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This job was posted by https://illinoisjoblink.illinois.gov : For more information, please see: https://illinoisjoblink.illinois.gov/jobs/12486380 Veterinary Assistant - Emergency and Critical Care

Veterinary Teaching Hospital

In 2024 Forbes ranked the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as #13 among all US public colleges, on the basis of return on investment, student success, student debt, and alumni leadership and influence. Only one other campus featuring a veterinary college ranked above U. of I.

Job Summary

Under the direct supervision of veterinarians and veterinary technicians, the Veterinary Assistant is responsible for providing patient care and service support in a courteous and professional manner for the Emergency Room and Intensive Care Unit at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and may be asked to support other areas of the hospital based on operational need.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Provide basic patient care in a professional and courteous manner under the supervision of a veterinarian or veterinary technician.

  Work as a team with veterinary technicians, students, interns, residents, and faculty to provide care for patients which may include, but is not limited to, post-surgical, chronic conditions, and isolation, which may include methicillin resistant organisms and zoonotic diseases.

  Provide food, water, and exercise as directed by either written hospital orders or given verbally by veterinarian or veterinary technician.

  Use problem solving skills to assist with patient care in emergent and non-emergent situations.

  Directly monitor patient status, under veterinary supervision, including those hospitalized and recovering from anesthesia.

  Recognize and report physical abnormalities such as, but not limited to, respiratory difficulty and distress, change in mentation, abnormal physical exam findings, and signs of shock.

  Recognize and report pulmonary or cardiopulmonary arrest.

  Restrain patients using appropriate restraint techniques.

  Facilitate patient transport between clinical areas.

  Provide support to veterinary technicians using basic monitoring equipment such as indirect blood pressure (doppler and oscillometric), electrocardiogram (ECG), pulse oximetry, and continuous temperature monitoring.

  Complete and review patient monitoring and treatments as directed on the patient\'s care plan, such as a patient care flow sheet or patient record. Report abnormal findings when something is not within the set call parameters.

  Report issues and assist veterinary technicians with the set up and maintenance of indwelling urinary catheters, Jackson-Pratt grenade style drains, intravenous catheters, feeding tubes, nasal oxygen, nebulization, fluid and syringe pumps.

  Assist veterinary technicians with the set up of IV fluids, continuous rate infusions (CRI\'s) and other medications as directed by the veterinarian.

  Provide support to veterinary technicians in set-up and administration of enteral feedings through nasogastric (NG), nasoesophageal (NE), esophagostromy (E-tube), gastrostomy (G-tube), percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG), or jejunostomy (J-tube), as directed by the veterinarian.

  Assist with set up for patient treatments and procedures under the direct or written orders of the veterinarian.

• Facilities maintenance.

  Maintain the cleanliness of animal and work areas, instruments and equipment based on set infection control protocols and hospital standards, as well as complete daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning assignments.

  Stock and maintain clinical supplies and maintain inventory records.

  Assist with documenting and troubleshooting issues with equipment.

  Maintain patient logs.

• Clinical service and facilities support.

  Record treatments, procedures, supplies and thorough notes on the patient\'s medical record.

  Record and enter charges.

  Perform electronic submission of samples to clinical pathology and the diagnostic laboratory.

  Facilitate processing of laboratory samples such as venous and arterial blood gases, packed cell volume (PCV)/total solids (TS), blood glucose (BG), lactate, ketostick, etc.

• Other duties as assigned

Additional Physical Demands

The work schedule for this position may include evenings, nights, weekends, and/or holidays, depending on shift(s) available.

Persons allergic to animal dander, dust, pollen, hay, etc. may experience discomfort in this position. Work involving animals with various disease states may expose the individual to viral, bacterial, and fungal agents known to be transmissible to man. Exposure to chemicals and anesthetic waste gases may be potentially hazardous if mishandled or misused. An environment of stress may be anticipated and the person in this position must be capable of reliably functioning in such an area. The amount of physical exertion will vary with assignments. For example, the position may be engaged in lifting a 40lb. dog on and off an examination table. The handling of any animal presents some element of risk or injury. Some strength and considerable caution are required when working with animals during