Part-time Veterinary Assistant

Summary: 
This position is responsible for assisting and supporting veterinarians and veterinary technicians with medical diagnostics and clinical procedures, patient care, laboratory analysis, filling prescriptions, administration of treatments, and maintenance of clinical facilities and equipment. This position is also responsible for assisting with husbandry work at the hospital as needed.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
• Assist veterinary technicians during medical procedures including set up and use of equipment and supplies, recording patient monitoring, breakdown and clean up after procedure
• Assist veterinary technicians with in house laboratory analyses and organizing samples for long-term storage. 
• As directed by the veterinarian, assist veterinary technicians with filling prescriptions and administering treatments 
• Assist veterinary technicians in the daily care of ICU and neonatal patients, following protocols for patient care, monitoring, and record keeping that have been established by the senior technician or veterinarian
• Follow all safety protocols and comply with regulatory requirements concerning:
o Disposal of biological products
o Inventory of controlled drugs (DEA)
o Radiation Safety (Federal Radiation and Safety Administration)
o Protection from zoonotic disease
o OSHA
• Assist in the maintenance and organization of the clinical supply inventory, and in the proper maintenance of medical equipment, sterile supplies and surgical instruments
• Assist hospital staff with cleaning and organizing in the hospital as directed by the veterinarian, veterinary technicians, or hospital keepers and follow all hospital protocols for facility sanitation and disinfection, including janitorial duties 
• Assist hospital keepers with husbandry duties such as cleaning enclosures from which animals have been moved, cleaning dishes and tools, preparing diets

Qualifications:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
• Valid driver license with acceptable motor vehicle record to maintain zoo standards of insurability 
Must possess working knowledge of:
• Basic methods and techniques of veterinary clinical procedures
• Observational skills for medical procedures and patient monitoring
• Basic principles of anatomy, physiology and behavior of a variety of animal species
• Basic principles and procedures of safe animal handling and restraint techniques of a variety of animal species
• Operational characteristics of veterinary equipment and instruments
Must possess the ability to:
• Work with a variety of domestic and wild animals
• Provide appropriate and timely assistance with medical procedures in a variety of situations and conditions
• React appropriately and calmly in emergency situations
• Understand and follow written and oral instructions and priorities as set by supervisor
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing
• Work independently in the absence of immediate supervision
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work
• Maintain mental capacity which permits making sound decisions and good judgments, prioritizing work activities, demonstrating intellectual capabilities
• Maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities which may include sitting, walking or standing for extended periods of time, working closely with others, operating assigned equipment

Education and/or Experience:
• Current student status or completion of a veterinary assistant program or,
• Current student status in an accredited veterinary technology program or, 
• Prior work experience in the veterinary medicine field

Physical Demands: 
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to touch, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear.  The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

Work Environment:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
• Team oriented zoo environment
• Exposure to a variety of animals, animal body fluids and animal odors
• Exposure to potentially dangerous animal situations
• Exposure to potentially zoonotic diseases
• Exposure to disinfecting, laboratory, and medical chemicals
• Exposure to working outdoors in all weather conditions
• Flexible work schedule that may include weekends and holidays 
• Ability to work special events and functions as required
• This position may be safety sensitive
• This position may work around animals susceptible to specific diseases, thus may be subject to regular tuberculosis and rabies titer testing, and the routine use of personal protective equipment such as gloves, face masks

Disclaimer
The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as a complete inventory of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position. 

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties requested by their supervisor.

Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills and/or abilities. To perform this job successfully, the employee must possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently. Continued employment remains on an at-will basis.