ICU Veterinary Assistant - Raleigh, United States - North Carolina State University

Description

The NC State Veterinary Hospital (VH), established in 1983, is one of the highest rated veterinary academic medical centers in the country, serving communities throughout North Carolina as well as many other states.

The hospital staffs over twenty clinical services with board certified specialists that are nationally and even internationally renowned, ensuring the VH is on the cutting edge of veterinary medicine.

Patients benefit from the combined expertise of multiple specialists utilizing a team approach to patient health care. Each year, nearly 35,000 patients are treated in the VH.

The VH provides compassionate care, state of the art specialty health care, expert clinical instruction for 4th year veterinary students from College of Veterinary Medicine, and ongoing investigation of innovative techniques and procedures to further advance the field of veterinary medicine.

Essential Job Duties

This position provides care for patients housed in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Randall B. Terry Jr. Companion Animal Medical Center.

The ICU is the 24/7 advanced care unit for the entire specialty hospital, offering exposure to an array of hospitalized small animals and exotic cases.

A person in this department must possess advanced knowledge of veterinary medicine and a strong desire to work in a fast-changing, teaching environment with a varied population of people.

The position interacts with internal specialty services and their respective staff, clinicians and students to provide coordination and veterinary care for all hospitalized patients within the unit.

Direct patient care duties include but are not limited to:

• Admitting patients through student and clinician communications regarding presenting problems, diagnostics, treatment options and overall projected plan of care.
• Providing medical treatments including TPR, bladder expression, BP monitoring, venipuncture, venous, arterial & central catheter placement, sedative/treatment therapy injections, urinary catheter management, blood & plasma transfusions, oxygen therapy including chest tube & nasal tube, ECG, gastric tube placement, ventilator monitoring
• Performing CPR and life saving support
• Performing high risk drug calculations, including CRI, IV fluid, medical pain management and treatment therapies
• Receiving high risk risk post-sedation and post-anesthetic patients, monitoring for post procedural complications to recovery
• Providing post-surgical recovery and care, including pain management, for an array of elective and non-elective neurological, internal medicine, soft tissue, trauma and extracorporeal patients
• Direct support and monitoring of acute and chronic organ failure, neurological, internal medicine, soft tissue, trauma, extracorporeal patients and hospice patients
• Management of isolation, antibiotic resistant and infectious disease patients
• Proficient use of specialized patient care equipment such as IV fluid pumps, pulse Oximeter, BP monitor, syringe pump, wound vacuum, defibrillator, ventilator, ultrasound machine, ECG and oxygen cage

The position provides essential patient, departmental and hospital coordination of workflow, information and teaching with duties to include, but are not limited to:

• Records and communicates a variety of data relating to patient care and diagnostic testing and treatments with use of hospital information systems.
• Orientation, teaching, and coaching new staff, students, interns and residents in related policies, procedures, and patient care
• Supporting client visitations
• Maintaining a clean and working environment following hospital standards, infectious disease and hospital policies, along with OSHA, EHS and radiation safety policies and trainings

Other Responsibilities

• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Minimum Experience/Education

Completion of an accredited training program in the area of assignment; or equivalent combination of training and experience.

Some positions may require additional Training, Certifications, or Licensure.

Other Required Qualifications

• Previous experience in a canine / feline veterinary setting.
• Ability to work with or around sick animals, potentially hazardous materials, cleaning chemicals, gas anesthetics, zoonotic diseases, and unpleasant odors.
• Ability to communicate professionally and effectively at all times and maintain professionalism in emotionally charged / challenging situations.
• Ability to provide high quality customer service.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodations.
• Ability to work beyond scheduled work hours when needed.
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a team and be an active participant in problem solving and team advancement.
• Ability to work effectively with computers and electronics.
• Ability to work independently and practice good judgment to ensure high quality care for all patients and request assistance when needed.
• Desire to teach 4th year veterinary students

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience as a veterinary assistant in a clinical setting; preferably at a teaching hospital.

Required License or Certification

N/A

Valid NC Driver's License required No Commercial Driver's License Required? No