Certified Veterinary Technician - Critical Care Nurse

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Job description

Job Overview:

The licensed veterinary technician, provides caring, compassionate and detail-oriented nursing care for hospitalized patients and outpatients. They are responsible for correctly and efficiently executing treatments, diagnostics, and medication administration at the appropriate times. They must maintain detailed and correct medical records in Infinity, while ensuring all charges are included in invoice. Updates and communicates with client in a timely and respective manner.

Required Technical Skills:

Draw blood, place peripheral IVC, central lines, PICC lines and intraosseous catheters in small animals

Obtain sterile urine samples through urinary catheters or cystocentesis in dogs and cats

Monitor and maintain PICC lines and triple-lumen central jugular catheters in dogs and cat

Place, monitor and maintain temporary and indwelling urinary catheters in male and female cats and dogs

Take radiographs using correct patient positioning and safety techniques

Induce, maintain, and recover stable and unstable patients from sedation and general anesthesia

Place, monitor, and maintain nasogastric or naso-esophageal feeding tubes in cats and dogs

Monitor and maintain esophageal feeding tubes

Placement of nasal cannulas for nasal oxygen delivery

Ability to use and monitor the Snyder oxygen cage for oxygen dependent patients

Set up, monitor, and maintain patients on high-flow oxygen

Sterile intubation of long-term intubated patients

Initiating and maintaining patients on a ventilator with adjustable FiO2

Monitor and perform nursing care for patients with tracheostomy tubes

Perform CPR using the RECOVER guidelines

Administration of partial parenteral nutrition

Setting up, administering and monitoring pRBC, whole blood, plasma, platelet and albumin transfusions

Ability to perform basic and advanced medical math

Advanced knowledge of medications, potential medication interactions, and potential adverse effects of medication

Provide post-op care, including for orthopedic and neurosurgery patients.

Monitor and maintain JP drains and Wound Vacs

Monitor and maintain Pleuro-Vac

Obtain blood pressure and perform blood pressure interventions

Ability to prepare and analyze microscope samples of blood, urine and other fluids

Whelping newborn dogs and cats and caring for neonatal patients

Recognize and administer treatment for cardiac arrhythmias

Administration of Treatments

Ensuring all prescribed treatments are completed within the ordered time period
Taking/monitoring vital signs/blood pressures, etc. Recognizing when these vital signs are abnormal based on type of patient, age, and disease process, and reporting these to the doctor
Giving medications/IV fluids in all routes of administration- oral meds/injectable meds- subcutaneous/intramuscular/intravenous. Consulting protocol book or prescribing doctor for instruction of administration of unfamiliar drugs
Establishing intravenous catheters along with IV fluids. Following IV catheter care protocols and fluid protocols to ensure patient safety
Drawing blood for laboratory tests and then performing in house Chemistry/CBC/Lytes/Snap Tests/Urinalysis and SediVue/Crossmatch/Blood typing/set up certain assays/tests/biopsy/Cultures/Cytology etc to be sent out to Idexx. Maintaining responsibility for in house tests and diluting appropriately when results are out of range
Practicing safe handling and maintenance of patient tubes including but not limited to chest tube, nasal oxygen, urinary catheters, abdominal drains. Following prescribed orders for timed drainage/technique/dosage
Tube feeding esophageal, naso-esophageal, nasogastric, and gastric tubes. Being able to reconstitute diets as prescribed and administer through the feeding tubes
Be able to safely prepare blood transfusions as per protocol. Be able to calculate an appropriate starting rate and increase rate as indicated. Be able to monitor appropriately and recognize when vital signs are abnormal, as well as report to the doctor

Other Patient Care

Compassionately, calmly and gently approaching and handling patients.Practice Fear Free techniques whenever possible
Approaching and handling patients according to safety protocols and core values
Practicing basic animal husbandry ensuring clean/dry bedding, clean litter boxes at all times. Ensuring all patients have water available unless specifically under order not to. Following prescribed diet orders, as well as recording amount offered, amount eaten, and adverse reactions
Practicing critical thinking and independent thinking. Be aware of what tasks are most critical to be performed and doing those first (pain medication, insulin, temperature checks on a patient on heat, etc). Be aware of what types of care is given to patients and question if this is not being ordered (such as pain medicine in a fracture, anti-nausea medications in a vomiting patient). Notice and alert the doctor if there are other concerns regarding a patient (has not urinated since admission, no appetite, painful, straining to defecate, etc.)

