Licensed Veterinary Technician - LVT

Are you passionate about patient care and client education? Do you love sharing your knowledge? Do you love to help animals? Do you value the human/animal bond?

Come work at Colony Animal Hospital!

Colony Animal Hospital is looking for a Licensed Veterinary Technician to help us meet the needs of our growing animal hospital. We are AAHA accredited. We have a dynamic group of veterinary assistants, all of whom are enrolled in veterinary technician programs. We want an LVT who can collaborate with our doctors to continue our high standards of excellent medical care and help us lead our aspiring technicians toward their professional goals. We see Dogs, Cats, and Exotic Pets. An LVT with experience in handling exotics is a plus.

This is a full-time position for a Technician who will be a confident and inspiring team leader while:

• Valuing her/his/their own personal and professional growth as well as that of all staff members.
• Collaborating with doctors on surgical and dental case management.
• Inspiring staff members in their desire to achieve and grow in veterinary medicine.
• Keeping it positive and supportive when difficult situations develop.
• Working with clients to provide the highest level of compassionate medical care.

Position Requirements:

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Veterinary Technician License (LVT).
• Excellent sense of Humor.

Physical Effort:

• Work requires lifting and carrying records and equipment weighing up to 40 lbs; requires sitting and standing for extended periods.

Working conditions:

• We are open 7am-6pm and Schedule a 4 day work week. You are expected to work efficiently when you are on the clock. We have scheduled breaks.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Can provide compassionate care to patients and clients.
• Can conduct oneself confidently and professionally even when stressed and/or focused on individual tasks.
• Can legibly keep accurate medical records by hospital policy.
• Can prepare and maintain the exam rooms and treatment areas.
• Can perform physical assessments; record observations legibly in files or computer.
• Can effectively restrain pets even when large or difficult.
• Understands all common vaccinations and vaccination protocols and can explain them to clients.
• Understands the importance of a clean and orderly facility, and does not hesitate to clean or organize as part of a normal job duty.
• Maintains positive, cooperative relationships with other employees.
• Gives SQ, IM, and IV injections.
• Can handle clients’ medical questions with confidence and direct them to veterinarians when appropriate.
• Can prepare estimates for procedures and discuss financial commitments with clients supporting hospital financial policies.
• Can explain necessary follow-up and homecare instructions.
• Understands usage, dosage, and common side-effects for commonly used prescription drugs and can readily explain them to the clients.
• Can maintain an appropriate inventory of all medical supplies as determined by the inventory control system.
• Can assist the veterinarian in medical, surgical, and dental procedures; prepares patients for surgery; administers anesthesia; monitors patients during surgery and recovery; administer fluids.
• Can properly care for all surgical materials; keep the operating room properly stocked and prepared for surgery.
• Can perform emergency procedures such as control of bleeding, resuscitation with oxygen, opening airways, and external cardiac massage.
• Can perform clinical laboratory procedures such as fecal flotation exams, heartworm checks, skin scrapings, urinalysis, and fungal cultures; draws blood for laboratory analysis; maintains a file of lab test results and ensures that test results are recorded in patient records.
• Can effectively position for and take radiographs.
• Can perform electrocardiograms.
• Can place IV catheters and properly care for them. Understands the use and care of IV pumps as well.
• Knows common disease states and can alert veterinarians when symptoms change or when concerns arise with hospitalized patients.
• Can prepare a patient and the machine for an ultrasound procedure.
• Can admit patients following hospital policy and doctors' written orders.
• Can discharge patients based on the veterinarian’s orders, ensuring that patients are well-groomed and in a medically appropriate state.

Our generous benefits package includes:

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience.
• Health insurance, including vision and dental.
• Short and Long term disability.
• Life insurance.
• License fee reimbursement.
• Paid time off.
• 401(k).
• Personal pet discount.
• 4 day work week.

If you want to be in an environment where you are encouraged to use your skills and learn more, where you have fun while you work with and teach others and where you work with doctors who believe in a partnership with technical staff, then Colony Animal Hospital wants to hear from you. Applicants being considered for an interview will be contacted by the Practice Manager by email and/or phone.

About Colony Animal Hospital:

Colony Animal Hospital has been providing high quality, compassionate care for pets in Newport News and surrounding areas for more than 60 years. We continue to grow and change with developments in veterinary care while never wavering from our dedication to preserving the bond between our clients and their pets. We treat each patient as if it were our own as we continue our work to prevent suffering through education, preventive care and the evaluation of all treatment options.