Certified Veterinary Technician - Emergency Day Shift

Job Overview: The licensed veterinary technician, provides caring, compassionate and detail-oriented nursing care for hospitalized patients and outpatients. They are responsible for correctly and efficiently executing treatments, diagnostics, and medication administration at the appropriate times. They must maintain detailed and correct medical records in Infinity, while ensuring all charges are included in invoice. Updates and communicates with client in a timely and respective manner. Required Technical Skills: · Draw blood, place peripheral IVC, central lines, PICC lines and intraosseous catheters in small animals · Obtain sterile urine samples through urinary catheters or cystocentesis in dogs and cats · Monitor and maintain PICC lines and triple-lumen central jugular catheters in dogs and cat · Place, monitor and maintain temporary and indwelling urinary catheters in male and female cats and dogs · Take radiographs using correct patient positioning and safety techniques · Induce, maintain, and recover stable and unstable patients from sedation and general anesthesia · Place, monitor, and maintain nasogastric or naso-esophageal feeding tubes in cats and dogs · Monitor and maintain esophageal feeding tubes · Placement of nasal cannulas for nasal oxygen delivery · Ability to use and monitor the Snyder oxygen cage for oxygen dependent patients · Set up, monitor, and maintain patients on high-flow oxygen · Sterile intubation of long-term intubated patients · Initiating and maintaining patients on a ventilator with adjustable FiO2 · Monitor and perform nursing care for patients with tracheostomy tubes · Perform CPR using the RECOVER guidelines · Administration of partial parenteral nutrition · Setting up, administering and monitoring pRBC, whole blood, plasma, platelet and albumin transfusions · Ability to perform basic and advanced medical math · Advanced knowledge of medications, potential medication interactions, and potential adverse effects of medication · Provide post-op care, including for orthopedic and neurosurgery patients. · Monitor and maintain JP drains and Wound Vacs · Monitor and maintain Pleuro-Vac · Obtain blood pressure and perform blood pressure interventions · Ability to prepare and analyze microscope samples of blood, urine and other fluids · Whelping newborn dogs and cats and caring for neonatal patients · Recognize and administer treatment for cardiac arrhythmias Administration of Treatments Ensuring all prescribed treatments are completed within the ordered time period Taking/monitoring vital signs/blood pressures, etc. Recognizing when these vital signs are abnormal based on type of patient, age, and disease process, and reporting these to the doctor Giving medications/IV fluids in all routes of administration-- oral meds/injectable meds-- subcutaneous/intramuscular/intravenous. Consulting protocol book or prescribing doctor for instruction of administration of unfamiliar drugs Establishing intravenous catheters along with IV fluids. Following IV catheter care protocols and fluid protocols to ensure patient safety Drawing blood for laboratory tests and then performing in house Chemistry/CBC/Lytes/Snap Tests/Urinalysis and SediVue/Crossmatch/Blood typing/set up certain assays/tests/biopsy/Cultures/Cytology etc to be sent out to Idexx. Maintaining responsibility for in house tests and diluting appropriately when results are out of range Practicing safe handling and maintenance of patient tubes including but not limited to chest tube, nasal oxygen, urinary catheters, abdominal drains. Following prescribed orders for timed drainage/technique/dosage Tube feeding – esophageal, naso-esophageal, nasogastric, and gastric tubes. Being able to reconstitute diets as prescribed and administer through the feeding tubes Be able to safely prepare blood transfusions as per protocol. Be able to calculate an appropriate starting rate and increase rate as indicated. Be able to monitor appropriately and recognize when vital signs are abnormal, as well as report to the doctor Other Patient Care Compassionately, calmly and gently approaching and handling patients. Practice Fear Free techniques whenever possible Approaching and handling patients according to safety protocols and core values Practicing basic animal husbandry – ensuring clean/dry bedding, clean litter boxes at all times. Ensuring all patients have water available unless specifically under order not to. Following prescribed diet orders, as well as recording amount offered, amount eaten, and adverse reactions Practicing critical thinking and independent thinking. Be aware of what tasks are most critical to be performed and doing those first (pain medication, insulin, temperature checks on a patient on heat, etc). Be aware of what types of care is given to patients and question if this is not being ordered (such as pain medicine in a fracture, anti-nausea medications in a vomiting patient). Notice and alert the doctor if there are other concerns regarding a patient (has not urinated since admission, no appetite, painful, straining to defecate, etc.) Record Keeping Entry of the vital signs and medications given to each patient into the computer and writing them down onto each patient’s treatment sheet which holds all orders pertaining to that patient that is overseen by the doctor in charge of the case Making sure all charges are appropriately entered with specific amounts recorded Giving and Receiving Nursing Rounds on each patient in ICU plus other dog/cat wards in the hospital Ensuring that eliminations are recorded on the treatment sheet and electronic record. Ensuring the doctor is informed if there is an abnormality Care of the ICU Cleaning of the ICU to meet infection control guidelines. Delegating cleaning tasks to assistants as necessary. This includes but is not limited to daily cleaning/disinfection of patient housing, surface cleaning/disinfection in ICU, mopping, sink cleaning/disinfection Aid in maintaining/properly using equipment within the hospital. Including but not limited to oxygen cage, anesthesia. machines, blood pressure/SP02 and resp. monitors, syringe/IV pumps Organizing the working area Ensuring needed items are in stock and delegating restocking to assistants as necessary Procedural Support Aid in the intubation/sedation/anesthetizing of patients as needed Restraining patients for procedures/exams for doctors Performing CPR Answer phones if needed Actively participate in hospital’s day to day function by taking on additional responsibilities as needed General Job Expectations: Upholds MVS attendance expectations of no more than 3 unscheduled occurrences in a rolling 12-week period Always be in position and prepared to work at the start of each scheduled shift. Be prepared to handle any pet or facility emergency that may arise. Follow contingency plans. Competently speak and write the English language. Continuously strive to gain more information, additional skills, and keep up with new developments in the field through reading journals, and attending continuing education. Follow OSHA standards, and other safety protocols and procedures put in place by MVS. Know and use standard medical and business abbreviations and terminology when speaking and writing. Know the range of services the practice provides and the species it treats. Maintain a professional appearance while at work, including clean and pressed uniforms or clothes. Participate in all staff meetings Perform other duties as assigned Stay current on policies, procedures and schedule by checking your personal e-mail, reading the weekly meeting minutes and WhentoWork daily Understand and be able to recognize animal behaviors (ex. Fear, aggression), know how to change approach to animal based on behavior Anesthesia and Surgical Procedures Complete and understand anesthesia machine check-list, be able to trouble shoot Complete understanding and ability to perform induction (IV, chamber, mask) and intubation