Overview
Veterinary Assistant Jobs in Lenexa, KS at Falcon Valley Animal Hospital
While the purpose of this position is related to animal health care, any applicant being considered will be judged greatly on their customer service skills. If we cannot communicate effectively to the client about their pet’s health, we cannot provide the best care for the pet. This position is physically demanding, so each applicant must judge his/her own physical fitness by the following job description.
All applications will be reviewed, with the most qualified applicants being asked back to begin the interview process. If the initial interview goes well, you will be asked to participate in one or two working interviews here at the clinic for 1-2 hours each. We will do our best to schedule these at convenient times for you.
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 necessary.
- 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:
- Client Relations
- Nursing Care
- Housekeeping/Maintenance
- Examinations/Assessments
- Record Keeping
- Anesthesia
- Surgery
- Radiology
- Dentistry
- Laboratory
- Pharmacy
- Marketing
1. Client Relations
- Agree to incorporate the principles of our mission statement to provide the best possible care and excellent 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.
2. 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 identification on kennel and check in sheet.
- Assist veterinarians to direct traffic (patients and care) and leverage staff time.
- Physically restraining all breeds and sizes of dogs, cats, and some exotics with appropriate restraint methods during examination and treatment. Assisting the doctors and veterinary technicians in any capacity needed.
- 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.
3. 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 Practice Manager or Owner of any conditions that are unsafe, including unrecognized hazards or infractions of safety rules.
4. Examinations
- 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.
- Prepare needed vaccines, diets, and prescriptions as needed by the doctor. Learning about the diseases/viruses/infections that we vaccinate against. Attention to detail is mandatory.
- Physically restrain all breeds and sizes of dogs, cats, and some exotics with appropriate restraint methods during examination and treatment.
- Assist the doctors and veterinary technicians in any capacity needed.
5. 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.
6. Anesthesia
- Understand how to maintain and use our inhalation anesthetic machines.
- Monitor anesthesia under direct doctor supervision.
- Familiarity with procedures and antidotes for an anesthesia emergency.
7. 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.
8. Radiology
- Position animals properly for the radiographs.
- Know how to properly use positioning devices so that patients may be radiographed properly.
- Develop radiographs.
- Maintain and care for all radiology equipment.
- Practice all safety regulations in regard to radiology
9. Dentistry
- Understand how to set up and use a Dental Prophylactics unit.
- Be able to set up all items needed for Dental procedure
10. Laboratory
- Draw blood samples.
- Collect stool and urine samples.
- Prepare lab request forms
11. 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
12. Marketing
- Understand, participate and support planned FVAH marketing events and programs.
- Present marketing promotions to clients in a professional manner.
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time
Pay: From $17.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Experience:
- Animal hospital: 1 year (Required)
Work Location: In person
Title: Veterinary Assistant
Company: Falcon Valley Animal Hospital
Location: Lenexa, KS
Category:
