Job Information
VCA Animal Hospitals FT Veterinary Assistant in Kennewick, Washington
VCA Southridge Animal Hospital is seeking a full-time Veterinary Assistant
Hometown Care at VCA Southridge Animal Hospital:
Our AAHA Accredited hospital opened with the vision of providing compassionate, high quality veterinary care. We have worked hard to make VCA Southridge Animal Hospital a great place to work for our team members and to give back to the community. Our purpose:
To create an exceptional experience for our patients and clients
To work as team, with shared dedication and passion
To enhance the health of each pet, resulting in a stronger relationship between the human animal veterinarian.
Position Title: Veterinary Assistant
Reports To: Hospital Manager or Technical Supervisor
Department: Technical Support Staff
Employee Status: Non-Exempt
Job Summary:
Assist doctor and other hospital staff by care and cleaning of patients and facilities including
completing patient treatments, assisting in surgery and all other animal care functions as well as
other tasks involved in the operations of a veterinary hospital.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
• Previous experience or training/education working in a veterinary facility preferred.
• Must be friendly, outgoing, “people oriented.”
• Excellent communications skills.
• Must be capable of being cross-trained for front office receptionist duties that will be
expected in the job.
• Telephone and computer skills are necessary.
• Must be a team player willing to learn new techniques and treatments and to accept
change.
Education and Experience:
• High School Diploma.
Physical Requirements:
• Dependable attendance is required.
• Any allergies to animals must be controllable through medication.
• Must be able to lift 40 pounds.
• Must be willing to work long or irregular hours under pressure conditions.
• This position requires the ability to walk, bend, stand and reach constantly during a
minimum 8-hour day.
• Visual acuity sufficient to maintain accurate records, recognize people and understand
written directions.
• Ability to speak and hear sufficiently to understand, give information in person and over
the telephone.
• Fine motor skills adequate for utilizing hospital equipment such as electric clippers,
syringes, radiology equipment, laboratory equipment, computers, etc.
Duties:
The following is a list of essential job requirements. This list may be revised at any time and
additional duties not listed here may be assigned as needed. Job functions and job
responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Veterinary Assistant Job Description
Client Relations
Nursing Care
Housekeeping/Maintenance
Examinations/Assessments
Record Keeping
Anesthesia
Surgery
Radiology
Dentistry
Laboratory
Pharmacy
Marketing
Client Relations:
• Agree to incorporate the principles of the VCA Mission Statement, Three Steps of
Service and VCA Standards of Client Service in their daily job performance.
• Demonstrate excellent relations with clients/pets in waiting and/or exam rooms:
Assist receptionists with client/patient checking in and checking out of hospital.
Ensure that clients and pets feel welcome and comfortable.
Service as “Ambassadors” of creating and maintaining goodwill for the hospital.
Build rapport with clients and pets.
Greet clients and pets by name.
Help new clients completely fill out the registration form. Inform new clients
about the hospital’s services, etc.
Exceed the client’s expectations of service.
If there is a delay, keep clients informed of expected waiting time.
Must support reception staff by providing telephone support to ensure that
clients’ calls and requests are being processed in a timely manner.
Provide support to reception staff in appointment scheduling.
Ability to effectively communicate and educate clients on general animal
husbandry and answer non-medical questions:
General dietary requirements and feeding schedules.
Vaccines.
Basic dietary recommendations.
Dental care instructions.
Routine laboratory tests, i.e. fecals, heartworm, leukemia, etc.
Housebreaking techniques.
General flea and tick control.
Nursing Care:
• Compassionate nursing care is the top priority for all patients.
• Make certain all patients are kept clean and as comfortable as possible.
• Assist in treating hospitalized animals under veterinary supervision.
• Continuously monitor all patients admitted to the hospital.
• Ensure all patients are clearly identified including entry on hospital day sheet, cage card,
and ID collar.
• Assist veterinarians to direct traffic (patients and care) and leverage staff time.
• Efficiently organize daily duties and medical-surgical procedures to best utilize staff’s
time.
• Participate in client communication and education, explaining administration of
medications, follow-up care, diet recommendations and general animal care.
• Flexibility in working hours is required to ensure that the job is done properly.
