GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF CLASS

The VETERINARY TECHNICIAN 2 provides general and specialized medical, surgical, intensive care and emergency care service and assistance to veterinarians. This class also provides guidance for lower-level veterinary technicians, as well as instruction for veterinary students in a veterinary teaching hospital.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

This is the second level of a three level series. This class is distinguished from the lower level by technical skill and experience in medical and surgical procedures and patient intensive care, educational background, independent decision making for treatment and recovery of animals based on clinician-approved protocols, and more extensive instruction of veterinary students in critical care or specialty treatment and diagnostics. This classification performs more advanced patient care, including using specialized monitoring equipment and diagnostic techniques.

This class is also distinguished from the higher level lack of extensive training in a particular specialty or service area, lack of lead-work type responsibilities, and does not require board certification or equivalent in a specialty area.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The duties listed below are not inclusive but characteristic of the type and level of work associated with this class. Individual positions may perform all or some combination of the duties listed below as well as other related duties.

1. Hospital Assistance. Typical tasks: coordinates daily receiving schedule, receives and discharges patients, processes intake paperwork, records patient information, inputs hospital charges in billing system, verifies condition of treatment areas and patient cages/stalls. Provides patient care and feeding in accordance with verbal or written instructions, monitors patient condition and effectiveness of medications.
2. Medical Procedure Assistance. Typical tasks: draws blood, prepares for and assists with diagnostic procedures, assists with tabling and restraining animals, provides medical care for hospitalized patients, including checking vital signs, cleaning wounds, changing bandages, monitoring incisions, placing catheters, administering medications and treatments as directed, monitoring intake and output levels, and exercising patients.

3. Surgical Assistance. Typical tasks: pre-surgical set-up of operating rooms, equipment and supplies. Coordinates operating room turnaround as directed or in accordance with surgical schedules, cleans and disinfects rooms and equipment. Prepares patients with aseptic technique using knowledge of anatomy and surgical procedures. Assists clinicians/students with procedures in the surgical suites.
4. Radiology. Typical Tasks: submits patient radiology requests and complete digital acquisition of requests. Perform radiological procedures per established protocol and techniques including presenting and/or positioning patient for radiological study and perform scintigraphy as needed. Assist with the maintenance of fluoroscopy and other radiological equipment. Maintain film archives.
5. Anesthesia. Submits patient anesthesia request and prepare and present patient for anesthetic procedures. Induce, intubate, and monitor patient during procedure and during patient recovery for vital signs. Maintain anesthetic equipment.
6. Student Instruction. Typical tasks: Provides additional assistance with and instruction of veterinary students, including assistance with student labs, generation of teaching materials and guidance for advance diagnostics and treatments. Assists and demonstrates proper animal restraint and handling. Performs student orientations and provides input on student evaluation and grading. Assists clinicians in student teaching labs. Oversees student safety.
7. Maintenance and Inventory. Typical tasks: cleans and evaluates condition of medical equipment, including performing minor routine maintenance. Ensures that all areas of the hospital are stocked with proper supplies and equipment. Cleans and organizes operating rooms, labs and treatment areas after use. Maintains supply inventories, recording and restocking as necessary. Assists with hospital inventory and maintenance, including cleaning and disinfecting cabinets, carts, counters, sinks and patient cages/stalls as necessary.
8. Miscellaneous. Typical tasks: assists in other areas of the hospital as workload demands, including hospital drug rooms, central sterile and other general or shared hospital areas. Interacts with clients in person or by phone in a professional manner. Assists with various research or teaching projects.

Employees in this class have regular daily contact with veterinary faculty/clinicians, staff members and other technicians. Instruction is given to veterinary students and other staff members on a daily basis. Daily communications and interactions also occur with clients of the veterinary hospital and other visitors to the College.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Employees in this class receive general supervision from clinical faculty/clinicians or a technical supervisor who reviews the work for timely completion and conformance to established veterinary hospital procedures and policies. Work is also reviewed through observation and informal discussion with faculty/clinicians that work with the employees in this class. Work assignments are received, verbally or in writing, from faculty/clinicians, technical supervisor or the position description.

GENERAL INFORMAITON

Positions in this class are primarily found in a veterinary teaching hospital and/or veterinary clinic setting. They require willingness to work in the environment associated with the position's location and purpose, which includes working with large or small animals (dependant on position applied for). Exposure to noxious odors, infectious diseases, chemicals, gas anesthetics, radiation, loud noises, and machinery is likely. Positions in this class may work varied daily shifts, and are subject to nights, weekends, and holidays. These positions require a willingness to maintain a conduct and respect consistent with the veterinary teaching hospital policies and standards, toward the purpose of animals used in teaching or research. Employees in this class provide routine and advanced veterinary medical procedures and must follow State and Federal regulations regarding the use of pharmaceuticals, and use procedural manuals on sterile techniques, instrument care and maintenance as guidelines for performing duties. This position will handle sharp objects and have access to controlled substances.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Must have current certification as a Veterinary Technician and ability to obtain and maintain Oregon certification within six months of hire date AND, demonstrated experience in animal handling and restraint in a clinical setting, as well as demonstrated experience and knowledge of:

• Drugs and medications typically used in veterinary care
• Aseptic techniques, patient preparation and medical procedure assistance
• Medical terminology
• Operating room procedures
• Anesthesia equipment and procedures
• Record keeping procedures for patient charts
• Animal anatomy and physiology
• Lifesaving techniques for animals
• Veterinary care procedures
• Basic mathematics (including drug dosage and fluid rate calculation)
• General computer skills

Finalists for this position will be required to complete a criminal background history and motor vehicle background criteria form. Offers of employment are contingent upon a satisfactory background check. This position may require a valid driver license.