Location
Boise, ID | United States
Job description
Turn your love of cats into a career! At Boise Cat Clinic, we embrace the human - feline bond. Veterinary Assistants are an integral part of the veterinary team, and perform many important functions in the clinic. If you are a feline advocate and you're looking for a challenging, rewarding career with opportunity for growth--apply today.
Boise Cat Clinic is independently, locally, and woman-owned since 2011!
We value relationships, empowerment, and wellbeing. We conduct ourselves with integrity, compassion, and professionalism. Visit our website at to learn more.
The purpose of this position is to ensure the highest quality care for cats and their families and promote greater efficiency by providing support to doctors and technicians with technical and administrative work. The Assistant performs a variety of patient- and client-care duties. They typically divide their time between assisting doctors and technicians in exam rooms, preparing for and assisting with treatments and surgical procedures, laboratory testing, patient nursing and comfort, patient restraint and handling, and client service and education.
The Assistant uses sound judgment when making decisions about patient care, responds quickly and calmly to emergencies, and maintains high standards of patient care. This person communicates clearly with the veterinarians, other hospital personnel, and clients to ensure that patients receive the care they need. Assistants are friendly and flexible in the face of varying expectations from clients and coworkers. They multi-task, prioritize tasks well, and think creatively.
Assistants strongly believe in the quality of care provided and communicate this sense of assurance to clients. The Assistant provides for patient and client comfort by keeping the hospital clean and presentable and may provide training to other members of the healthcare team.
Patient Care:
- Provides compassionate patient care, keeping patients clean, dry, and comfortable.
- Provides safe and effective patient restraint.
- Medicates patients.
- Recovers patients from anesthesia.
- Performs basic emergency care, CPR, and intensive care as needed.
- Assists with and documents patient treatments.
- Cleans and feeds patients.
- Sets up and assists with procedures, such as IV catheterization and other common treatments.
- Assists with patient admits and releases as needed.
- Completes medical records accurately and efficiently.
- Performs procedures such as nail trims, medication administration and fluid administration.
Diagnostics and Laboratory Procedures:
- Accurately performs routine, in-house laboratory procedures. Collects, prepares, and handles specimens according to hospital protocols.
- Prepares specimens for outside laboratory.
- Takes and maintains radiographs, using proper techniques and positioning.
Treatment and Other Procedures:
- Performs routine suture removals, nail trims, and weight checks. Applies bandages and splints.
- Sterilizes instruments.
- Prepares patients for procedures.
- Gives intravenous, intramuscular and subcutaneous injections as directed.
- Examines patients for fleas, skin irritations, and other obvious problems.
- Monitors vital signs and oxygen saturation.
Medication Dispensation:
- Understands usage of and recommendations for prescription drugs.
- Draws up vaccines, sets up syringes, and ensures that drugs and equipment are ready.
- Administers vaccines.
- Maintains knowledge of drugs and their uses.
- Fills prescriptions accurately.
- Prepares prescription labels and appropriately packages medications.
- Documents controlled drug dispensation when required.
Surgical Assistance:
- Properly cleans, packs, and autoclaves all used surgical materials.
- Keeps the operating room properly stocked and prepared for surgery.
- Monitors anesthesia, and assists veterinarian as assigned in surgery and dentistry.
Equipment and Facility Maintenance:
- Cleans, cares for, and packs surgical equipment properly.
- Keeps hospital clean and stocked.
- Removes trash from hospital, and sweeps and mops floors daily.
- Launders soiled blankets, towels, and other linens.
- Utilizes in-house inventory control procedures to ensure items are stocked appropriately.
Personal Conduct:
- Adheres to all hospital policies, standards, and procedures, including but not limited to uniforms, grooming, and personal calls, as stated in the hospital procedures manual.
- Serves as a representative of the hospital, displaying courtesy, tact, consideration, and a positive attitude in all interactions with clients, patients, and other staff members.
- Demonstrates initiative in everyday duties by seeking other work during down times, assisting other employees, and filling in for other employees as needed.
- Adheres to the posted work schedule. Arrives for work promptly and begins work at the start time. Follows hospital policies for reporting lateness or absences.
- Utilizes the time clock to clock in and out at the beginning and end of each day and during breaks.
- Organizes work area and exercises time-management skills to maximize personal efficiency.
- Prioritizes tasks and handles multiple tasks in a calm, organized manner.
Essential Functions & Qualifications:
- Education equivalent to the completion of the 12th grade.
- Basic reading, math and writing skills. Understand and competently speak and write the English language. Proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation are expected.
- Good oral and written communication skills including the ability to listen, speak, write, and type using professionalism and tact.
- At least one year of recent experience in veterinary practice or medical environment, with increasing responsibilities preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to accurately manage and record detailed information in medical records and other data-management systems. Must have basic computer skills including being able to read information on a computer screen, navigate various software programs and internet sites, and enter information into the computer.
- Ability to properly restrain patients.
- Knowledge of spelling and meaning of commonly used veterinary medical terminology and procedures.
- Ability to complete assigned tasks in the time allotted without direct supervision.
- Demonstrated ability to show empathy toward clients and treat animals with respect and compassion.
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills. A commitment to outstanding client service.
- Ability to lift objects weighing 40 pounds without assistance and objects weighing more than 40 pounds with assistance.
- Ability to stay on task and work energetically for entire shift, sometimes exceeding 10 hours per day.
Full Time Benefits:
- Product/Service Discounts
- Uniform
- Paid Time Off
- Health, Vision, Dental Insurance
- AD&D, Life, Short/Long Term Disability
Salary depends on education, certifications, and experience.
Job tags
Salary
$15 - $18 per hour