Housekeeping and Maintenance of Hospital:
• Make certain entire hospital both inside and outside, including treatment, surgery,
kennels, runs, parking lot and entry is kept extremely clean throughout the day (so that a
client could come back and see their pet without any notice). This includes your own
clothing and appearance.
• Advise Medical Director or Technical Supervisor of any conditions that are unsafe,
including unrecognized hazards or infractions of safety rules.
Examinations:
• Ability to perform a cursory examination of an animal.
• Ability to use a stethoscope and otoscope.
• Ability to recognize fleas, ticks and other external parasites.
• Ability to recognize other potential health care issues, i.e., dental or exam by a
veterinarian.
• Clearly communicate your findings to doctor. Refuse to make a diagnosis.
Records:
• Keep records up to date. This includes client records with charges, medical history,
vaccine status, medications administered, laboratory reports, etc.
• Maintain all log books (radiology, surgery, anesthesia, laboratory and controlled
substance logs).
• Handwriting must be neat and legible.
Anesthesia:
• Understand how to maintain and use our inhalation anesthetic machines.
• Administer certain anesthetics under direct doctor supervision.
• Monitor anesthesia under direct doctor supervision.
• Familiarity with procedures and antidotes for an anesthesia emergency.
Surgery:
• Understand how to prep animals for aseptic surgery.
• Understand aseptic technique in the surgery room and participate in maintaining sterile
conditions.
• Know the names and general uses of surgical instruments and equipment.
• Maintain and sterilize surgical instruments and packs.
• Be willing and able to assist the doctor with certain surgical procedures.
Radiology:
• Position animals properly to the radiographs.
• Know how to properly use positioning devices so that patients may be radiographed
without the requirement of assistants holding animals in place whenever possible.
• Develop radiographs.
• Maintain and care for all radiology equipment.
• Practice all safety regulations in regard to radiology.
Dentistry:
• Understand how to set up and use a Dental Prophylactics unit.
• Perform routine dental prophylactics.
Know general uses of our instrumentation for endodontic, exodontic, etc.
Ability to take dental radiographs if necessary.
Laboratory:
• Draw blood samples.
• Collect stool and urine samples.
• Prepare lab request forms.
Pharmacy:
• Create prescription labels, fill prescriptions and dispense medications as directed by a
doctor.
• Control inventory and assist in ordering medications and supplies.
• Maintain proper storage and safekeeping of drugs as directed by a doctor.
Marketing:
• Understand, participate and support planned VCA marketing events and programs.
• Present marketing promotions to clients in a professional manner.
Hourly Wage Begins at $16.75 to $17.25 Plus Full Time Benefits
Benefits: At VCA, we are committed to equity, inclusion, and diversity and strive to be a place where a talented mix of people want to come, stay, and do their best work. In addition, we support a work environment where you can focus on your career, happiness, and the patients you serve. Below are some of the many benefits of joining our team!
Access to the people and financial resources of a large veterinary community
Leadership opportunities
Career development programs
Opportunities to give back through strong Shelter partnerships and VCA Charities
Continuing education allowance
Tuition support and sponsorships
Free mental health sessions and wellness subscriptions (Head Space and Lyra Health)
Referral bonuses
Competitive wage
Medical, dental & vision insurance
Generous pet care discounts
Life, long, and short-term disability insurance (company-paid)
Paid parental leave
Paid vacation (2 weeks in 1st year), sick time, and holiday pay
401(k) (company match)
Address: 3711 Plaza Way - Suite 110 - Kennewick, WA 9938
Apply today!
If you are a current associate, you will need to apply through our internal career site. Please log into Workday and click on the Jobs Hub app or search for Browse Jobs.
Benefits: We offer competitive compensation along with a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision and paid vacation/sick days, 401(k), generous employee pet discounts and more!
The information in this position description indicates the general nature and level of work to be performed. It is not designed to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of associates assigned to this job. Management reserves the right to revise the job description or require that other tasks be performed when the circumstances of the job change (for example, emergencies, change in personnel, workload, or technical development)
We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer - Veterans / Disabled. For a complete EEO statement please see our career page at vcacareers.com