogs

Take radiographs using correct patient positioning and safety techniques

Induce, maintain, and recover stable and unstable patients from sedation and general anesthesia

Place, monitor, and maintain nasogastric or naso-esophageal feeding tubes in cats and dogs

Monitor and maintain esophageal feeding tubes

Placement of nasal cannulas for nasal oxygen delivery

Ability to use and monitor the Snyder oxygen cage for oxygen dependent patients

Set up, monitor, and maintain patients on high-flow oxygen

Sterile intubation of long-term intubated patients

Initiating and maintaining patients on a ventilator with adjustable FiO2

Monitor and perform nursing care for patients with tracheostomy tubes

Perform CPR using the RECOVER guidelines

Administration of partial parenteral nutrition

Setting up, administering and monitoring pRBC, whole blood, plasma, platelet and albumin transfusions

Ability to perform basic and advanced medical math

Advanced knowledge of medications, potential medication interactions, and potential adverse effects of medication

Provide post-op care, including for orthopedic and neurosurgery patients.

Monitor and maintain JP drains and Wound Vacs

Monitor and maintain Pleuro-Vac

Obtain blood pressure and perform blood pressure interventions

Ability to prepare and analyze microscope samples of blood, urine and other fluids

Whelping newborn dogs and cats and caring for neonatal patients

Recognize and administer treatment for cardiac arrhythmias

Administration of Treatments

• Ensuring all prescribed treatments are completed within the ordered time period
• Taking/monitoring vital signs/blood pressures, etc. Recognizing when these vital signs are abnormal based on type of patient, age, and disease process, and reporting these to the doctor
• Giving medications/IV fluids in all routes of administration-- oral meds/injectable meds-- subcutaneous/intramuscular/intravenous. Consulting protocol book or prescribing doctor for instruction of administration of unfamiliar drugs
• Establishing intravenous catheters along with IV fluids. Following IV catheter care protocols and fluid protocols to ensure patient safety
• Drawing blood for laboratory tests and then performing in house Chemistry/CBC/Lytes/Snap Tests/Urinalysis and SediVue/Crossmatch/Blood typing/set up certain assays/tests/biopsy/Cultures/Cytology etc to be sent out to Idexx. Maintaining responsibility for in house tests and diluting appropriately when results are out of range
• Practicing safe handling and maintenance of patient tubes including but not limited to chest tube, nasal oxygen, urinary catheters, abdominal drains. Following prescribed orders for timed drainage/technique/dosage
• Tube feeding - esophageal, naso-esophageal, nasogastric, and gastric tubes. Being able to reconstitute diets as prescribed and administer through the feeding tubes
• Be able to safely prepare blood transfusions as per protocol. Be able to calculate an appropriate starting rate and increase rate as indicated. Be able to monitor appropriately and recognize when vital signs are abnormal, as well as report to the doctor

Other Patient Care

• Compassionately, calmly and gently approaching and handling patients.Practice Fear Free techniques whenever possible
• Approaching and handling patients according to safety protocols and core values
• Practicing basic animal husbandry - ensuring clean/dry bedding, clean litter boxes at all times. Ensuring all patients have water available unless specifically under order not to. Following prescribed diet orders, as well as recording amount offered, amount eaten, and adverse reactions
• Practicing critical thinking and independent thinking. Be aware of what tasks are most critical to be performed and doing those first (pain medication, insulin, temperature checks on a patient on heat, etc). Be aware of what types of care is given to patients and question if this is not being ordered (such as pain medicine in a fracture, anti-nausea medications in a vomiting patient). Notice and alert the doctor if there are other concerns regarding a patient (has not urinated since admission, no appetite, painful, straining to defecate, etc.)

Record Keeping

• Entry of the vital signs and medications given to each patient into the computer and writing them down onto each patient's treatment sheet which holds all orders pertaining to that patient that is overseen by the doctor in charge of the case
• Making sure all charges are appropriately entered with specific amounts recorded
• Giving and Receiving Nursing Rounds on each patient in ICU plus other dog/cat wards in the hospital
• Ensuring that eliminations are recorded on the treatment sheet and electronic record. Ensuring the doctor is informed if there is an abnormality

Care of the ICU

• Cleaning of the ICU to meet infection control guidelines. Delegating cleaning tasks to assistants as necessary. This includes but is not limited to daily cleaning/disinfection of patient housing, surface cleaning/disinfection in ICU, mopping, sink cleaning/disinfection
• Aid in maintaining/properly using equipment within the hospital. Including but not limited to oxygen cage, anesthesia. machines, blood pressure/SP02 and resp. monitors, syringe/IV pumps
• Organizing the working area
• Ensuring needed items are in stock and delegating restocking to assistants as necessary

Procedural Support

• Aid in the intubation/sedation/anesthetizing of patients as needed
• Restraining patients for procedures/exams for doctors
• Performing CPR
• Answer phones if needed
• Actively participate in hospital's day to day function by taking on additional responsibilities as needed

General Job Expectations:

• Upholds MVS attendance expectations of no more than 3 unscheduled occurrences in a rolling 12-week period
• Always be in position and prepared to work at the start of each scheduled shift.
• Be prepared to handle any pet or facility emergency that may arise. Follow contingency plans.
• Competently speak and write the English language.
• Continuously strive to gain more information, additional skills, and keep up with new developments in the field through reading journals, and attending continuing education.
• Follow OSHA standards, and other safety protocols and procedures put in place by MVS.
• Know and use standard medical and business abbreviations and terminology when speaking and writing.
• Know the range of services the practice provides and the species it treats.
• Maintain a professional appearance while at work, including clean and pressed uniforms or clothes.
• Participate in all staff meetings
• Perform other duties as assigned
• Stay current on policies, procedures and schedule by checking your personal e-mail, reading the weekly meeting minutes and WhentoWork daily
• Understand and be able to recognize animal behaviors (ex. Fear, aggression), know how to change approach to animal based on behavior

