Veterinary Surgical Assistant

We are a group of enthusiastic pet heroes who go beyond expectations at providing a personalized experience for all patient-guests and their parents. We currently provide dermatology, internal medicine, medical oncology, surgery, ophthalmology, neurology, physical rehabilitation, urgent care and emergency services. Our quality of care and diverse specialty offerings makes VRCCO's team the leaders in advanced pet care for Central Oregon. To improve the experience for our patients and help support our amazing team we have created a purpose built veterinary hospital campus, with over 26,000 sq ft to serve our community. This facility has all the advanced diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities (MRI, CT, Fluoroscopy, chemotherapy etc) it also has a campus-like feeling for employees and clients with food trucks, childcare for staff, beer garden, and an upstairs balcony.

At the Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon, we believe that teamwork, superior patient and client care, education, and fun are the secret to a wonderful career. From day one we have known our staff has to come first to make this happen. We are pretty sure we are the first ever, and perhaps still the only, Veterinary Specialty Hospital to be Great Place To Work Certified (https://www.greatplacetowork.com/certified-company/7041336). Come see the difference for yourself and be a part of our team.

The Surgery Anesthesia & Analgesia VTS works in a team environment to provide care to inpatients primarily in the surgery service and plays a crucial role in the safe and effective management of anesthesia and pain in pets undergoing surgical procedures. The Surgery Anesthesia & Analgesia VTS uses advanced clinical knowledge, skills, and the Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon's SOPs to treat patients in accordance with the primary surgeon's directions. This is done in a calm, organized, and efficient manner working in collaboration with the primary surgeon developing and implementing an anesthetic plan.

Essential Functions:

Surgery/Anesthesia Prep

• Inspect and troubleshoot the anesthesia machine, endotracheal tubes, and all other anesthesia equipment before and after use assuring that the anesthetic machine and all other equipment is in proper working order.
• Performing and documenting pre-anesthetic assessments, conducting thorough patient evaluation before surgery to identify any potential risk and determine the appropriate anesthetic plan.
• Collaborate with the primary surgeon in selecting, obtaining, or administering the anesthetics, adjuvant drugs, accessory drugs, and fluids necessary to manage anesthetic, to maintain the patient's physiologic homeostasis, and to correct abnormal responses to the anesthesia or procedure using ASA levels with emphasis in critical care anesthesia.
• Collaborate with the surgeon in selecting, applying, or inserting appropriate non-invasive and invasive monitoring modalities for collecting and interpreting patient physiological data.
• Managing a patient's airway and pulmonary status using endotracheal intubation, mechanical ventilation, pharmacological support, respiratory therapy, and extubation.
• Managing emergence and recovery from anesthesia by administering medications, fluids, or ventilatory support in order to maintain homeostasis, to provide relief from pain and anesthesia side effects, or to prevent or manage complications.
• Anesthetic monitoring, closely monitoring the pet's vital signs during surgery, such as heart rate, blood pressure, oxygenation, temperature and making adjustments to the anesthesia as needed.
• Pain management, administering and adjusting medications to manage pain during and after a surgical procedure.
• Releasing or discharging patients from a post-anesthesia care area. In collaboration with the surgeon, providing post-anesthesia follow-up evaluation and care related to anesthesia side effects or complications and ensuring the patient is stable and comfortable post-surgical procedure.
• Comfortable with a multitude of local anesthetic blocks.
• Comfortable with advanced monitoring such as, but not limited to, arterial sampling and invasive blood pressure monitoring.
• Mentor and train veterinary technicians and support VRCCO staff in specialized procedures and best practices.

Maintenance of hospital

• Disinfect kennels, treatment tables, and other surfaces
• Disinfect and keep exam rooms orderly
• Clean, sterilize, and maintain medical equipment and instruments
• Launder towels, blankets and surgical gowns
• Sweep and mop as needed
• Stock necessary supplies in accordance with our inventory system
• Remove garbage and recyclable materials

Patient Care

• Restrain patients for exams and medical treatments in a safe manner for both the patient and staff
• Walk, feed, and bathe patients
• Triage patients and admit to the hospital
• Performing medical treatments under the supervision of a Doctor.
• Medical Record Keeping
• Obtain vital signs
• Monitor patients for pain and discomfort and relay changing demeanor to assistants/doctors
• IV catheterization and venipuncture
• Obtain blood pressures via doppler and oscillometric
• Provide other medical treatments per VRCCO's Standard Operating Protocols (SOPs)
• Client Communications
• Obtain and write histories from owners
• Provide nursing updates as needed
• Provide client call backs to receive or relay information about the patient
• Provide treatment plans and financial updates
• Review discharge summaries and provide client education
• Assist CSR with telephone inquiries, scheduling appointments and taking payments as necessary.

Laboratory

• Collect and handle laboratory samples (feces, urine, cystocentesis, cerebrospinal fluid, blood, biopsy, and cytology samples)
• Perform in-house laboratory tests
• Store and package laboratory samples for outside submission
• Radiology
• Assist technicians in requesting, positioning patients, and taking radiographs and CT scans
• Restrain patients for ultrasounds

Other

• Other duties as assigned

Education & Experience:

• Credentialed in Advanced training and Education in Anesthesia and Analgesia (AVTAA).
• Current certification and licensure in the state of practice.
• Hands on experience working in veterinary emergency, critical care and surgery, as part of a veterinary multi-specialty and emergency hospital.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities and/ or competencies:

• Advanced technical skills in anesthesia and-related tasks, requires in-depth knowledge of pharmacology, patient monitoring, and critical care to ensure the safety and well-being of animal patients during anesthesia and recovery.
• Ability and willingness to participate in CE events for local and regional technicians.
• Ability and willingness to participate in research projects at VRCCO.
• Calm and reassuring in stressful situations
• Medical math - calculating basic formulas for weight conversions, medication dose conversions
• Knowledge of feline and canine anatomy
• Patient restraint
• Customer service and people skills

Physical demands:

• Lift and carry up to 40 lbs,
• Team lift and carry up to 150 lbs
• Apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions, deal with problems with concrete variables and draw appropriate/accurate conclusions.
• Sit, stand, stoop, bend and walk intermittently during the day on hard floor surfaces.
• Manual dexterity sufficient to accurately work with small, delicate pieces of equipment or large heavy objects/containers/machinery.
• Wear all protective gear including mask, gloves, gown, hairnet, safety goggles etc.
• Work for long periods of time with arms extended.
• Work within an environment that has high levels of animal sounds, bodily fluids that need disposal, and open wound management.

EEO Statement:

VRCCO believes that a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential to our One Team success. All employment decisions are based on merit, experience, ability, performance, and business needs.

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