Veterinary Assistant - Surgery

Overview

Our Blue Pearl Pet Hospital in Tacoma, WA is seeking a knowledgeable and skilled Veterinary Assistant to join our Surgery Team.

If you are a current associate, you will need to apply through our internal career site. Please log into Workday and click on the Career worklet on the landing page or search for Find Jobs.

VA I Pay: $20.32 - $27.83 / hour

This pay band is a starting point and is dependent on experience and advancement through the Career Trax leveling system.

We also offer competitive shift differential pay for eligible hours worked for nights and weekends. Shift differentials are based on a 4-hour minimum.

• Mon - Fri: 6pm to 8am = $4.00 Shift Differential
• Sat & Sun: 6pm to 8am = $5.50 Shift Differential
• Sat & Sun: 8am to 6pm = $4.00 Shift Differential

• Our Veterinary Assistants triage cases as they come in and assist DVM with crafting and going over estimates as needed.
• Perform diagnostics (radiographs, lab work, etc.), set patients up in ICU or Inpatient ward, discharge patients, and handle client communication.
• Provide nursing care to stable patients according to hospital standards of care and core values.
• Utilize ability to place peripheral intravenous catheter in cephalic vein.
• Perform physical exams and monitor vital parameters; understand normal ranges and alert the doctor when abnormal.
• Set up and administer intravenous fluids and subcutaneous fluids; operate and troubleshoot IV fluid pumps; disconnect/connect patients aseptically.
• Monitor patient response to fluid therapy and signs of overload.
• Scrub in for surgical procedures with boarded surgeons; clean operating rooms; wrap and sterilize instruments.
• Check in and write up history for consults; communicate with clients post-operatively; work independently while contributing to a larger team goal.
• Additional duties as assigned.

• Preferably a minimum of two or more years of experience in a veterinary hospital.
• Ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and climb; ability to lift, carry, and move up to 50 pounds. Lifting higher weights requires requesting assistance from another associate.

• Our passion is pets. We offer Trupanion pet insurance and discounts to our associates for pet treatments, procedures, and food.
• We encourage growth and advancement. Technicians are leveled by skillset and move up as they gain more skills and experience. We focus on developing associates into leaders through talent development programs and leadership workshops. As a member of Mars Veterinary Health, associates have opportunities to advance in their careers.
• Continuous learning is valued. We offer annual continuing education allowance, free continuing education sessions, Blue Pearl University training, and access to medical journals.

• Lyra;
  Access to 12 mental health care sessions annually at no charge and other well-being resources through Lyra.

• We promote a family-like culture in our hospitals and aim to enrich lives through remarkable care for pets.

• Annual CE reimbursements: $500/year for CVT; $750/year for VTS with rollover up to $1,500 for CVT and VTS associates. Non-Credentialed, full-time Paraprofessionals are eligible for an annual CE stipend of $150. Full-time CVT associates receive 8 CE hours paid per year; full-time VTS associates receive 12 CE hours paid per year. CE hours may carry over up to 24 hours. Newly hired associates receive pro-rated CE benefits.
• Company-paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
• Parental Leave Benefits
• Health, dental, vision, and life insurance options
• Paid Time Off and Floating Holiday Plans
• Health Savings Account
• Flexible Savings Account
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Annual Scrub Allowance: $200/year in Blue Pearl store credit for full-time associates
• Referral Bonus Program
• State licensure reimbursements
• VTNE reimbursements
• Additional VTS benefits for pursuing and established VTS technicians

Blue Pearl is committed to a diverse work environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. We are an equal opportunity employer and each applicant will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, sexual or affectional preference, or gender identity or expression, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and a Drug Free Workplace.