Job Summary
For those who love doing something different every day. We provide veterinary assistants with a unique opportunity to work in shelter medicine, assist with HQHVSN surgeries in Duluth, and assist with HQHVSN surgeries via our traveling/mobile s/n unit. You will assist with animal handling, surgical preparation, anesthesia monitoring, and post-operative care, ensuring every animal receives compassionate treatment and optimal care, as well as assisting with Customer Care - client check in, check out and discharge instructions. If you are passionate about animal welfare, eager to expand your veterinary skills, and thrive in a collaborative environment, this role is perfect for you!

PRIMARY JOB FUNCTIONS:

- TRAVELING SPAY/NEUTER SURGICAL ASSISTANCE AND CUSTOMER CARE

1. Qualify for (minimum of 26 years of age, no moving violations) and safely operate the mobile unit

2. Professionally perform check-in and check-out procedures to include accurately accepting payment, processing paperwork, and providing exceptional “go home” instructions and appropriate paperwork

3. Maintain an organized and CLEAN environment on the mobile unit – including end of day cleaning procedures

4. Under direction of the Veterinarian, evaluate animals pre-op to assist in determining their ability to withstand surgery

5. Professionally and compassionately communicate surgical complications, pet deaths, etc. to customers, coworkers, volunteers and shelter staff in a timely manner when necessary

6. Work with the surgical team to assist in establishing daily surgical numbers with consideration for animal safety and the organizational budget (minimum of 200 per month)

7. Make recommendations to the veterinarian regarding animal statuses

8. Assist with surgical sterilizations, following established guidelines for high quality, high-volume procedures

9. Perform other medically necessary procedures under guidance of veterinarian while patients are present for surgery, to include:

a. Administer various therapeutic measures by IV, IM, SQ, topical, oral routes, etc.

b. Prep and intubate (with Veterinary supervision)

c. Bandage/wrapping techniques

d. Venipuncture techniques

e. Swabs

f. Proficient animal restraint techniques

g. Monitor critical care animals (i.e. place IVs, monitor fluids, etc.)

h. Tissue sampling, routine animal manipulations, etc.

10. Assist with post-op exams as necessary to ensure appropriate recovery

11. Clean surgical instruments, wrap surgical packs and ensure adequate sterilization of surgical instruments.

12. Ensure appropriate medical records are maintained.

13. Inoculate animals and provide instructions for follow-up care.

14. Ensure proper handling and recording of controlled substances

15. Ensure accurate and timely record keeping in ClinicHQ, ShelterLuv or other animal data system as appropriate

16. Work cooperatively with relief doctors; ensuring appropriate processes are followed by the team

- SHELTER MEDICINE/COUNTY SHELTERS

1. Under direction of the Veterinarian, evaluate shelter animals pre-op to assist in determining their ability to withstand surgery

2. Assist with surgical sterilizations, following established guidelines for high quality, high-volume procedures

3. Professionally and compassionately communicate surgical complications, pet deaths, etc. to shelter staff in a timely manner when necessary

4. Work with the surgical team to assist in establishing daily surgical numbers with consideration for animal safety and the organizational budget (minimum of 200 per month)

5. Make recommendations to the veterinarian regarding animal statuses

6. Perform other medically necessary procedures under guidance of the Veterinarian while patients are present for surgery, to include:

a. Administer various therapeutic measures by IV, IM, SQ, topical, oral routes, etc.

b. Prep and intubate (with Veterinary supervision)

c. Bandage/wrapping techniques

d. Venipuncture techniques

e. Swabs

f. Proficient animal restraint techniques

g. Monitor critical care animals (i.e. place IVs, monitor fluids, etc.)

h. Tissue sampling, routine animal manipulations, etc.

7. Assist with post-op exams as necessary to ensure appropriate recovery

8. Clean surgical instruments, wrap surgical packs and ensure adequate sterilization of surgical instruments.

9. Ensure appropriate medical records are maintained.

10. Inoculate animals and provide instructions for follow-up care

11. Ensure proper handling and recording of controlled substances

12. Ensure accurate and timely record keeping in ClinicHQ, ShelterLuv or other animal data system as appropriate

13. Work cooperatively with relief doctors; ensuring appropriate processes are followed by the team

- DULUTH HQHVSN

1. Under direction of a Veterinarian, examine animals pre-op to determine their ability to withstand surgery

2. Assist with surgical sterilizations, following established guidelines for high quality, high-volume procedures

3. Assist the Veterinary team to perform other appropriate, medically necessary procedures while patients are present for surgery

