Employment

Are you an enthusiastic, experienced vet tech looking for a hospital that appreciates your education and clinical skills? We're looking for you! Allegheny North Veterinary Hospital is a busy 3-doctor small animal practice in the North Hills of Pittsburgh. We are a strong, cohesive team of veterinarians and paraprofessionals that feel like family. We're energetic and dedicated to providing the best care possible to each patient that comes through our doors.

We're Hiring!

Open Position: Veterinary Technician

Compensation is commensurate with experience/certification status.

Benefits:

• ​Medical, dental, & vision insurance
• Aflac supplemental insurance
• IRA
• 6 Paid Holidays
• Discounts on care/services for your own pets

Qualities

• Strong work ethic & initiative
• Organized & detail-oriented
• Able to perform duties individually and as part of a team
• Compassionate & attentive to patient and client needs
• Dedicated to providing superior care
• Comfortable communicating with team members and clients

Responsibilities

Anesthesia Monitoring

• Administer anesthesia under the direction of a veterinarian
• Recognize normal vs abnormal vital signs for individual patients
• Thorough knowledge of use, maintenance, & safety checking of anesthesia equipment
• Patient intubation (proper tube size, inflation, placement)
• Detailed surgical & anesthetic reporting

Surgical Nursing

• Admit and discharge anesthetic patients
• Properly monitor post-op patients in recovery and alert veterinarian to any concerns
• Knowledge of aseptic & sterile techniques regarding patient preparation & surgery room procedures
• Knowledge of names, uses, & proper sterilization techniques/pack prep for surgical instruments

Dentistry

• Perform proper dental prophylaxis using ultrasonic cleaning, polishing
• Take dental radiographs, as needed
• Record findings using proper dental charting methods
• Educate clients on follow-up care and home oral health maintenance

Nursing Care

• Provide superior standard of care for all patients: ensure each pet is clean and comfortable when in the hospital
• Administer oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular, and intravenous medications as directed
• Skilled in phlebotomy techniques from multiple sites, including jugular, cephalic, femoral, & sapphenous veins
• Place intravenous catheters and monitor for patency and proper fluid administration
• Recognize and respond to emergency situations; triage and provide supportive care

Assisting in Examination & Assessment of Patients

• Knowledgeable in proper restraint and handling techniques to minimize stress and avoid injury to other team members, clients, and patients
• Accurately assess patient vitals: temperature, pulse, heart rate, respiration, mucous membranes, CRT
• Recognize patient behavior to identify signs of fear, aggression, and pain
• Obtain and record a brief history

Laboratory Procedures

• Knowledge of proper sample collection, handling, and storage
• Able to perform in-house blood testing, including making blood smears, staining slides, manual platelet/WBC counts, SNAP tests, and use automated CBC & chemistry equipment
• Prepare and perform in-house urinalysis & fecal testing
• Prepare hematology, cytology, & histopathology samples for shipment to referral laboratories

Radiology

• Use proper personal protective equipment and adhere to safety standards
• Measure, position, collimate, and set machine for specific views requested by a veterinarian
• Perform contrast studies

Pharmacy

• Pharmacology knowledge (names, uses, dosages, side effects, & toxicities of commonly used medications)
• Knowledge of prescription shorthand (e.g. SID, BID, TID, q12h, p.o., o.s., a.u.)
• Accurately fill prescriptions, create labels, and educate clients about their pet's medications
• Calculate & convert dosages using provided resources

Client Education

• Knowledgeable and able to discuss  pre- and post-operative care, nutrition, zoonotic disease, vaccinations & preventive care, behavior, euthanasia procedures and medical recommendations
• Provide relevant brochures & handouts to reinforce education

Client Communications

• Proper etiquette with incoming/outgoing phone calls and emails
• Schedule appointments appropriately depending on urgency and appointment load
• Present treatment plans and answer client's questions about recommendations
• Greet clients and patients upon entering hospital
• Express empathy and offer support to clients during times of distress or grief
• Respect client confidentiality

Record Keeping

• Obtain and record accurate, complete, & legible history
• Follow record format
• Invoice services and products in computer
• Record all discussions, recommendations, and declined treatments/services

Housekeeping and Maintenance

• Maintain a clean, safe environment (indoors and outdoors) for patients, clients, and team members
• Ensure exam rooms, treatment area, and surgery are cleaned, vacuumed, mopped, & stocked at end of day
• Aware and adherence to OSHA requirements

Client Communications & Relations
(Flexibility to act as CSR at the front desk as needed)

• Greet clients and pets upon entering the hospital
• Anticipate client needs; respond with patience, empathy, and understanding
• Answer phones and check messages promptly; assess client/patient needs and respond appropriately
• Check email inbox; reply promptly and professionally
• Outgoing calls: appointment confirmations, rescheduling, follow-up calls, delivering messages from medical care team
• Schedule appointments and surgical visits (in-person, by phone, and online)
• Keep clients informed if doctor is running behind schedule

Click To Apply Now!