Career Opportunity: RVT or Veterinary Assistant

Position Title: RVT or Veterinary Assistant
Department:     Hospital 
Classification:  Full-time, Non-exempt
Date:                May 2013

Summary:

RVT’s support the provision of medical care to patients treated at the SF SPCA Animal Hospital. This position provides nursing care and assists in medical treatments, handling, and procedures as directed by staff veterinarians.

Essential Duties and Functions:

Veterinary Medical Care

• RVT’s may function as Treatment Technician, Procedure Technician, Surgery Technician, Dental Technician or Doctor Assistant depending on skill level and training
• RVT’s provide patient care by performing treatments as directed by veterinarian, triage, monitor patients, and assist in procedures
• Provide thorough, detailed and compassionate patient care while providing excellent client services for the patient’s caretaker
• Knowledge of safe and gentle patient handling, anatomy and physiology, medical math, medical terminology, phlebotomy, radiology, aseptic technique, understand disease processes in order to anticipate patient and doctor needs
• Induce, monitor and recover anesthesia. Assist in surgery as needed.
• Perform in house lab tests and process samples for out labs
• Understanding of physiologic normals and abnormals
• Follow veterinary care protocols for animals in the SF SPCA Animal Hospital - including medical, behavior and general care protocols for the health and well-being of the animals; individually and as a herd
• Comply with all laws pertaining to controlled substances
• Facilitate good working relationships through teamwork and collaboration in order to provide the best patient care
• Participate in medical rounds as directed by the staff veterinarian

Administrative Duties

• Maintain and create patient records by accurately recording treatments, examinations, and test results on computerized patient charts and other medical records
• Participate in regular staff meetings

Client and Community Service

• Admit and release animals from the Hospital in a responsive, courteous, and tactful manner to both internal and external clients
• Inform clients of any pertinent medical information regarding animal care – communicate release instructions
• Practice and encourage the humane treatment of animals
• Provide quality customer service to clients, volunteers, and staff while actively promoting our mission, services, programs and events
• Promote donation and giving opportunities as appropriate

Safety

• Ensure a safe work environment by following all safety guidelines and modeling safe work practices
• Take immediate action to address any safety concerns that could put a staff member, volunteer, customer, animal, or the organization at risk
• Maintain a clean, healthy, and sanitary work area; follow all pest rodent control/protocols. Participate in keeping the SF SPCA campus clean and well-maintained

Volunteers

• Work cooperatively with all volunteers and recognize the talent and commitment they bring to the Society

Diversity and Inclusiveness

• Work effectively with individuals and colleagues from diverse communities and cultures

Reporting Relationships and Contacts:

Reports to the Animal Hospital Veterinary Technician Supervisor

Physical Requirements and Work Environment:

• Work is performed in a shelter/animal hospital setting
• Frequent bending, reaching, kneeling, and climbing stairs while seeing patients
• Regular sitting at a computer workstation 4-6 hrs per day to input patient data
• Regularly moves about the campus to coordinate work
• Exposure to disinfectant solutions when in kennel & treatment areas
• Subject to animal bites and scratches while handling animals
• Repeated lifting and carrying of animals weighing up to 50 pounds
• Consistent exposure to animals and animal allergens under conditions with limited alternatives available
• Tetanus and rabies (pre-exposure) inoculations are required or must be waived

Education and Experience:

• Two years of college coursework with and emphasis on animal-related science or completion of a veterinary technician training program. Qualifying work experience will be considered as an alternative
• Minimum 3 years experience working as a veterinary assistant
• Registered Veterinary Technician in the state of California

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Commitment to the mission, values, goals, and success of the San Francisco SPCA
• Experience with humane animal handling and restraint techniques of healthy, ill, and feral animals
• Experience in caring for and handling animals in a safe, effective and humane manner, especially larger and possibly untrained pets
• Comfortable working in the shelter environment and willing to accommodate animals in the work place
• Computer literate and able to master veterinary software as applicable to clinic operations
• Knowledge of basic dog and cat physiology, anatomy, and behavior as it relates to understanding the general health of animals.
• Ability to understand and communicate pertinent medical information with colleagues and clients
• Self-motivated and able to initiate and complete tasks

Salary and Benefits:

The starting salary for this position depends on the depth and breadth of experience. Regular, full-time positions are eligible for benefits package including: paid time off, medical, dental & vision insurance, life insurance, long-term disability, tax-deferred retirement plan, pre-tax commute expense deductions, discounted veterinary care, employee discount on retail, pet supplies, and dog training classes. On-call positions are eligible for only those benefits provided by law.

The SF SPCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes applications from individuals who contribute to our diversity. We are an at-will employer and conduct pre-employment background checks and drug screening.This job description reflects the assignment of essential functions; it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

To apply for this position, please click here [1].