Veterinary Technician - Primary Care Surgery

Friendship Hospital for Animals in Washington, DC, is seeking a highly motivated and skilled Veterinary Technician with general surgical experience to join our dynamic Primary Care team!  This unique position offers the opportunity to utilize your primary care skills while leveraging your surgical experience and expanding your knowledge in anesthesia to become a more specialized participant in our excellent patient care.

About the role: This is a blended role ideal for a technician passionate about both primary care and surgery. You’ll be responsible for the care and treatment of our patients, working closely with veterinarians, other technicians, and veterinary assistants. A key component of this role is the opportunity to enhance your anesthesia skill set. For the first 90 days of employment, you will receive specialized training with our anesthesia team, further developing your expertise in this critical area. This position also involves a comprehensive knowledge and skill set of surgical procedures, instrumentation, surgical site preparation and sterile technique.

You will work in conjunction with the supervisor and medical director, reporting directly to the Primary Care Practice Manager.

What is in it for you?

We provide excellent compensation and generous benefits. Our Benefits package includes but is not limited to: medical, dental, vision, hospital-provided life insurance, 401K, paid time off, CE compensation, pet care discounts, metro discounts, and the list goes on!

We are located in Tenleytown, DC with easy access to public transportation and the various attractions of the city and surrounding area. DC is a dynamic city with not only a strong sense of history, but also an undeniably fantastic culture. If you are looking for work/life balance look no further for access to numerous museums, landmarks, hiking, biking, kayaking, breweries, wineries, and a culinary scene more expansive than anyone could ask for!

Responsibilities:

• Assisting with in-patient care and performing routine outpatient diagnostics
• Understanding of commonly used medications and proficiency with medical math
• Aide in the training and mentoring of all assistants and junior technicians, including continuing education participation to increase skills and knowledge
• Provide technical and nursing care to patients while using critical thinking skills
• Provide compassion and excellent client care to the owners of our patients
• Generate solutions for problems or challenges in the department
• Other duties as assigned

Required Skills and Abilities:

• Minimum 1 year experience in General Surgery. This includes a thorough knowledge of monitoring patients under general anesthesia using multimodal monitoring equipment, patient recovery, surgical site preparation, and sterile technique
• Must have the following tech skills: Administer medications orally and through IV with and without IVC, jugular venipuncture, ultrasound-guided cystocentesis, intubation of both dogs and cats
• Animal handling skills and baseline understanding of animal behavior and low-stress handling techniques. Fear Free Certification is preferred or needs to be completed within 90 days
• Existing knowledge of electronic medical record (EMR) software
• Ability to remain calm and multi-task in a stressful environment
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively both verbally and in writing with a variety of individuals
• Ability to work positively as a team player
• Ability to learn, apply new skills, and follow through with directions/tasks
• Ability to effectively problem solve and make decisions as needed
• Ability to learn and use computers, technical machinery, and laboratory equipment
• Ability to lift 40 lbs
• Ability to stand for 10 hours

Preferred:

• Veterinary Technician certification/credentialing (CVT, LVT, RVT)
• Experience in emergency veterinary care and/or a strong interest in developing emergency care skills

Apply Today: Ready to lead and grow in a dynamic environment? Submit your application and cover letter today to join our mission of delivering compassionate, cutting-edge veterinary care. 

Meet Our Hospital: 

Website: friendshiphospital.com  

Friendship Hospital for Animals is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.