Spay and Neuter Clinic Veterinary Assistant in Fort Collins, Colorado at Animal Friends Alliance

Wage $18.14 - $24.50 DOE, including surgery experience and DORA-issued CVT

Full Time 4 days/week 9-10 hours/day

Required: One year of experience caring for animals

Preferred: Two years of veterinary medical care and animal handling in a fast-paced environment

Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, SIMPLE IRA, 4 Major Holidays, First Stop Health

General

The Veterinary Assistant performs routine medical care, pre- and post-operative care, and related duties at Animal Friends Alliance. This position requires learning a wide range of policies and procedures and using independent judgment to take appropriate action in medical situations. The Veterinary Assistant position may be either full-time or part-time.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Assists the veterinarian during the morning check-in process (including TPR)
• Assists Client Service Representatives with check-ins of patients in the AM
• Provides excellent customer service at all times
• Prepares the exam room, surgical suite, and recovery area in preparation of patient arrival
• Handles and restrains animals safely and humanely for intramuscular, intravenous, and subcutaneous injections
• Prepares some controlled medications under the supervision and direction of the Veterinary Assistant II and/or veterinarian
• Prepares animals for surgical procedures, including shaving, nail clipping, vaccinating, administering local anesthetic subcutaneously, collecting blood samples, expressing bladders, and implanting microchips
• Records vital signs after completion of surgery, administers post-operative supplementation of subcutaneous fluids as directed, and monitors animals as they recover from anesthesia, leading up to and including extubation
• Is comfortable using and understanding common monitoring equipment, such as a Pulse Oximeter.
• Cleans, disinfects, preps, and autoclaves surgical packs
• Cleans kennels and performs related housekeeping duties
• Cleans, disinfects, and stores equipment used in and around the clinic
• Processes laundry throughout the day
• Assists Client Service Representatives with the discharge of dogs and cats
• Maintains proper inventory levels of cleaning supplies and other supplies. Informs the supervisor when reordering is necessary.
• Assists clients and the veterinarian with animals receiving post-op re-checks
• Oversees, supports, and trains interns working in the public clinic
• Ensures that morning/closing checklists are done accurately and completed as assigned

Other Duties:

• Monitors, supports, motivates, and accredits volunteers/interns and their work
• Follows all safety rules to ensure a safe work environment at all times. Takes immediate action to address any safety concerns or noncompliance issues that could put an animal, employee, volunteer, intern, visitor, or the organization at risk
• Treats animals humanely, with compassion and concern, both on and off the job, and conveys these values to others, in word and action
• Represents Animal Friends Alliance in a professional and courteous manner at all times.
• Provides quality service to customers, volunteers, and staff, recognizing their individual contributions to Animal Friends Alliance.
• Solicits monetary and in-kind donations by raising awareness of the organization's work, goals, and financial needs.
• Provides quality in-person and telephone client service.
• Learns basic duties of other departments and supports other departments and staff
• Understands and operates by Animal Friends Alliance’s Core values
• Regular and timely presence on-site

Work Environment:

• Work performed in an animal clinic setting
• Potential for exposure to zoonotic diseases and cleaning chemicals
• Potential for exposure to dangerous and fractious animals
• Potential exposure to high noise levels when in the kennel area
• Potential for animal bites and scratches while handling animals

Unusual Demands:

• Work is subject to frequent interruptions.
• Employee is subject to work weekends, holidays, and beyond the normal scheduled hours of work.
• Employee is subject to working outside in a variety of weather conditions.

Education/Experience:

Education

• Required: High school diploma or equivalent
• Preferred: Associate's or Bachelor's degree from an accredited university

Experience:

• Required: One year caring for animals (external applicants only) // Excellent attendance and work record with Animal Friends Alliance (internal applicants only)
• Preferred: Two years of veterinary medical care and animal handling in a fast-paced environment

Valid Driver’s License: Required

Sincere interest in Animal Friends Alliance’s mission & vision

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of Google Suite, including Gmail and Google Drive.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Excel
• Knowledge of animal breed, behavior, handling, and care
• Basic technical procedures used in giving vaccinations and medicating animals

Skills:

• Able to prioritize duties and perform multiple tasks
• Able to work in a high-stress, fast-paced environment
• Ability to learn, retain, and communicate a wide variety of information
• Detail oriented
• Ability to acknowledge personal limits and verbalize when further help or training is needed
• Effective verbal and interpersonal skills for in-person, written, and telephone communication, for interaction with the public, volunteers, and colleagues.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• High level of professionalism.
• Emotional intelligence, work ethics, and integrity.
• Strong computer skills

Abilities:

• Able to understand and use a database.
• Able to prioritize duties and perform multiple tasks.
• Able to work in a high-stress, fast-paced environment.
• Able to learn, retain, and communicate a wide variety of information.
• Able to work autonomously and within a team environment.
• Able to plan, schedule, and organize multiple priorities and a high volume of work.

Physical, Sensory, and Mental Requirements

Physical Requirements

Frequent:

• Sit, Stand, Walk, Bend, Squat, Kneel, Crawl, Reach above head, Push/Pull objects & reaching above head.
• Lift & carry up to 50 pounds unassisted, over 50 pounds with assistance
• Exposure to hazards: Biological, Chemical, Noise, Sharp instruments
• Exposure to marked changes in temperature

Occasional:

• Write legibly
• Use of microwave
• Climb
• Operate standard pedals in a company vehicle

Sensory Requirements:

• Can distinguish smells: IMPORTANT
• Can distinguish tastes: N/A
• Can hear normal tones: REQUIRED
• Can hear soft tones: REQUIRED
• Can distinguish temperatures by touch/proximity: IMPORTANT
• Eyesight: Normal/corrected to 20/40: REQUIRED
• Eyesight: Close eye work: REQUIRED
• Color Recognition: REQUIRED

Mental Requirements:

• Can read, speak, and write English: REQUIRED
• Can control emotions (remain calm under verbal abuse, tough euthanasia decisions, etc.): REQUIRED
• Has a positive attitude at the workplace: REQUIRED
• Able to work with controlled substances: REQUIRED
• Can handle stress: REQUIRED