Record Keeping

Entry of the vital signs and medications given to each patient into the computer and writing them down onto each patients treatment sheet which holds all orders pertaining to that patient that is overseen by the doctor in charge of the case
Making sure all charges are appropriately entered with specific amounts recorded
Giving and Receiving Nursing Rounds on each patient in ICU plus other dog/cat wards in the hospital
Ensuring that eliminations are recorded on the treatment sheet and electronic record. Ensuring the doctor is informed if there is an abnormality

Care of the ICU

Cleaning of the ICU to meet infection control guidelines. Delegating cleaning tasks to assistants as necessary. This includes but is not limited to daily cleaning/disinfection of patient housing, surface cleaning/disinfection in ICU, mopping, sink cleaning/disinfection
Aid in maintaining/properly using equipment within the hospital. Including but not limited to oxygen cage, anesthesia. machines, blood pressure/SP02 and resp. monitors, syringe/IV pumps
Organizing the working area
Ensuring needed items are in stock and delegating restocking to assistants as necessary

Procedural Support

Aid in the intubation/sedation/anesthetizing of patients as needed
Restraining patients for procedures/exams for doctors
Performing CPR
Answer phones if needed
Actively participate in hospitals day to day function by taking on additional responsibilities as needed

General Job Expectations:

Upholds MVS attendance expectations of no more than 3 unscheduled occurrences in a rolling 12-week period
Always be in position and prepared to work at the start of each scheduled shift.
Be prepared to handle any pet or facility emergency that may arise. Follow contingency plans.
Competently speak and write the English language.
Continuously strive to gain more information, additional skills, and keep up with new developments in the field through reading journals, and attending continuing education.
Follow OSHA standards, and other safety protocols and procedures put in place by MVS.
Know and use standard medical and business abbreviations and terminology when speaking and writing.
Know the range of services the practice provides and the species it treats.
Maintain a professional appearance while at work, including clean and pressed uniforms or clothes.
Participate in all staff meetings
Perform other duties as assigned
Stay current on policies, procedures and schedule by checking your personal e-mail, reading the weekly meeting minutes and WhentoWork daily
Understand and be able to recognize animal behaviors (ex. Fear, aggression), know how to change approach to animal based on behavior

Anesthesia and Surgical Procedures

Complete and understand anesthesia machine check-list, be able to trouble shoot
Complete understanding and ability to perform induction (IV, chamber, mask) and intubation
Confidently perform anesthesia monitoring; knowledge of normal and abnormal parameters
Knowledge of induction agents, analgesics, and CPR medications
Anesthesia equipment maintenance and trouble-shooting
Knowledge of basic surgical instruments
Understanding of the sterile field
Ability to clean, repack, and sterilize instruments
Basic knowledge of autoclave verses ethoxide
Demonstrate proper safety precautions when working with anesthetic chemicals and equipment
Efficiently and safely recover patient, obtaining necessary post-operative vitals
Insure all appropriate charges are entered into Infinity

Attitude and Behavior

Demonstrate commitment, dedication, cooperation and positive behavior
Handle stress and pressure with poise and tact
Promote a positive attitude among staff. Smile and maintain a friendly demeanor while on the job.
Show respect and compassion for clients, team members, and animals (alive or deceased) at all times
Applies an engaged attitude that facilitates workflow
Properly communicates and rounds team members, within and across services, effectively to facilitate patient care

Client Service

Answer phone by the third ring if CSR is pre-occupied or unavailable
Assist grieving clients and comfort them. Be familiar with the grieving process. Always be sensitive to the background chatter and conversations that could exacerbate the anxiety and grief clients are experiencing
Complete phone training with member of management team
Cordially greet clients and their pets . click apply for full job details

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