Emergency Veterinary Technician

Position Overview

Emergency veterinary technicians are under the direct guidance and supervision of the doctor. Incumbents of this position are required to assist the practitioners to the fullest possible extent, to help improve the quality of care given to the patients of Pacific and Santa Cruz Veterinary specialists and to aid the practitioners in achieving greater efficiency by relieving them of technical work and administrative detail.

Essential Position Functions

• Prepare for shifts by stocking drawers in exam rooms and treatment area. By setting up flush syringes, catheter kits and assuring that drugs and equipment are ready. Provide restraint of pets for examination and treatment by veterinarian.  Prepare medications (both injections and dispensed medications) for both outpatients and inpatients. Log controlled substances.
• Help doctor administer anesthetics; prepare patients for surgery; monitor patients during surgery and recovery; assist in surgery; administer fluids; perform support therapy to patients in surgery and post-op;
• Properly clean, pack and autoclave all surgical materials after they are used. Keep the operating room properly stocked and prepared for surgery.
• Assist the doctor with treatment of patients; assist in medical or surgical procedures such as irrigating, cleansing, and bandaging wounds, administering and monitoring anesthesia for critical and injured animals, monitoring fluid administration and urine output, reading an ECG and blood pressure (Doppler and cardell), placing urinary and intravenous catheters, administering emergency medications and performing doctors’ orders in extreme emergency situations, and pain assessment.
• Keep accurate and timely charts of all patient progress and treatments. Enter all charges into the computer system during every shift.
• Perform clinical laboratory procedures such as blood chemistries, CBC, electrolytes, heartworm checks, skin scrapings, urinalysis, fungal cultures, draw blood for laboratory analysis. Prepare samples for shipment to laboratory and prepare laboratory forms.  Perform other in-house tests such as parvo virus tests, and feline leukemia virus tests.  Ensure patient records have test results recorded in them through CS.
• Take radiographs.
• Provide for the care and comfort of all patients in the ICU and kennels, including changing bedding, assessing pain and discomfort, and providing pain medications.
• Admit and discharge patients on the doctor’s orders, being especially careful to ensure that patients being discharged are well-groomed and in a medically appropriate state. Answer client questions one-on-one on various aspects of animal care up to, but not including, controversial items and/or those best left to the veterinarians.  Pass on information/advice from the practitioners; explain dosage/purpose of medications; reinforce thorough discussion of the proper care and procedures that should be followed at home.  Provide follow-up and updates on the progress of hospitalized patients with clients concerning certain patients; recommend additional visit and/or follow up with doctor’s recommendation if patient’s progress does not appear satisfactory.
• Assist the receptionist when necessary and assume her duties during her absence.
• Maintain an appropriate inventory of all supplies as dictated by the inventory control system. Inform inventory manager as needed about items that need to be ordered. Unpack boxes of medical supplies, check expiration dates, rotate stock and ensure that all ICU areas are appropriately stocked and clean.  Make sure all products and literature are identified with labels. Keep abreast of over-the-counter products and their usage such as flea control and skin products, vitamins, and pet foods.  Also understand usage and recommendations for prescription drugs.
• Maintain hospital cleanliness by performing cleaning tasks on daily, weekly and monthly lists that are located within the department.

Controls Over Work

The practitioners provide continuing or individual assignments indicating generally what is to be done, limitations, quality and quantity expected, deadlines and priority of assignments. The practitioners provide additional, specific instructions for new, difficult or unusual assignments in animal health care, including suggested work methods or advice on source materials available. The ICU Technician uses initiative in carrying out recurring assignments independently without specific instructions, but refers deviations, problems, and unfamiliar situations not covered by instructions to the practitioner for decision or help. The practitioners assure that finished work and methods used are technically accurate and in compliance with instructions or established procedures.  Review of the work increases with more difficult assignments, if the technician has not previously performed similar assignments. Administrative supervision may be provided by the Practice Manager and/ or Administrator.

Advancement

Veterinary Technicians in this practice will be taught and trained to the limits of their potential. If, during training, an individual shows interest in a specific field, such as radiology or anesthesiology, continuing education in that field will be encouraged.  Such encouragement may be in the form of a subsidy for taking outside courses or formal training given in the practice.

Other Significant Facts

Knowledge:

• RVT or equivalent; minimum 3-5 years of critical care, intensive care, and emergency experience
• Knowledge of the procedures used for care and monitoring of patients, for ordering medical supplies, and requesting laboratory tests.
• Knowledge of the use, care, and storage of veterinary instruments, materials, and equipment.
• Knowledge of sterilization techniques to sterilize various instruments and materials.
• Knowledge of the instruments, materials, and standardized procedures used in the full variety of treatments to make preparations and provide assistance to DVM.

Skills:

• TPR/ physical assessment
• Drug administration/ dosage calculation
• Venipuncture
• Catheter placement – both venous and urinary
• Cystocentesis – “blind” stick and ultrasound guided
• CPR
• Critical care and emergency assessment skills
• Record/ interpret ECG
• Radiology
• Anesthesiology
• Surgical assisting
• Post surgical care/ monitoring
• Perform laboratory tests; CBC, Chem, UA, viral tests, PT/PTT, etc.
• Set up and monitoring of equipment such as Doppler, Cardell, SpO2, ECG, IV fluid pumps, anesthesia machines, suction pumps, crash cart, O2 cage
• Recognition and knowledge of infectious/ zoonotic disease
• Customer service/ communication skills

Physical Effort

Work often requires lifting and carrying animals which may weigh upwards of 100 lbs.  Technicians will be assisted by each other in working with larger animals. Walks or stands for extended periods of time; frequently works in bent position.

Working Conditions

Work often exposes the ICU Technician to unpleasant odors and noises.  May be exposed to bites, scratches, and animal waste; may also be exposed to contagious diseases.