Hoffman Animal Hospital - Veterinary Assistant

Established in 1992 in Annapolis, Maryland, Hoffman Animal Hospital is renowned for its level of care and culture of support. We are a Fear Free Practice focused on small animal preventative care, medicine, dentistry, and basic soft tissue surgery.  Our Medical Director Dr. Carrie Muller recently launched her "Message to Garcia" program which provides free veterinary care to veteran support dogs, and is highly engaged with the VetEvolve new graduate Support from the Start mentorship program, making her an excellent mentor to new graduates. We also have a highly skilled technician team led by a lead technician with 13 years experience who excels in anesthetic techniques and monitoring. HAH welcomes any new graduates or experienced veterinary professionals who share a commitment to our core values and thrive in a fast-paced, positive, collaborative environment.

Hospital Overview: 

Hoffman Animal Hospital has been proudly serving Annapolis and the surrounding communities for over 30 years. We are a hospital deeply committed to growing our team, advancing medical standards, and fostering a culture of collaboration, mentorship, and continuous learning. We are currently seeking a Veterinary Assistant who is equally invested in using their knowledge and skills to their fullest potential.

Our ideal candidate is someone who loves both learning and teaching, has a strong passion for anesthesia and patient safety, and is excited to fully utilize their credentials in a hands-on, supportive environment. This is an opportunity to work alongside a team that prioritizes high-quality medicine, progressive practices, and exceptional patient care within a general practice setting. We value technicians as essential medical professionals and strive to create an environment where their expertise, voice, and growth truly matter.

Position Summary: 

The Veterinary Assistant provides essential support to the veterinarian during outpatient exams and throughout the diagnosis and treatment of patients. They care for all patients, assist with medical procedures, and help ensure each patient receives high-quality, compassionate care. In this role, the Veterinary Assistant also serves as a key connection between the veterinarian and clients. Through exceptional service and communication, the Veterinary Assistant helps build trust and foster lasting relationships with clients and their pets. 

Primary Responsibilities: 

• Provides compassionate, professional care to patients and clients at all times. 
• Communicates clearly and respectfully with clients, doctors, and team members, including answering phones and routing inquiries as needed. 
• Handles sensitive client situations with empathy and discretion, escalating medical questions appropriately. 
• Assists the veterinarian during exams, diagnostics, treatments, and surgical procedures. 
• Safely restrains animals of varying sizes and temperaments using low-stress handling techniques. 
• Administers medications, draws up vaccines, collects lab samples, and performs basic lab tests as directed. 
• Creates, reviews, and enters treatment plans accurately in the medical record system. 
• Educates clients on common vaccinations, medications, and treatment protocols to ensure understanding of care plans and follow-up recommendations. 
• Accurately records patient information and maintains organized, up-to-date medical records. 
• Enters charges accurately and assists with the client check-out process, including processing payments when needed. 
• Ensures exam rooms, treatment areas, and hospital spaces are clean, stocked, and well maintained. 
• Demonstrates consistent reliability, punctuality, and commitment to supporting patients, clients, and hospital operations. 
• Provide high-quality nursing care to hospitalized patients, including IV catheter placement, medication administration, and ongoing monitoring. 
• Prepare, monitor, and recover patients undergoing surgical procedures, ensuring patient safety and comfort throughout all phases of care. 
• Performs all other duties as assigned. 

Qualifications: 

• High school diploma or equivalent required. 
• Basic computer proficiency, including the ability to use practice management software and Microsoft Office applications. 
• Previous experience working with animals preferred; veterinary or animal care background strongly valued. 
• Able to work safely around cleaning chemicals, anesthetic gases, radiation, zoonotic diseases, and animal bodily fluids. 
• Maintains composure and professionalism in emotionally challenging or high-stress situations. 
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds and safely handle animals up to 130 pounds. 
• Comfortable sitting, standing, walking, bending, and kneeling for extended periods throughout the workday.  
• Professional, neat appearance consistent with hospital standards. 

Hours:  

• Must be able to work a flexible schedule and be available for scheduling during all hours the practice is open to support hospital operations. 

Compensation and Benefits: 

• Compensation range for this role is between $18-$26 per hour, commensurate with experience.
• We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage. In addition, employees are eligible to participate in our 401(k) retirement plan. Other benefits include paid time off, paid holidays and access to employee assistance program.