Anesthesia and Surgical Procedures

• Complete and understand anesthesia machine check-list, be able to trouble shoot
• Complete understanding and ability to perform induction (IV, chamber, mask) and intubation
• Confidently perform anesthesia monitoring; knowledge of normal and abnormal parameters
• Knowledge of induction agents, analgesics, and CPR medications
• Anesthesia equipment maintenance and trouble-shooting
• Knowledge of basic surgical instruments
• Understanding of the sterile field
• Ability to clean, repack, and sterilize instruments
• Basic knowledge of autoclave verses ethoxide
• Demonstrate proper safety precautions when working with anesthetic chemicals and equipment
• Efficiently and safely recover patient, obtaining necessary post-operative vitals
• Insure all appropriate charges are entered into Infinity

Attitude and Behavior

• Demonstrate commitment, dedication, cooperation and positive behavior
• Handle stress and pressure with poise and tact
• Promote a positive attitude among staff. Smile and maintain a friendly demeanor while on the job.
• Show respect and compassion for clients, team members, and animals (alive or deceased) at all times
• Applies an engaged attitude that facilitates workflow
• Properly communicates and rounds team members, within and across services, effectively to facilitate patient care

Client Service

• Answer phone by the third ring if CSR is pre-occupied or unavailable
• Assist grieving clients and comfort them. Be familiar with the grieving process. Always be sensitive to the background chatter and conversations that could exacerbate the anxiety and grief clients are experiencing
• Complete phone training with member of management team
• Cordially greet clients and their pets, addressing each by name
• Discuss treatment and diagnostic costs to owners, ensure owners of patients to be hospitalized are provided with an accurate estimate with code status chosen and that proper deposits are collected
• Handle challenging clients with a calm and reassuring demeanor; know when to bring in member of management team
• Maintain communication with clients waiting in lobby, continuously update them of status
• Provide counseling and compassion for clients; answer their questions unless it is clear attending doctor should do so

Patient Care and Comfort

• Always wash hands after handling patients to minimize the spread of infectious diseases and pathogens
• Appropriately and effectively triage every patient that enters MVS
• Provide clean bedding, water and litter pans for hospitalized pets according to individual patient needs
• Understand and be able to recognize normal and abnormal vital signs, follow through when abnormal signs are seen

Pharmaceuticals

• Basic knowledge of all medications used in hospital; including routes of administration, side effects, dose, drug interactions, etc

• Learn and become comfortable with CRI calculations
• Prepare medications and prescriptions for dispensing as directed by the veterinarian and be able to teach owners how to administer
• Use proper aseptic technique in drawing up medications
• Verify all dosages and conversions on treatment sheet are correct

Physical Plant Maintenance

• Launder soiled linens using established protocols
• Maintain cages, runs, and/or hospital facilities, including exam rooms, treatment room, isolation area, ICU wards, employee lounge, bathrooms and doctor's office in a neat, sanitary and stocked condition
• Maintain constant vigilance regarding open doorways that could allow pets to escape from their cage or facility

• Maintenance of all work areas including but not limited to sweeping, mopping, emptying garbage and recyclables, dusting, and cleaning counter tops, kennels, and wet sinks

Record Keeping

• Ensure all appropriate charges are entered into patient invoice
• Ensure all treatments and diagnostics are in Infinity prior to the chart going up front for discharge
• Ensure appropriate handling of controlled substances and proper maintenance of the controlled drug log
• Ensure proper documentation and labeling of deceased patient for cremation or home burial
• Maintain detailed, prompt and accurate medical record using Infinity treatment plans to ensure timely patient care and treatments

Technical Animal Knowledge and Skills

• Use safe, reliable, and confident restraint, while showing compassion and care. Use provided restraint tools effectively
• Use proper technique to shave patients, which minimizes clipper burn and skin trauma
• Know and be able to execute proper fecal and urine collection methods
• Understand how to monitor, adjust and maintain IV infusion pumps, syringe pumps, programmable syringe pumps
• Understand proper use of digital x-ray machine
• Minimize radiation hazards: use protective equipment and wear dosimetry badge
• Use appropriate and correct positioning to obtain diagnostic quality radiograph
• Understand adjustments needed to
• Consistently use Right and Left markers
• Apply and monitor pressure bandages using proper technique
• Execute and understand proper technique for Venipuncture using patients cephalic, saphenous and jugular veins
• Know proper administration techniques for IV, IM, SQ and oral medications
• Know proper aseptic technique for placement of cephalic, saphenous and jugular intravenous catheters
• Know proper aseptic technique for placing and maintaining urinary catheters
• Know proper techniques for obtain blood pressure, and recognize abnormal and normal ranges
• Learn and become familiar with central line placement
• Set-up and record diagnostic multi-lead ECG tracings, recognize normal and abnormal rhythms, learn to troubleshoot equipment complications
• Understand the life cycle and pathology of common and zoonotic diseases to prevent transmission throughout the hospital and in public areas. Follow and understand isolation procedures

Job Functions