Veterinary Technician

Veterinary technicians are responsible for providing care to surgical patients, vaccinating wellness pets, and educating clients using TCAP’s services.  TCAP's veterinary technicians greet the public, interact with customers, help perform routine pet health evaluations, vaccines, and other preventative care, and provide basic post-operative care advice. This position works with animals directly so it is strongly suggested that applicants do not have any allergies to animals.

1. Provides knowledgeable and quality customer service.
   1. Provides in-person and telephone client service.
   2. Actively promotes spay and neuter and educates clients on responsible ownership.
   3. Actively supports associate staff and volunteers; promotes the development of skills related to the advancement of TCAP goals and mission.
   4. Represents TCAP in a professional and courteous manner at all times. Provides quality service to clients, volunteers, and staff recognizing their individual contributions to the success of the organization.
2. Provides compassionate and skillful patient care.
   1. Triages all patients as they are checked in. Reports health concerns to attending veterinarian.
   2. Assists veterinarian as needed.
   3. Calculates and administers anesthesia per anesthetic protocol. 
   4. Maintains all necessary drug logs and patient records.
   5. Stays current in knowledge of emergency drugs and protocol.
   6. Administers animal vaccinations, tests, medications, and treatments as directed.
   7. Prepares patients for surgery as instructed, including shaving, expressing bladder, scrubbing surgical area etc.
   8. Administers medications and vaccines.
   9. Implants microchips in patients.
3. Fills-in for Veterinary Assistant I, II, and Office Assistant if needed.
4. Maintains medical inventory and supplies.

Requirements

 Core Competencies:

1. Leadership - Works effectively with co-workers to get goals achieved. Uses personal expertise to help others without being asked.  Always behaves in an ethical manner.
2. Teamwork - Collaborates and cooperates to get the job done.  Values the input and know-how of other team members and recognizes and appreciates their contributions.  Asks for help and offers help to other team members when needed. Demonstrates reliability or commitment to the team. Shows up to support the team.
3. Futuristic Thinking - Demonstrates an ability to connect the dots and see the big picture. Strives to do a better job at what we do.
4. Time Management - Effectively manages time and priorities to meet deadlines. Demonstrates an ability to maintain deadlines in a fast-paced environment. Takes initiative and prioritizes tasks to stay on schedule.
5. Accountability - Recognizes when a mistake has been made and accepts personal responsibility for those outcomes. Utilizes feedback and is answerable for personal actions.
6. Self-Starting - Demonstrates initiative and willingness to begin working without direction.
7. Client Service – Meets Client Service Standards.
8. Resilience and Stress Tolerance - Performs effectively when faced with time pressures, adversity, or opposition. Remains focused, composed, and optimistic in difficult situations and bounces back from failures or disappointments.

Education:

High School Diploma or GED

Experience:

Must have Veterinary Technician experience or must have successfully performed the functions of a Veterinary Assistant I and II positions within TCAP. Must have practice experience in giving injections and drawing blood.

 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Must have computer and data entry skills. 
• Must have strong verbal communication and customer service skills.
• Must have attention to detail and multi-tasking skills.
• Knowledge of TCAP database system.
• Knowledge of TCAP products and services.
• Must have knowledge of veterinary medical concepts including, but not limited to, vaccine protocols and anesthetic risks.
• Must be able to communicate surgical results, observations, and follow-up care to owners.
• Must be knowledgeable of characteristics of animal behavior.
• Ability to use safety equipment.
• Must become proficient in animal restraint.
• Must be able to administer shots and be able to draw blood on animals.
• Ability to administer anesthesia.

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear to communicate to clients. The employee frequently is required to stand (up to 8 hours a day). This position requires the ability to move up to 50 pounds (pets and equipment) repeatedly throughout the day with assistance.  In order to assist in surgical procedures, employees will be required to bend, kneel repeatedly and use hand-eye coordination.