You are viewing a preview of this job. Log in or register to view more details about this job.

Equine Veterinary Assistant

*Please Note* applicants are required to have experience handling horses, and be familiar with common equine anatomical and medical terms. Only resumes and/or cover letters that detail equine experience will be considered!
Job Description: Veterinary Assistant
Date last modified: April 20, 2020
Pay Range: $12-15/hr
Hours: as scheduled during regular business hours (M-F 8am to 5pm), typically 32-40 hours per week.
Overtime paid for hours in excess of 40 per week. Occasional weekend duties may be required.
Summary: Responsible for assisting veterinarians with all aspects of appointments and patient care. Drives practice vehicles to and from appointments. Keeps vehicles cleaned and properly stocked. Prepares and processes laboratory samples. Functions as a team player to complete all tasks within the organization.
List of Required Outcomes:
1) Maximize efficiency during farm and clinic visits by setting up, breaking down, and organizing needed supplies.
2) Ensure the safety of veterinarians by handling patients, monitoring situations, and driving vehicles.
3) Maintain practice vehicles, supplies, equipment, and facilities with an exceptional level of cleanliness and organization.
4) Help veterinarians with tracking time and supplies used to avoid missed charges.
5) Ensure that all needed equipment and supplies are always available on the truck.
6) Help dispense drugs, handle samples, communicate with clients, and keep records with total accuracy to avoid medical mistakes and provide a level of care that exceeds client expectations.
7) Help foster a culture of positivity, camaraderie, mutual respect, and compassion within the organization
Required Skills and Aptitudes:
Exceptional horse handling ability
comfortable with multiple methods of equine restraint (including twitch, shoulder roll, nose chain, lip chain)
familiar with common equine anatomical terms and medical conditions
friendly, patient, and diplomatic with clients and coworkers
calm under pressure
compassionate with animals and people from different backgrounds
able to jog repeatedly with a horse for lameness exams of up to 2 hours duration
able to lift and carry 50lbs short and medium distances
tolerant of equine catastrophic injuries, foul odors, and bodily fluids
willing to work outside in all weather
skilled in defensive driving
organized and detail-oriented
able to independently solve problems
dedicated to the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of all team members in the organization.
Success Drivers:
1) Complete training or certification in a skill or aptitude that increases efficiency or enhances patient care
2) Develop processes or procedures that streamlines or enhances communication within the organization or between the organization and clients
3) Demonstrate ability to be communicate with clients in a way that greatly reduces the veterinarian’s phone or email communication time.
4) Demonstrate leadership and an ability to train new staff members with patience and clarity
5) Prepare content for marketing that is educational, accurate, endearing and helps bind clients to the practice
Examples of Specific Tasks:
VEHICLE /EQUIPMENT/INVENTORY:
- Keep practice vehicle clean and organized
- Remove trash from vehicle daily in evening and provide fresh trash bag for overnight use
- Clean and maintain instruments stored in vehicle at the end of each day. The term “instruments” includes but is not limited to: clippers, surgical instruments, ophthalmoscope, powerfloat
- Ensure that all battery-operated equipment is charged for use each day, including but not limited to: Powerfloat, clippers, head lamp, oral endoscope, ophthalmoscope, digital radiography laptop and sensor
- Ensure that all liquids are full/restocked at the end of each day, including but not limited to: scrub, alcohol, saline bottles, betadine solution and scrub
- Ensure that no equipment is re-loaded into the truck after an appointment with any blood or dirt contamination.
- Park vehicle with no less than ¼ tank of gas each evening
- Vacuum the practice vehicle weekly or any time dirt is visible
- Ensure that truck is washed whenever it is visibly dirty
- Restock medications and supplies used in each day’s operations. Items should be restocked at the end of each day if necessary supplies are available. If a depleted item is not available in the stock room, the office manager or inventory manager should be notified.
- Communicate special needs for additional inventory or supplies to the office or inventory manager
PATIENT/ LAB:
- Process all lab samples at the end of each day and ensure they are prepared for shipment with the appropriate submission forms
- Perform fecal egg counts and ensure that all results are entered onto the Trello board
BARN/ INPATIENTS:
- Help keep the stalls, barn, and treatment areas clean, take initiative to clean anytime something is dirty
- Clean the treatment areas following any medical procedures
- Administer treatments to inpatients when directed by attending DVM
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $12.00 - $15.00 per hour
Benefits:
  • Employee discount
  • Paid time off
Schedule:
  • 8 hour shift
  • Monday to Friday
Supplemental Pay:
  • Bonus pay
Experience:
  • horse handling: 2 years (Required)