4. Inoculate animals according to appropriate guidelines

5. Provide client education/instructions for follow-up care

6. Ensure proper handling and recording of controlled substances

7. Ensure accurate and timely record keeping in ClinicHQ or ShelterLuv as appropriate

8. Under the direction of a Veterinarian, provide post-op rechecks and report concerns/updates to the Veterinarian.

9. Work cooperatively with relief doctors, assistants and other Planned PEThood staff doctors

SECONDARY JOB FUNCTIONS

– WELLNESS, MINOR SICK, FOSTER AND OUTREACH SUPPORT

• Under the direction of the on-site Veterinarian, provide assistance during Outreach events to include:
• Ensuring animal and human safety
• Administering appropriate vaccines/microchips
• Restraining animals
• Assist with check in/check out
• Under the direction of the Wellness/Minor Sick Veterinarian:
• Restrain animals
• Assist with medical record entry
• Communicate results of visit to pets’ families
• Give appropriate vaccines
• Under the direction of the Wellness/Minor Sick Veterinarian:
• Restrain foster animals during appointments
• Communicate effectively with foster parents re: medical condition, next steps, and scheduling
• Ensure appropriate follow up with fosters, the Adoption team as well as in-house barn cats

OTHER GENERAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Safely drive and operate the Fido Fixer mobile unit
• Maintain cleanliness of work areas – sterilizing surfaces and equipment/tools, sweeping, mopping, laundry and trash removal as needed at each location – to include maintaining the mobile unit
• Assist with the monitoring of inventory and coordinate with appropriate staff members to ensure that supplies are ordered in a timely manner.
• Adhere to established protocols for safety, cleanliness, and prevention of disease
• Participate in appropriate staff meetings
• Display a positive attitude and act as a motivating force for all staff members
• Set an example and encourage positive teamwork and cooperation
• Help ensure all surgical staff members are adhering to proper pre-, peri- and post-operative care of patients
• Communicate any issues concerning personnel or protocol with appropriate member of surgical team and/or your immediate supervisor

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES

1. Physical Requirements

a. Must be able to work for 8 – 10 hours per day, standing and walking

b. Must be able to bend and kneel repeatedly

c. Must be able to lift animals on own up to 50 pounds

d. Must have good hearing including ability to distinguish changes in pitch

e. Must have acceptable sense of touch and smell

f. Must have good range of motion in joints especially wrist, knees, elbows

g. Must have good range of motion in your back for instance twisting

h. Must possess excellent hand-eye coordination

i. Must possess an acceptable degree of dexterity in hands and fingers

j. Must have good vision including peripheral vision, fine detail, distance, depth perception and ability to focus

2. Emotional/Mental Requirements

a. Must be able to work under stressful conditions efficiently and effectively

b. Must be able to respond quickly to a variety of medical situations

c. Must be able to cope with death either due to surgical complication or

euthanasia

d. Ability to rapidly and accurately process information

e. Ability to delegate tasks

f. Ability to recognize a need for assistance and ask for help

g. Ability to make decisions

h. Ability to cope with frustrating situations and remain calm

3. Potential and Prolonged Exposures

a. Prolonged exposure to various aqueous solutions including but not limited to dish soap, chlorhexidine and spectra soap

b. Prolonged exposure to isopropanol, hydrogen peroxide

c. Potential exposure to formalin solution

d. Potential/Prolonged exposure to isoflurane gas

e. Prolonged exposure to quaternary ammonium cleaners and bleach

f. Prolonged exposure to pressurized steam

g. Potential exposure to sharps including needles and surgical blades

REQUIRED

• Valid GA driver’s license
• Minimum age required – 26 years
• Exemplary driving record – no moving violations
• Basic knowledge of DEA requirements for handling and reporting controlled drug inventories
• Exceptional animal-handling techniques – Fear Free preferred
• Experience with ClinicHQ, Shelter Buddy, PetPoint and/or ShelterLuv– or willingness to learn
• Excellent customer service/communication skills
• Excellent reading, writing and verbal skills
• Excellent math skills
• Basic computer skills
• Ability to work unsupervised as well as in a team environment
• Demonstrate understanding of Standard Operating Procedures

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The offices and operations of HQHVSN clinics, traveling s/n units and open-admission shelters/municipalities can be high stress and very busy at times. Exceptional teamwork is key. This position requires the individual to be flexible. While your home base/main responsibility is the mobile unit – some workdays may be at one of Planned PEThood’s affiliate/shelter medicine locations. Surgery days typically begin at 7 a.m. Monday – Thursday and end around 6 p.m. Also available are monthly Saturday vaccine clinics and/or fill in days at one of our municipal shelter affiliates. The schedule can change and may sometimes require weekend or evening hours for meetings, training, or events. Planned PEThood is committed to maintaining a work schedule that is satisfactory for individual staff members as well as the overall organization and our communities’ animals and their families.

Pay: $18.00 - $25.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• License reimbursement
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Uniform allowance
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person